Charleston Pride After Party 2026

Charleston Pride After Party 2026

The Official Charleston Pride After Party keeps the celebrations going after the annual Pride Festival, with DJs, dancing, drag queens and performers until midnight.

• Visiting Charleston for Pride? Stay in the Historic District, close to King Street and the city’s restaurants, bars and nightlife. Stay at Hotel Bennett, a highly rated luxury hotel with stylish rooms and a superb rooftop pool.

The After Party

• Next Edition: Saturday 17th October 2026, from 6 pm to midnight.
• The pride party starts immediately after the Charleston Pride Festival.
• With six hours of music, dancing and drag performances.
• Kenya Pleaser joins a lineup of local drag queens and performers.
• General admission is $10, with a limited number of VIP tickets available for $50.
• The event is open to guests aged 18 and over.
• Both the Pride Festival and After Party take place at Building 64 in North Charleston.

Charleston Pride Day

• Make a full day of it, starting in Downtown Charleston with the annual Charleston Pride Parade.
• The parade kicks off at 9 am, bringing Pride groups, community organisations and colourful participants through the streets of Downtown Charleston.
• After the parade, head to the Charleston Pride Festival at Building 64.
• Festival gates open at 11 am, with the main entertainment running from noon to 5 pm. Entry to the festival is free, with a full afternoon of drag, live music, DJs, art, vendors, food and community groups.
• At 6 pm, the venue switches into party mode for the Official Charleston Pride After Party, continuing until midnight.

The Venue – Building 64

• The Charleston Pride Festival and Official After Party take over Building 64 in North Charleston.
• Building 64 is a large warehouse-style event venue with plenty of space for major shows, DJs, drag performances and large-scale parties.
• Hosting both events at the same venue makes the 2026 celebration easy.
• Arrive for the Pride Festival during the afternoon and stay for the After Party from 6 pm.
• Building 64 is in North Charleston, so we recommend staying in Downtown Charleston and taking a taxi or rideshare to the venue.

Where to Stay in Charleston

• Stay around the Historic District and King Street for easy access to the Pride Parade, restaurants, bars and Charleston’s gay nightlife.
• Hotel Bennett is our editor’s choice, a luxury five-star hotel on King Street with elegant rooms and a rooftop pool.
• The Dewberry Charleston offers five-star luxury in the Historic District, close to Marion Square and King Street.
• 86 Cannon Historic Inn is an adults-only boutique hotel with beautifully designed rooms and a more intimate atmosphere.
• French Quarter Inn has a superb location in Charleston’s French Quarter, perfect for exploring the historic centre on foot.
• Check the best hotel rates in Charleston.

Gay Charleston

• Charleston has a small but friendly gay scene centred around Downtown and King Street.
• Stay in the Historic District and you can explore the city’s restaurants, cocktail bars and attractions during the day before heading to the Pride events.
• After the official celebrations, head back Downtown and continue your night at Charleston’s gay and gay-friendly bars.

Charleston Pride Weekend

• Charleston celebrates Pride later than many US cities, making October a great time for a gay weekend in the city.
• The main celebrations all take place on Saturday 17th October 2026:
• 9 am – Charleston Pride Parade – Downtown Charleston
• 11 am – Charleston Pride Festival gates open – Building 64
• Noon to 5 pm – Pride Festival entertainment
• 6 pm to midnight – Official Charleston Pride After Party – Building 64

Book your hotel early, especially if you want to stay around King Street and the Historic District.

Where to stay?

• Charleston is one of the top places to visit in the USA, especially in the Fall/Autumn season, so book well in advance if you are planning to visit during these months.

Here are the Hotels we recommend that keep you close to all the pride events:

Hotel Bennett,  The Dewberry,  86 Cannon Historic Inn,   XV Beacon Hotel