A year-long, worldwide event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag
RAINBOW 50, a historic event, will commence on January 1, 2028, in San Francisco, the birthplace of the Rainbow Flag, with a flag-raising ceremony. Pride events will be held globally throughout the year, culminating on Sunday, June 25, 2028. Primary festivities for Rainbow 50 will take place in New York, San Francisco, and other key cities worldwide. These events will extend into the autumn, including WorldPride South Africa in October. The grand finale will be a surprise event on New Year’s Eve 2028!
A year-long, worldwide event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Rainbow Flag
RAINBOW 50, a historic event, will commence on January 1, 2028, in San Francisco, the birthplace of the Rainbow Flag, with a flag-raising ceremony. Pride events will be held globally throughout the year, culminating on Sunday, June 25, 2028. Primary festivities for Rainbow 50 will take place in New York, San Francisco, and other key cities worldwide. These events will extend into the autumn, including WorldPride South Africa in October. The grand finale will be a surprise event on New Year’s Eve 2028!
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A HALF CENTURY OF PRIDE
Celebrating Gilbert Baker
It all began in an attic, filled with bolts of cotton fabric, enormous metal trash cans overflowing with water and dye, and a community that refused to stay in the dark. In 1978, Gilbert Baker introduced the rainbow flag, not merely as a symbol, but as a universal beacon of hope. Join us in honoring this global emblem of pride, diversity, inclusion, and resilience by contributing to this worldwide celebration. Let us unite as a global community to commemorate the flag’s five decades as a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ movement.
OUR SHARED STORY
How the Foundation is Celebrating Rainbow 50
A Famed Venue Hosts A Historic Night
On June 25, 2028, The Gilbert Baker Foundation will livestream a star-studded 50th anniversary celebration of the Rainbow Flag at San Francisco’s legendary Castro Theater. This special production will fuse live musical performances with powerful documentary storytelling. Archival footage will guide audiences through the history of the Rainbow Flag and the movement it helped inspire, while live performances will bring that story into the present and beyond.
Exhibits
GLOBAL RAINBOW FLAG STORIES
Our FLAG IN THE MAP exhibition shines a light on global stories of queer courage, ensuring that even where hate seeks to erase us, our colors soar higher. As part of the Rainbow 50 celebration, this award-winning exhibition will be showcased in 10 cities worldwide.
Webinars
THE TAPESTRY OF OUR COMMUNITY
The Gilbert Baker Foundation’s Rainbow 50 Webinar Series embarks on a captivating journey through the history of the Rainbow Flag, tracing its origins and the story of its emergence as a global icon. We will also explore the diverse community flags that have emerged since, delving into the significance of these flags within our community, shedding light on their impact and meaning.
How Can You Celebrate Rainbow 50?
As the official stewards of the Rainbow Flag, we are calling on pride organizations, community partners, and individuals around the globe to celebrate this milestone throughout 2028. Help us send a message to the world that we are here to stay and prouder than ever.
- Create your own Rainbow 50 Visibility Event. Make it big!
- Network with LGBTQ+ organizations and community partners from around the world
- Partner with your community centers, bars and places of gathering to plan local events
- Throw a Castro concert livestream party
- Help us fundraise
- Work with us to broadcast Rainbow 50
to the world
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SIGNATURE EVENTS
Next Steps
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Create Your Materials
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Promote Your Celebration
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Track Events Worldwide
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Share Photos and Videos
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Spread the Word
Interactive Global Map
Add your Rainbow 50 event to the map and share it with the world. From giant flags and laser displays to youth workshops, art contests, film series, and local marches, every celebration becomes part of the global story.
Countdown to 2028
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Founding Partners
Mayor Daniel Lurie
The City of San Francisco
The Honorable Rafael Mandleman, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco GLBT
Historical Society
The American LGBT Museum
The Peter Tatchell Foundation
San Francisco Pride
KRCB – Northern California
Public Media.
InterPride (member)
ReportOUT
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative
The Stonewall Museum
ABSOLUT Vodka
NY State Senator Erik Bottcher
Monica Helms
Creator of the Trans Flag
AJ Hikes
Creator of the More Colors Flag
