Philadelphia is gearing up for a landmark year in 2026 — and one milestone in particular is making history.
Visit Philadelphia, in partnership with Visit PA and Philadelphia Gay News, is launching the Philly Pride Visitor Center, one of the first LGBTQ+ visitor centers in the country. Set to open next January, the center marks a long-term commitment to building inclusive tourism that celebrates and serves the city’s diverse communities for years to come.
“Philadelphia is a city that shows up for everyone. We don’t just welcome diversity—we celebrate it. The Philly Pride Visitor Center is putting that spirit into action,” says Kathryn Ott Lovell, president and CEO of Philadelphia Visitor Center. “We’re building a starting point for tourists, a dedicated space for this community, and a true reflection of what our city stands for. Our hope is that the Philly Pride Visitor Center becomes a place where LGBTQ+ visitors feel like they belong from the moment they arrive.”
The Philly Pride Visitor Center has set its sights on opening in the heart of the city’s Gayborhood, and its mission is simple: To serve as a vibrant and welcoming gateway to LGBTQ+-friendly experiences across not only the Philadelphia region, but the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Once open, the Philly Pride Center will offer visitor services (spanning itinerary planning, attraction ticketing, and travel information) with a special focus on LGBTQ+-affirming destinations, businesses, and cultural institutions. The Center will also offer a curated selection of souvenirs, most of which will be from LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
“Pennsylvania has always been a place where people come to write the next chapter of their story, and that includes our LGBTQ+ community. By opening the new LGBTQ+ Visitor Center, we are making it clear: you belong here. This space will showcase destinations across our Commonwealth where LGBTQ+ travelers will find community, pride, and a warm Pennsylvania welcome,” adds Anne Ryan, Deputy Secretary of Tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.
This isn’t Visit Philadelphia’s first involvement in landmark LGBTQ+ initiatives. The organization also supported the launch of the nation’s first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the National Park System — the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City.
The Center is also meant to be a reminder of Philly’s involvement in these historic moments as well, with the City of Brotherly Love being the place where the country’s first LGBTQ+ sit-in took place (in Dewey’s restaurant in 1965) and Independence Hall being one of the first venues to house public demonstrations for gay rights.
“The Philly Pride Visitor Center reflects our commitment to inclusive tourism and to making sure every traveler feels seen, welcomed and celebrated,” said Angela Val, President and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “This new center gives visitors and residents a place to connect with Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ history, discover affirming businesses and see how this city helped shape a national movement. It is both a resource hub and a testament to Philadelphia’s role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.”
As a release notes, the new Center will also act as a starting point to “learn about the powerful and ongoing story of Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community.” Based on input from the community, historical content will be curated by Mark Segal, founder of Philadelphia Gay News, to ensure an authentic representation of the city’s LGBTQ+ legacy.
“Philadelphia has always been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history, from the first Reminder Day marches in 1965 (four years before Stonewall) to the Dewey’s sit-in, where LGBTQ+ youth stood up to a restaurant’s refusal to serve them, the first statewide anti-discrimination order under Gov. Milton Shapp, and the nation’s first LGBTQ+ senior housing,” Segal notes.
“Our city helped launch the fight for representation in media, shaped national policy, and created safe, visible spaces for our community. Now, with the opening of the Philly Pride Visitor Center, Philadelphia proudly honors that legacy and reaffirms its commitment to those who call this community home.”
According to data from Community Marketing & Insights, 63% of LGBTQ+ travelers already consider Philadelphia a welcoming destination. The community also represents an estimated $1.4 trillion in annual purchasing power.
The new visitor center is positioned as a legacy project for the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026, a celebration expected to draw record tourism to the City of Brotherly Love.
To find out more information on the Philly Pride Visitor Center, visit phlvisitorcenter.com
