Disability Pride Festival

New Date. Same Pride. Even More to Celebrate!

Join us September 17 at the Minnesota State Capitol from 10am-2pm.

8/4/26

Minnesota's 4th Annual Disability Pride Festival Rescheduled for September 17 During Disability Voting Rights Week

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Advocating Change Together (ACT) has announced that Minnesota's 4th Annual Disability Pride Festival has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol. The festival will once again bring together self-advocates, families, friends, organizations, artists, policymakers, and community members from across Minnesota for a day of celebration, advocacy, and connection.

The festival was originally scheduled for July but was postponed due to forecasted extreme heat. As the week unfolded, hazardous air quality from wildfire smoke added another significant public health concern, reaffirming that prioritizing the health and safety of the disability community was the right decision.

"While we were disappointed to postpone the festival, we're grateful we made the decision when we did," said Jennifer Walton, Executive Director of Advocating Change Together. "As the week unfolded, worsening air quality confirmed that protecting our community's health and safety had to come first. Disability Pride is about making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate, and that begins with creating an event where people can gather safely."

The new festival date also coincides with Disability Voting Rights Week (September 14–18), creating a unique opportunity to celebrate disability culture while highlighting civic engagement, self-advocacy, and leadership. This year's festival theme, Rooted In Pride. Growing Our Future. reflects ACT's commitment to honoring our history while investing in the next generation of self-advocate leaders.

"Disability Pride has always been about more than one day," Walton said. "It's about celebrating disability culture, strengthening community, and making sure disabled people are heard, valued, and leading every day of the year. We're excited that this new date connects Disability Pride with Disability Voting Rights Week, creating an even greater opportunity to celebrate our community while highlighting the importance of the leadership and voices of disabled people—in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities, and at the ballot box."

ACT’s annual Disability Pride Festival brings together self-advocates, families, friends, artists, disability-led organizations, service providers, policymakers, and community members from across Minnesota to celebrate disability culture, leadership, advocacy, and community. The festival features exhibitors, entertainment, community resources, speakers, and opportunities to connect with disability-led organizations from across the state.

ACT also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received following the decision to reschedule.

"The encouragement, understanding, and flexibility shown by our vendors, sponsors, tablers, volunteers, performers, and community partners reminded us exactly what makes Minnesota's disability community so remarkable. It's a community built on connection, leadership, and people showing up for one another. We're looking forward to celebrating together this September," Walton said.

The September festival offers an opportunity to celebrate disability culture, strengthen community, and recognize that disability pride and civic participation go hand in hand. ACT invites everyone from across Minnesota to join in celebrating the leadership, contributions, and voices of people with disabilities during this meaningful week.

About Advocating Change Together (ACT)

Advocating Change Together (ACT) is a Minnesota-based, disability-led nonprofit organization that supports the leadership of people with disabilities to fight ableism and build inclusive communities. Through self-advocacy, leadership development, public policy, and community organizing, ACT works to ensure disabled people have equitable access to leadership, opportunity, and decision-making.

Media Contact

Jennifer Walton
Executive Director
Advocating Change Together (ACT)
651.399.6824
walton@selfadvocacy.org
www.selfadvocacy.org

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