The Philadelphia Visitor Center (Visitor Center) and Visit Philadelphia, in partnership with Visit PA and the Philadelphia Gay News, today announced plans to open the Philly Pride Visitor Center, one of the country’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ visitor centers. Slated to open in January 2026, the Center will welcome travelers from around the globe to one of the nation’s most inclusive cities ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“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,” said 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.”

Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Gayborhood, the Philly Pride Visitor Center will serve as a vibrant and welcoming gateway to LGBTQ+-friendly experiences across the Philadelphia region and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Center will offer comprehensive visitor services, including itinerary planning, attraction ticketing, and travel information, with a special focus on LGBTQ+-affirming destinations, businesses, and cultural institutions. A curated selection of souvenirs, many from LGBTQ+-owned businesses, will also be available.

“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,” said Anne Ryan, Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

Visit Philadelphia supported the opening of the nation’s first LGBTQ+ visitor center within the National Park System, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City, recognizing Philadelphia’s important connection to those historic events. The nation’s first LGBTQ+ sit-in took place in Philadelphia at Dewey’s restaurant in 1965, and the Annual Reminders at Independence Hall were among the earliest public demonstrations for gay rights in the United States. Now, Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Visitor Center bring this concept home with the Philly Pride Visitor Center, continuing the story of LGBTQ+ history where so much of it began.

“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. “For more than 20 years, Visit Philadelphia has worked to show LGBTQ+ travelers that they belong here. 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.”

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 Governor Milton Shapp, and the nation’s first LGBTQ+ senior housing,” said Mark Segal, founder and publisher of Philadelphia Gay News. “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.”

The investment in dedicated LGBTQ+ visitor infrastructure reflects both values and data. According to Community Marketing & Insights, 63% of LGBTQ+ travelers already view Philadelphia as a welcoming destination, and the community represents $1.4 trillion in annual purchasing power.

As a legacy project tied to the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026, the Philly Pride Visitor Center joins national efforts to commemorate the nation’s founding by honoring the diverse communities that have shaped it. The Center reflects a long-term investment in inclusive tourism infrastructure that will serve visitors far beyond 2026.

Philadelphia expects record visitation in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, major sporting events including the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, and PGA Championship, and cultural programming like the inaugural city-wide ArtPhilly festival.

For over two decades, Visit Philadelphia has been a national leader in LGBTQ+ tourism marketing, beginning with “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay” in 2004 — the country’s first LGBTQ+-specific tourism television commercial. This commitment continues through initiatives including “In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: Drag Queen Story Time on Independence Mall,” helping Philadelphia Gay News set the 2024 Guinness World Record for the largest drag story time reading, and installing the “In Plain Sight” TQ+ sculpture as a bold celebration of the trans and queer community in Philadelphia.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.