WASHINGTON – The day before the kickoff concert for World Pride 2025 in Washington, headlining artist Shakira has unfortunately had to cancel her performance due to equipment difficulties.
Capital Pride Alliance, the main organizer of World Pride, expressed deep disappointment over the unforeseen circumstances leading to the concert’s cancellation in a statement released on Friday. They mentioned that updates regarding the new location and program for the Opening Ceremony will be shared once they are confirmed.
Initially slated to be the main act for the opening celebrations at Nationals Park on Saturday evening, the multi-platinum singer’s cancellation seems to stem from ongoing equipment problems that first arose during her Thursday show at Fenway Park in Boston. Her performance there was also called off just hours before it was supposed to start. Additionally, a concert scheduled for Friday night at Fenway featuring country artist Jason Aldean was canceled as well.
“Due to complications with the previous show in Boston, Shakira’s full tour production cannot be transported to Washington, D.C. in time for her scheduled performance at Nationals Park,” the Capital Pride Alliance statement said. “Despite every effort to make it happen, it is not possible to move forward as planned.”
The Alliance noted that the full slate of citywide events was still on for opening weekend, and said the kickoff ceremony would be relocated and reorganized.
The cancellation presents a further challenge for the Alliance, but at least a non-political one. Organizers have already said they expected international attendance to measurably suffer as a result of concern and anger in the LGBTQ+ community over President Donald Trump’s policies.
Trump’s public antipathy for trans protections and drag shows has already prompted two international LGBTQ+ organizations, Eagle Canada and the African Human Rights Coalition, to issue warnings against traveling to the U.S. at all. The primary concern is that trans or non-binary individuals would face trouble entering the country if passport control officers enforce the administration’s strict binary view of gender status.
Some potential international participants have already announced plans to skip this year’s events, either out of fear of harassment or as a boycott against Trump’s policies. But others have called for a domestic mobilization to flood the capital.
Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said that security fencing would be installed surrounding the final two-day concert and rally on a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Early hotel reservation numbers for the final World Pride weekend, June 6-8, were originally down from the previous year, according to Destination D.C., which tracks reservations.
But Destination D.C. President Elliott Ferguson told reporters on Thursday that, “what we’re seeing now is a surge at the last minute, especially with the national community.”
Ferguson speculated that concerns about international attendance had “galvanized the local community, the national community to want to come to the city.”
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