Safe Space NOVA is pleased to announce the 6th annual DMV Pride Prom! We are hopeful that you will be consider supporting Pride Prom again this year so that we can give 300 queer and trans youth from all over the DC-Maryland-Virginia metro area a night of affirmation and validation amidst a political backdrop of control and erasure.

About Safe Space NOVA’s Pride Prom: Pride Prom is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ youth to attend a prom with pride. We invite 9th-12th graders (plus their guests through age 20) from all across the region to come together in celebration of queer youth everywhere! This is a prom like none other where attendees enter as strangers and exit as friends. A Safe Space NOVA's Pride Prom you are invited to to dress without distress – be it to impress, to represent, or to blend in - and joyfully dance alone to the beat of your Silent Disco headphones, in groups beneath our world-class DJ, or without whomever you choose! Safe Space NOVA Prom Student Ambassadors have selected Starry Night as their theme because the night sky represents endless possibilities, the moon is full of mystery and romance, and the glow of the constellations can always lead you back home or wherever you want to go.

Safe Space NOVA’s 2026 Pride Prom: STARRY NIGHT

The History of Pride Prom: Beginning in 2017, the first regional Pride Prom proudly hosted over 200 youth from nearly 35 high schools spanning 5 counties! Pride Prom provides the region's LGBTQIA+ youth (and their friends!) with a magical experience that rivals the traditional school-sponsored proms while ensuring a welcoming and safe atmosphere. We find it unacceptable that any youth feel excluded from the prom experience without compromising their true selves. Pride Prom is unique, in that it is boasts education, compassion, action AND celebration. In addition to a traditional dance, we also provide:

EDUCATION – Students have the unique opportunity to connect with LGBTQ-affirming organizations which provide social, medical, and mental health support to youth in Northern Virginia and beyond. This means that when the clock strikes midnight (well, 11 PM due to curfews and all), support, connection, and a sense of community do not end.
COMPASSION – Not every prom-goer wants to rage. For some, “pride prom” is finding a new queer fiction book and cuddling up on pillows with friends or alone. Above the booming dance floor, we ensure a quieter space for youth who might want to talk to new friends, regulate with calming music and sensory toys, or talk to our volunteer mental health professionals when they’re getting beaten at board games!
ACTION – Students apply to serve as Pride Prom Ambassadors who work from December through June creating their prom while learning advocacy skills which they are encouraged to turn into action within their communities. Additionally, all attendees can turn art into action by creating with Torpedo Factory Artists at Art Activation Stations.
CELEBRATION – Pride Prom is fun! Students (and chaperones!) routinely report that it is their favorite day of the year and that they cannot wait for next year’s event! Join us for pride swag ($), door prizes, prom favors, tons of food, drag performances , and tunes (DJ Coming Soon)!

Safe Space NOVA’s Pride Prom is a non-profit event, fully supported by student fundraisers, ticket sales, community donations, and support from Safe Space NOVA and other sponsors. We both depend on and are sincerely grateful for the continued support of our community of generous volunteers, donors, and corporate sponsors.

We thank you for your commitment, funding, and altruism in giving back to the queer and trans youth who will become the leaders of tomorrow. Your tax-deductible donations which will add some hope and happiness to another challenging year.

*** NOTE: TICKET PURCHASE ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE UNDER STATE LAW. ***

Pride Prom 2026

Starry Night

Team Members