The Talk Story Festival is heading back to Honolulu with a Pride in Paradise theme. The 38th Annual Talk Story Festival takes place Friday, October 2, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Auditorium, and everyone is invited to attend.
The festival is put on by the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation
, whose social feed announced the return of the beloved event, according to the
Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation
The festival announcement does not specify the lineup.
Why October, Not June, for Pride
Unlike most cities that hold Pride celebrations in June, Honolulu officially observes Pride Month in October, timed to align with LGBT History Month, National Coming Out Day, and Spirit Day, according to Prince Waikiki. The festival is scheduled for October with a Pride in Paradise theme.
The Pride in Paradise theme accompanies Honolulu's October Pride season. Participation in the annual Honolulu Pride Parade has included the mayor's office, city employees, and their families, and the parade was expected to draw more than 5,000 marchers in October 2025, as reported by Aloha State Daily.
A Historic Venue With Deep Roots
The Mission Memorial Auditorium, where this year's festival unfolds, was designed by architect H.L. Kerr in the Neoclassical style, and the building was dedicated in April 1916 as part of the Mission Memorial complex, according to the National Park Service. The auditorium will host this year's festival.
Featured Groups Bridge History, Policy, and Care
Among the festival's featured participants is Lei Pua ʻAla: Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi, a multidimensional historical documentation project, according to the Lei Pua Ala Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi Project. The project's own materials describe Hawaiʻi as the birthplace of the same-sex marriage movement.
Also on the schedule is Spill the Tea Café. The Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission was established under HRS 369.
The commission has a governmental mission.
Accommodations and Event Details
The Talk Story Festival is free and open to everyone, running from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Auditorium.
The event is presented by the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation.
