Just one day before World Pride 2025 was set to begin in Washington, D.C., Shakira unexpectedly canceled her headline performance. The reason: equipment issues that disrupted her previous concert.

Organizers Confirm the Cancellation

On Friday, the Capital Pride Alliance, which leads the event, released a statement. It said, “We are deeply disappointed that unforeseen circumstances have forced the cancellation.”

They also mentioned that updates about the relocated Opening Ceremony would be shared soon.

Trouble Started in Boston

Earlier, Shakira had also canceled her Thursday concert at Fenway Park in Boston. Her tour production encountered technical problems. As a result, she couldn’t move her full stage setup to Washington, D.C. in time.

The Alliance explained, “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. Despite every effort to make it happen, it is not possible to move forward as planned.”

Notably, country star Jason Aldean’s Friday night show at Fenway was canceled too.

Pride Events Will Continue

However, the rest of the opening weekend events remain unchanged. Organizers said they will reorganize and relocate the kickoff ceremony.

At the same time, World Pride 2025 faces deeper challenges. President Donald Trump’s policies toward LGBTQ+ people have caused global concern.

Due to this, Eagle Canada and the African Human Rights Coalition warned LGBTQ+ travelers against visiting the U.S. Their primary concern is that trans or nonbinary people could face issues at passport control under Trump’s binary gender rules.

Global Reactions Split

As a result, some international guests have already backed out of the event. While some canceled due to fear, others chose to boycott in protest.

On the other hand, calls for a larger domestic turnout have grown. Many U.S. participants are now stepping in to support the event.

Security Measures Tightened

Meanwhile, the Capital Pride Alliance has taken steps to ensure safety. Executive Director Ryan Bos confirmed that security fencing would surround the two-day concert and rally planned along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Local Support Rises

Initially, hotel bookings for June 6–8 were lower than last year, as reported by Destination D.C..

However, that has now changed. President Elliott Ferguson of Destination D.C. said, “What we’re seeing now is a surge at the last minute, especially with the national community.” He added, “Concerns about international attendance have galvanized the local and national community to want to come to the city.”