Shakira cancels World Pride 2025 concert in D.C. due to equipment issues; events continue amid political tensions and shifting attendance.

Just one day before the highly anticipated kick-off concert for World Pride 2025 in Washington, D.C., headlining performer Shakira has abruptly cancelled her appearance due to equipment-related complications.

“We are deeply disappointed that unforeseen circumstances have forced the cancellation,” the Capital Pride Alliance, the primary organiser of World Pride, announced in an official statement released on Friday.

“Updates about the relocated Opening Ceremony programme will be released as soon as they are finalised,” the statement added.

The global superstar and multiplatinum recording artist had been scheduled to headline Saturday night’s opening celebration at Nationals Park in the U.S. capital. However, the cancellation reportedly stems from ongoing equipment issues that first emerged during Shakira’s scheduled Thursday night concert at Fenway Park in Boston, which was also called off just hours before it was expected to begin.

A Friday night concert at the same venue by country star Jason Aldean was also cancelled.

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

The Alliance confirmed that the full line-up of citywide events for the opening weekend would proceed as scheduled. However, the Opening Ceremony will be both relocated and reorganised.

The cancellation presents an additional challenge for the Alliance, albeit a logistical rather than a political one. Organisers have already expressed concern that international attendance may decline significantly due to anxiety and frustration within the LGBTQ community regarding President Donald Trump’s policies.

Trump’s openly hostile stance on transgender protections and drag performances has already prompted at least two international LGBTQ organisations—Eagle Canada and the African Human Rights Coalition—to issue travel advisories warning against visiting the United States.

The primary concern involves the possibility that transgender or nonbinary individuals could encounter difficulties at U.S. border control, should immigration authorities enforce the administration’s binary view of gender identity.

Several potential international attendees have already announced that they will not be participating in this year’s events, either due to fear of mistreatment or as a political statement boycotting Trump’s policies. Meanwhile, other activists have encouraged a strong domestic turnout in response, urging members of the LGBTQ community to gather in solidarity in Washington, D.C.

Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos stated that security fencing would be installed around the final two-day concert and rally scheduled to take place along a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Although early hotel reservation numbers for the final World Pride weekend from June 6 to 8 had initially been lower than in previous years, there has been a notable increase in last-minute bookings. According to Destination DC, which monitors hotel reservations, the trend has shifted in recent days.

“What we’re seeing now is a surge at the last minute, especially with the national community,” said Destination DC President Elliott Ferguson during a Thursday press briefing.

Ferguson speculated that the uncertainty surrounding international attendance may have “galvanised the local community, the national community to want to come to the city.”