JT Announced as Headliner for Atlanta Pride’s 2026 Festival

Atlanta Pride has officially unveiled its first wave of performers for the 2026 Atlanta Pride Festival, announcing rapper, entrepreneur, and fashion trailblazer JT as this year’s headlining act.

The nation’s largest free Pride festival will return to Piedmont Park on October 10–11, bringing together hundreds of thousands of attendees for a weekend dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, visibility, and community. Alongside JT, organizers also revealed that Cain Culto and Zee Machine will join the entertainment lineup, with additional performers, DJs, community stages, and festival programming expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

“Every year, we strive to create an entertainment lineup that reflects the diversity, talent, and energy of our community,” said Chris McCain, Executive Director of Atlanta Pride. “JT, Cain Culto, and Zee Machine each bring their own unique artistry and fearless authenticity to the stage. Their performances will help make this year’s festival an unforgettable celebration of being Louder & Prouder together.”

JT’s headlining performance marks another milestone in a standout year for the Miami-born artist. Rising to prominence as one-half of the chart-topping rap duo City Girls, JT helped redefine the landscape for women in hip-hop with the group’s bold lyricism and undeniable cultural impact. Their acclaimed album Girl Code debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, cementing the duo’s place among rap’s elite.

Since launching her solo career, JT has continued to prove herself as one of music’s most dynamic voices. Her debut mixtape City Cinderella showcased her sharp lyricism and signature confidence, while singles including “OKAY”—her first solo Hot 100 hit—and “Ran Out” further established her as a force in contemporary hip-hop. Last year, she also headlined NYC Pride, adding another major LGBTQ+ event to her growing résumé.

Beyond music, JT has emerged as a rising fashion icon, earning recognition from Vogue and landing collaborations with brands including MAC Cosmetics, Timberland, and Poster Girl. With the recent release of her single “Numb” and more new music on the horizon, she continues to expand her influence across entertainment, fashion, and culture.

Joining JT on the Atlanta Pride stage is Cain Culto, a former worship pastor who has reintroduced himself as a fearless queer artist blending left-field pop, hip-hop, and global musical influences. Raised in a Colombian-Nicaraguan household between Florida and Kentucky, Cain Culto’s music reflects a deeply personal journey of reclaiming his spirituality, sexuality, and cultural identity after departing his Christian band, Ecclesia, in 2021.

Also performing is Zee Machine, a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for fusing pop, rock, and electronic music into a genre-defying sound. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Zee Machine has cultivated an international following through powerful vocals, emotionally driven songwriting, and an energetic live performance style.

Founded in 1970, Atlanta Pride is Georgia’s oldest nonprofit organization serving the LGBTQ+ community and has grown into one of the country’s largest Pride celebrations. In recent years, the festival has welcomed more than 350,000 attendees, generating an estimated $86 million in annual economic impact for the Atlanta region.

With JT leading this year’s entertainment lineup and more artists still to be announced, Atlanta Pride 2026 is shaping up to be one of the organization’s biggest celebrations yet, bringing together music and community for a weekend that embodies this year’s message of being Louder & Prouder.