Dominican Day Parade returns to the heart of Manhattan

New York.- Hundreds of thousands of Dominicans filled Manhattan’s Sixth Avenue on Sunday to celebrate the 43rd National Dominican Day Parade, showcasing the country’s culture, folklore, dance, and traditions under the theme “United States and Quisqueya United in Culture and Tradition.” The sunny, festive event featured more than 40 floats, vibrant comparsas, folk groups like Los Diablos Cojuelos and Roba La Gallina, traditional merengue and dembow music, and colorful regional costumes.

Mayor Eric Adams opened the parade, praising the Dominican community’s contributions to New York City and announcing that the 2026 edition will move to the iconic Fifth Avenue, giving the celebration greater visibility and prestige. Governor Kathy Hochul, Dominican Consul Jesús “Chú” Vásquez, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and outgoing parade president Cristina Contreras also addressed the crowd. Baseball star Nelson Cruz served as grand marshal, honored for his charitable work through the Boomstick23 Foundation.

The parade began forming at 8 a.m. and stepped off at 11 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, with the NYPD implementing heightened security measures to ensure a safe, orderly celebration. The march ran from 36th to 55th Streets, uniting Dominicans from across the U.S. in a lively display of cultural pride.