Anwar Shahadat, NEW YORK, August 10, 2026 — Thousands of people gathered in Manhattan on Sunday, August 9, for the 44th annual National Dominican Day Parade, celebrating Dominican heritage, culture and the contributions of the Dominican American community in New York.
The parade traveled along Sixth Avenue from 37th Street to 55th Street, featuring Dominican flags, colorful costumes, floats, music and traditional merengue performances. The event’s theme this year was “Identity and Culture.”
Among the prominent officials who participated were New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with other elected officials and public figures. The New York City Police Department and Fire Department also took part in the celebration.
The parade also honored several prominent members of the Dominican community. Dr. Ramón Tallaj, founder and chairman of SOMOS Community Care, served as Grand Marshal, while media personality and radio host Frederick Martínez, known as “El Pachá,” served as parade king.
For New York’s large Dominican community, the annual parade remains an important occasion to celebrate cultural identity, heritage and community achievements. The event has become one of the city’s major annual celebrations of Dominican culture.
The National Dominican Day Parade began in New York in 1982 and has grown into a major cultural event attracting large crowds to Manhattan each August.
