The Florida AIDS Walk Concert is set to make a powerful return this spring, with hip-hop icon and award-winning entertainer Queen Latifah leading the charge. The annual event, which blends a 5K walk with a beachfront music festival, aims to raise more than $1 million for HIV/AIDS organizations serving South Florida communities.
The Florida AIDS Walk Concert has become one of the region’s most impactful fundraising events. Scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Fort Lauderdale Beach, the event brings together music lovers, advocates, and community members to support HIV prevention, education, and care services.
Queen Latifah Returns to the Florida AIDS Walk Concert
Queen Latifah, a Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee, will headline the 21st Annual Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival presented by AHF Pharmacy, FedEx, and Wells Fargo. Her performance is expected to draw thousands to the scenic beachfront venue.
The Florida AIDS Walk Concert marks another chapter in Queen Latifah’s long-standing advocacy for HIV awareness. She previously partnered with AIDS Healthcare Foundation in 2016, performing at the global Keep the Promise Concert in Durban, South Africa. That event called on governments worldwide to increase funding and strengthen commitments to ending the AIDS epidemic.
Speaking about her continued involvement, Queen Latifah emphasized the importance of maintaining awareness and funding. She highlighted the need to ensure prevention services remain accessible to all communities.
Event Schedule and Location
The Florida AIDS Walk Concert will take place at Fort Lauderdale Beach, located at 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard. The event schedule includes:
8:00 a.m. – Site opens
9:45 a.m. – Formal ceremony
10:00 a.m. – 5K walk begins
11:00 a.m. – Music festival starts
11:30 a.m. – Performance by Rinasere
12:30 p.m. – Queen Latifah performance
2:00 p.m. – Event concludes
The beachfront celebration combines fitness, music, and activism in one unified cause.
Raising Funds for Critical HIV Services
Over the past two decades, the Florida AIDS Walk Concert has raised millions for local HIV/AIDS service organizations. Funds support education programs, testing services, treatment access, and ongoing care for individuals living with HIV.
This year’s beneficiaries include Afro Pride Florida, Broward House, Equality Florida, The McKenzie Project, Positive People Network, The Pride Center at Equality Park, and SAVE LGBTQ, among others. These organizations provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable communities in the region.
Tracy Jones, Southern Bureau Chief of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, noted that South Florida continues to report disproportionately high numbers of new HIV diagnoses. She emphasized that funds raised help individuals get tested, access treatment, and remain in care.
HIV in Florida: The Ongoing Challenge
The Florida AIDS Walk Concert comes at a time when HIV remains a pressing public health issue in the state.
The southern United States accounts for more than half of new HIV diagnoses nationwide, according to CDC data. Florida ranks third in the country for new HIV diagnoses as of 2022. Miami-Dade and Broward counties alone are home to more than 51,000 people living with HIV.
Among major metropolitan areas, Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach/Sunrise has been ranked first in HIV/AIDS rates, while Miami/Miami Beach/Kendall ranks second.
These statistics underscore the urgency of continued funding and awareness efforts.
AHF’s Global Impact
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the organizer behind the Florida AIDS Walk Concert, is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization. AHF provides care to more than 2.4 million individuals across 47 countries.
In addition to medical services, AHF advocates for increased funding, expanded testing, and global policy reforms aimed at ending the HIV epidemic. In 2025, the organization received the MLK Jr. Social Justice Award from The King Center in recognition of its leadership in advancing health equity.
How to Participate
Registration for the Florida AIDS Walk Concert is open online at FloridaAidsWalk.org. Participants can join the 5K walk, attend the music festival, or contribute through donations.
The event offers an opportunity for communities to unite in support of a shared mission: reducing new HIV infections, expanding access to care, and saving lives.
As Queen Latifah takes the stage in Fort Lauderdale, the Florida AIDS Walk Concert promises not only star power but also renewed energy in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS.
