Every year, thousands of people travel to Orlando to pay their respects at the site of the June 12, 2016 Pulse tragedy. Whether you’re a local who’s never been, a survivor’s loved one, an out-of-town visitor, or simply someone who feels called to honor the 49 lives lost, this page is a practical, respectful guide to visiting the Pulse memorial site in 2026.
Where the Pulse Memorial Is
The Pulse site is located at 1912 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806, in the South of Downtown (SoDo) neighborhood, about a 10-minute drive from downtown Orlando.
Parking is available on nearby residential streets and in a small lot across Orange Avenue. Please respect neighboring businesses and homes when parking. The site is accessible by car, rideshare, and Lynx bus Routes 7 and 107.
What You’ll See at the Site in 2026
If you visited the Pulse site before March 2026, the original nightclub building stood at the location for nearly a decade after the shooting, with an interim memorial wall, photos, flowers, and remembrances left by the community.
In March 2026, the original Pulse building was respectfully demolished as part of the City of Orlando’s process to construct the permanent memorial. The iconic Pulse sign was carefully removed beforehand and is being preserved for eventual incorporation into the permanent memorial.
Right now, the site is in an active construction phase. The permanent memorial is scheduled for completion in September 2027, designed through an extensive public process led by the City of Orlando with input from survivors, families of victims, and the broader LGBTQ+ community.
Even during construction, the site remains a place of remembrance. People continue to visit, leave flowers and small tokens, and take a moment to honor the 49.
The 49 Lives Lost
Any visit to Pulse should center the people who died there. The victims were overwhelmingly young, Latino, and queer. Most were attending the club’s weekly Latin Night with partners, friends, and chosen family. The youngest was 18. The oldest was 50.
Before you visit, please take time to learn their names and read their stories. Local Orlando journalists and organizations like One Orlando Alliance maintain biographical tributes to each of the 49.
How to Visit Respectfully
- This is sacred ground. People lost their lives here. Speak quietly. Take in the space before reaching for your phone.
- Photos are allowed — within reason. Respectful, personal photography is welcome. Selfies posed with the site or videos treating it as a content backdrop are not appropriate.
- Bring something if you feel moved to. Flowers, notes, and pride flags are common offerings. The community removes items periodically so the site doesn’t become overwhelmed.
- Pride Month and June 12 are busy. Each anniversary brings large gatherings, media, and candlelight vigils. If you want a quieter visit, consider other months.
- Don’t engage with protesters or agitators. If hateful counter-presence appears at the site, the community response is to ignore, document, and report — not confront.
- Respect survivors and families. You may encounter people who were at Pulse that night, or who lost someone there. Give them space. If you don’t know someone’s connection to the site, don’t ask intrusive questions.
What to Bring (and What Not to)
- Bring: water (Orlando is hot), sunscreen, something to leave if you want (flower, letter, pride flag), a tissue or two. Central Florida weather is unpredictable — check the forecast.
- Don’t bring: alcohol, loud music, signs with political slogans beyond “We Remember,” or any item intended to provoke.
Accessibility
The Pulse memorial site is outdoors and the ground surface varies as construction proceeds. Wheelchair access is generally available along Orange Avenue sidewalks. The permanent memorial design includes full ADA accessibility once construction is complete.
Places Nearby Worth Visiting
Many visitors pair a trip to the Pulse site with a stop at one or more of these nearby locations that are meaningful to Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community:
- Lake Eola Park — site of annual Pulse remembrance vigils and Come Out With Pride Orlando.
- The LGBT+ Center Orlando — the city’s central LGBTQ+ resource center, open to visitors.
- Downtown Orlando LGBTQ+ nightlife — including Anthem Orlando, where queer joy and community continue year-round.
Honoring Pulse isn’t only about grief. It’s also about continuing to show up for the living, loud, proud LGBTQ+ community the 49 were part of.
If Your Visit Brings Up Difficult Feelings
Visiting the Pulse site can be emotionally heavy, especially for LGBTQ+ people, survivors, or anyone who was affected by the tragedy. If you or someone with you needs support:
- The Trevor Project — crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth: call or text 1-866-488-7386.
- Trans Lifeline — peer support for trans people: 1-877-565-8860.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 24/7 support: dial or text 988.
- The LGBT+ Center Orlando — local in-person support and counseling referrals.
Keep the 49 With You
Visiting the Pulse memorial site is one form of remembrance. Others include supporting Latino LGBTQ+ organizations (many of the 49 were Puerto Rican), voting and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, supporting trans rights, donating to community organizations, and showing up to LGBTQ+ spaces with joy and presence.
For more context on the Pulse tragedy, the community’s response, and the memorial journey, read our longer piece: Remembering Pulse: How Orlando’s LGBTQ+ Community Keeps Rising.
Anthem Orlando — 100 North Orange Avenue, Downtown Orlando. In memory of the 49. In community with the living.