Wizards of the Coast's Magic: Presents Pride 2026 event has been a "very positive" experience according to a poll put on by the company to Wizards Play Network (WPN) member local game stores.
According to the poll, 71 percent of respondent reported the event as being "very positive" for the stores with a total of 85 percent saying it's been "positive" or better. Only two percent of respondents say the event was "negative" or "very negative."
In the event, according to Wizards, players pick any two legal commanders and pair them up to express their Pride in a way that's unique to them.
Magic Presents: Pride participants received a traditional foil Gilded Lotus promo card (while supplies last) featuring artwork by Merlin G.G. This illustration depicts the Gruulfriends, Chandra and Nissa, in a peaceful, tender moment. Players could also receive an enamel pin depicting Merlin G.G's Gilded Lotus (also, while supplies last).
"Great event, pins were gone within the first hour or two, promos thankfully lasted the whole day." says Sean Johnson, owner of Brute Force Games in North Park, Calif.
"We had an awesome turn out and it was so fun seeing all the different partner combos," added Keontaye Williams, a Magic content creator and co-owner of Kitsune Brewing Co. in Phoenix, Ariz.
Some venues, though, refused to run the event which wound up being a boon to other area stores that did.
"My store was packed and we handed out all but one promo…we were really starting to stress there for a bit," says Allen Walker, owner of Dragon's Den Gaming in Beckley, West Virginia. "We were wondering why so many new people had come to the store and later on found out that the neighboring store refused to run this event and upset a large portion of their community. So they all left, quit their discords and have migrated over to my store and are refusing to go back to the other store."
Magic Presents: Pride continues throughout the month of June, so players interested in playing haven't missed out quite yet. They just need to check with their LGS to see if and when they might be running the event.
