Brooklyn’s most eccentric and beloved summer tradition is set to return for its 44th year, with Coney Island USA announcing that musician Jesse Malin and Grammy-winning songwriter Rickie Lee Jones will reign as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, respectively, at the 2026 Mermaid Parade.
The parade, scheduled for June 20 at 1 p.m., will once again wind through the streets of Coney Island, marking what many consider the unofficial start of summer in New York City.
Adam Rinn, Coney Island USA’s Artistic Director, said that the selections are a “dream come true.”
“There’s no other working artist in New York at the moment that’s more deserving to lead this parade than Jesse. Not only is he a talented musician and an incredible songwriter, he’s given artists of all disciplines venues around the city in which to showcase their art.”
On Jones, Rinn said she is “one of the best singer-songwriters ever! Rickie has influenced a generation of artists with her beautiful voice and her genre-defying blend of rock, jazz and pop.”
The announcement comes after a challenging year for the nonprofit organization behind the parade. Rinn acknowledged financial difficulties tied to economic pressures, development in Coney Island, and a GoFundMe campaign that amplified the cause, in a statement.
“Financially, we’ve been hit hard this past year, with the economy the way it is, the harsh winter and the battle to save Coney Island from a dreaded casino, we found ourselves tapped out. It got to the point that we had to open up a crowdfunding campaign,” he added.
At the April 16 State of the Borough address, Borough President Antonio Reynoso allocated funding to ensure the Mermaid Parade lives on.
‘Thanks to the public and a generous allocation from Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso, the money has been coming in so we’re able to start getting the ducks, or in this case, sea creatures lined up in a row,” Rinn said.
Reynoso echoed the Mermaid Parade’s cultural significance and the borough’s support.
“Nothing captures the magic of summer in Brooklyn better than the Mermaid Parade,” says Reynoso. “When Coney Island USA came to us in need, there was no question we had to step up.” This parade belongs to the people of Brooklyn and to the thousands of artists who pour their hearts into their costumes, floats, and performances every year. With Jesse Malin and Rickie Lee Jones as King and Queen, the 44th Annual Mermaid Parade is going to be an unforgettable celebration. I’m proud to help make it happen.”
As tradition dictates, this year’s king and queen will ride in a 1923 antique wicker rolling chair along the boardwalk route.
For Malin, a New York native long associated with the city’s rock scene, the honor follows a period of personal and professional resilience. After suffering a rare spinal stroke in 2023 that left him paralyzed from the waist down, he returned to the stage the following year. His career spans decades of critically acclaimed music, along with recent ventures into theater and literature.
Jones, widely regarded as one of the defining voices of her generation, brings a similarly storied legacy. A two-time Grammy winner, her career spans genres, blending jazz, rock and pop, alongside acclaimed memoirs and ongoing projects.
Malin and Jones join the likes of Lou Reed, David Byrne and Queen Latifah as former kings and queens. Registration for participants is now open, with full details available at coneyisland.com.
