It’s an important way to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, but most importantly it’s a crucial way to show LGBTQ+ communities from around the world that they’re not alone and that we’re all fighting together for full equality and recognition everywhere.
Pride events are beautiful, magical and color-popping celebrations of freedom that are attended by members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
June is the official month of pride, it commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Today’s events celebrate the uprising that led to gay liberation and fought for gay rights, and we’ve found 15 of the best events that are held around the world.
1. Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras takes place in the capital of New South Wales, the Aussies sure know how to party and it’s cemented by the fact that thousands of people from around Australia and overseas will travel to take part in this vibrant celebration.
It’s been around since the late 70s and it’s only gotten more popular, the first Mardi Gras was held on June 24 as an evening celebration which followed a march that protested to end discrimmination against gay people.
It begins on the second Thursday in February and lasts for a month. It’s full of celebrations where you have everything from White Parties to trans-glamor fashion shows and art screenings.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras launched a bid to host WorldPride 2023, and won, this will be the first time that WorldPride will be held in the Southern Hemisphere. So make sure you’re there for it, you won’t want to miss it!
2. Tel Aviv, Israel
Gay rights in Israel have changed immensly since the years following the British mandate over Palestine, which outlawed homosexuality.
The Middle East is still quite homophobic, but Tel Aviv is the best place to celebrate pride and it’s actually known as the gay capital of the region.
The first time that Tel Aviv Pride Parade took place was in the early 90s, in 2016 there were 200,000 participants reported, which made it one of the largest in the world.
Puerto Vallarta Pride is a relatively new event, it first started in 2011, but despite its short presence it still offers a range of events that cater toward the entire LGBTQ+ community.
Puerto Vallarta Pride is recognized worldwide as an LGBTQ+ mecca, gay travellers from the US and Canada flock have flocked to Puerto Vallarta since the 60s and have given Zona Romantica the name “gayborhood”, which of course is where Puerto Vallarta Pride is held.
Zona Romantica is packed with gay bars, restaurants and gay clubs, so there’s plenty to do whilst you’re visiting for pride.
4. Madrid, Spain
Spain has been celebrating pride since 1978 and its capital hosts MADO Madrid Orgullo during the weekend directly after June 28 over in the Chueca gay neighborhood.
Madrid Pride has gone from being a small concentration of people in the 70s and 80s to being considered one of the biggest LGBTQ+ parties in Europe.
Come along for a week-long event, partying with DJs and drag queens and make sure to show up on July 2 for the annual Pride parade that shows spectacular floats from Atocha station to Plaza de Colon.
5. London, England
2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the first pride celebration in the UK. The festival’s events and location within London often change every year, but it’s always close to Oxford Street.
The 2015 Gay Pride Parade attracted 1 million people, which made it the 7th largest gay event in the world, and the larget Gay Pride Parade and Gay event ever held in the UK.
Pride in London is a family-friendly event, so it’s a great place to bring your children to educate them on LGBTQ+ issues and celebrate them simultaneously. 2022 is also the 10th anniversary of Pride’s Got Talent, which you just have to see if you visit!
6. Chicago, US
Chicago Pride Parade is one of the largest pride events by attendance in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
Music lovers flock to Chicago from all over the world to experience Chicago Pride Fest from June 17-19 at Pride in the Park, in which globally renowned artists will perform followed by a huge firework display.
The Pride Parade starts on June 26th and since 2013 it has consistently reached over 1 million people, and the number is continuously growing.
7. Key West, US
Florida may have just passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but the tropical island of Key West will open you with open arms. Known for its open and accepting atmosphere, Key West Pride celebrates Pride for an entire week between June 1 to June 5.
It adopts a “One Human Family” philosophy and has since created one of the most integrated and unique communities in the world.
Key West is the perfect place for partygoers, the queer nightlife is unrivaled featuring gay dance clubs and women-only bars. There’s so many activities to enjoy during Key West Pride, that there’s never a dull moment.
8. Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm Pride has been held since 1998, and ever since it’s been continuously growing. It boasted 60,000 participants with another 600,000 following the parade through the streets, this makes it the largest Pride celebration in Scandinavia.
It takes place from August 3 – 7 but it doesn’t just stop there, why not take part in Run for Pride? It takes place on June 2 in Stockholm’s Haga Park.
Or even Pride Park, which features music, artists and nightly parties, but there’s plenty of family-oriented activities to take part in too.
9. Manchester, England
The Manchester Pride Festival takes over the city every year during August bank holiday weekend, it includes a parade, candlelight vigil and live music in the gay village. It’s one of the longest running in the country and attracts thousands of people to its gay village every year.
Most of the events are adult-only and perfect for party-goers, but if you’re looking for a family friendly event, Youth Pride MCR is a great event to visit to celebrate Pride with your family.
10. Montevideo, Uruguay
Being that Uruguay is the most LGBTQ+ friendly country in Latin America, annual Pride celebrations have taken place in Montevideo since the 90s.
Montevideo’s pride is currently known as the Diversity March, or Marcha por la Diversidad in Spanish, which takes place on September 30 and the demonstration boasts 30,000 people taking to the streets, followed by local candombe drumming groups.
11.Taipei, Taiwan
This was the first place in East Asia to legalize gay marriage, so of course a huge, colorful celebration is in order.
The parade was first held in 2003, and groups from all over the country join in, in 2019 more than 200,000 people participated in Taiwan Pride, making it the largest gay pride event in East Asia.
You just have to join in the Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade that takes place on October 29, which starts at Taipei City Hall and ends at Ketagalan Avenue.
12. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town was the first country in the world to include a sexual orientation clause in its constitution, making it mostly LGBTQ+ friendly.
The first Pride event in Cape Town was in 1993 and has occurred annually ever since, make sure to get yourself to Cape Town for Pride in February 2023 for an experience that you’ll never forget.
13. West Hollywood, US
Home of LA pride, West Hollywood holds one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation.
This year, West Hollywood kicked off celebrations in its inaugural WeHO Pride during June 3-5, which included a 3-day ticketed OUTLOUD Raising Voices Musical Festival, the Dyke March and Women’s Freedom Festival.
14. Portland, US
Portland is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the US, and its Pride mirrors it fantastically. It includes a 2-day festival at Waterfront Park along with a beautiful, colorful and epic joyous parade winding through downtown Portland.
Portland was also the first major city to elect an openly gay mayor, Sam Adams in 2008, so their history of LGBTQ+ celebration has been rife for a number of years.
15. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is one of the most gay-friendly cities in Europe, and the Berlin Pride Celebration, also known as Christopher Street Day Berlin, is one of the largest gay and lesbian organized events in Germany and one of the biggest in Europe.
It’s held on July 23, in front of the Victory Column which allows for a big watching party.
Feel free to take part in the Dyke March and visit some of the afterparties, which are absolutely incredible. If you ever happen to find yourself in Berlin during CSD Berlin, you just have to go!
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
I love sharing my travel stories with anyone who will listen, and now I want to share them with the world through my new website! Not only that, but I want to inspire others and teach you about LGBTQ+ travel, queer media, pride, and much more.
Enjoy my website and, more importantly, enjoy learning about important subjects that need more educational attention. Thanks for stopping by!
