Where would you like to celebrate?

With PRIDE marches and rally’s beginning in the 1970’s - building awareness and acceptance of the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community - over the decades that followed, the PRIDE movement has mushroomed into an international bonanza of marches and parades celebrating and continuing to build support for LGBTQ+ issues.

What began as major international cities championing the PRIDE movement now also has spread the celebrations to numerous minor centers around the world opening the freedoms to more and more of the world. So where would you like to include in your travels and shout your story loud and proud?

Gay PRIDE festivals and events

Now that we are re-opening post-covid for travel, many virtual events of the past few years are back live and in person. Many pick up where they left off, offering a range of celebrations from outright Mardi Gras-style with parades and festivals raising the Pride flag high to more politicized marches and parades in countries still fighting the acceptance battle to earn the rights of same-sex marriages, legal protections and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

Adding a PRIDE celebration to your future travel itinerary introduces you to a friendly like-minded community (so you can make some new friends), in a destination possibly on your bucket list (mixing fun with sight-seeing), generally at a time of year that the weather is optimal for a grand party parade. What’s not to love?

12 PRIDE celebrations you might want to visit

The Big Ones

Sao Paulo, Brazil – May 29 - June 2, 2024

New York City, US - June 23 - 25, 2023

San Francisco, US – June 24 - 25, 2023

Madrid, Spain – June 28 - July, 2, 2023

Some International fun

Toronto, Canada – June 23 - 25, 2023

London, England – July 1, 2023 (Parade)

Berlin, Germany – June 28 - July 23, 2023

Soeul, South Korea – still TBD 2023

Other exotic destinations

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – February 9 - 17, 2024 (Rio Carnival)

Amsterdam, Belgium – July 30 - August 6, 2023

Melbourne, Australia – January 21 - February 11, 2024

Mykonos, Greece – August 16 - 23, 2023

For more information on PRIDE Festivals around world and gay-friendly travel resources:

• Complete List of Pride Events around the world with 100’s of celebrations listed. 
• Search Pride Events by month of travel
• Search Pride Events by North American city
• IGLTA Travel Resources
• Gaytravel.com Travel Resources

Whether you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or a supporter of their rights and freedoms, these festivals and parades are a boisterous, loud and proud, celebration of a lifestyle still with its challenges in many places of the world. At home or abroad, lend your voice and your presence to be an active supporter to their cause and experience the cultural differences in these communities around the world.

Have you attended a PRIDE celebration at home or abroad? Have you incorporated international Pride celebrations into your travel planning? Let us know about your experiences. Drop a comment below and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.