Gay Festivals Calendar 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Queer-Friendly Festivals & LGBTQ+ Events Worldwide

The incredible response to our Pride Calendar posts made one thing clear: our community is eager to know where and when the best queer celebrations are happening. And we get it...we want to be there too!

That’s why we’ve decided to gather all the must-attend LGBTQ+ festivals worldwide into one master calendar.

Click here or scroll the interactive calendar below to explore events visually

👉 Important Note: This list is specifically focused on music, culture, and party festivals. It is not about LGBTQ+ film festivals, art festivals, or Pride Parades alone. We've already created dedicated calendars for those (see the list below 👇). While some of these festivals coincide with local Pride events, they stand out as major, distinct attractions.

We've also intentionally excluded gay ski weeks (but don't fret, we have a dedicated post for those right here).

This guide is all about summer energy: think beats, beaches, and vibrant culture. These are the iconic events where global queer communities unite to celebrate our joy, freedom, and spirit.

Our mission? To inspire you...and ourselves...to travel the world and experience that unparalleled queer joy, one incredible festival at a time.

Your Global Gay & Queer Festivals Calendar for 2026 📅

To begin with, take a look at our global festival calendar for 2025. These mark the dates of each festival’s main week or main event days. Most of them happen between spring and late summer, but you’ll also find a few special events in winter (yes, queer joy never takes a season off 🌈).

If you are looking for specific dates, a short description, and where to stay nearby, just scroll down...you’ll find each individual festival listed below.

✈️ Important Note: Festival dates are subject to change and some are still to be confirmed (TBC). Always double-check the official festival websites before booking any travel.

Add the Calendar to Your Google Account 📅

To easily track all the events, you can add our global calendar directly to your Google Calendar: 📲 Click here to access and subscribe to the Gay Festival Google Calendar

Gay & Queer Festivals: By Continent and Country 🌍

To make life easier, we grouped festivals by continent and country and listed them in chronological order. This way, you can plan your trip smoothly... and maybe even connect two festivals into one journey 😘.

Gay Festivals in Europe

Belgium 🇧🇪

Tomorrowland (The Shorre, Boom)

• Events Dates: October 2026
• About: While a mainstream mega-festival, it has a huge, welcoming LGBTQ+ following and often features prominent queer artists. The "Freedom" stage and overall atmosphere are famously inclusive.

La Demence Anniversary (Bruxelles)

• Events Dates: Halloween Weekend
• About: Celebrates its anniversary with top-tier DJs, dance floors, and legendary costumes—Euroqueer party legend.
• Where to stay: The Hotel Brussels — A sleek and modern design hotel that is proudly inclusive, featuring a legendary sky bar with breathtaking 360-degree views of the city.

Croatia 🇭🇷

Outlook Festival (Pula)

• Events Dates: 23-27 July 2026
• Description: A cornerstone of the bass music scene (dubstep, drum & bass, garage) with a deeply ingrained ethos of diversity and inclusion. It has a strong, organic queer presence.

Czechia 🇨🇿

Colours of Ostrava (Ostrava)

• Events Dates: 15-18 July
• About: Massive international music festival with a queer-friendly vibe; not exclusively queer but inclusive and diverse.

Denmark 🇩🇰

Copenhagen Distortion (Copenhagen)

• Events Dates: 3-7 June
• About: Street-wide electronic dance movement through neighborhoods and harbors—open, vibrant, and queer-welcoming.
• Where to stay: 1 Hotel Copenhagen - This eco-luxury haven, bearing the Proud label, blends sustainable design with Scandinavian warmth right on the bustling waterfront.

Estonia 🇪🇪

Tallinn Bearty (Tallinn)

• Events Dates: 16-19 April
• About: Bear culture meets queer music, arts, and bear-positive community dialogues.
• Where to stay: Swissotel Tallinn — A modern landmark in the city center, this Travel Proud certified hotel offers sleek design and panoramic views with a commitment to inclusive hospitality.

France 🇫🇷

WE Party (Paris)

• Events Dates: Paris Gay Pride Weekend and New Year's Eve
• About: While originally from Barcelona, We Party is a massive brand that hosts enormous, festival-like events in Paris. These are not traditional outdoor festivals but are huge indoor (and sometimes outdoor) events in large venues like the Béton sur Seine or the Docks de Paris, featuring world-famous DJs and thousands of attendees.
• Where to stay: Le Pavillon de la Reine & Spa, Place des Vosges — A hidden gem in the Marais, this Proud certified hotel offers timeless Parisian elegance and intimate charm within one of the city's oldest squares.

Germany 🇩🇪

Easter Berlin (Berlin)

• Events Dates: Easter Weekend
• About: A legendary series of high-energy indoor circuit parties that draw a global crowd for an unforgettable long weekend of electronic music and celebration.
• Where to stay: Leonardo Royal Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz — A chic 4-star Superior hotel ideally positioned for discovering Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, the core of Berlin's queer culture.

Lesbian and Gay City Festival (Berlin)

• Events Dates: June
• About: Huge street festival around Nollendorfplatz—music, wellness, politics, and community gathering.

Rave The Planet: Love Parade (Berlin)

• Events Dates: July (Usually 2 weeks before the Berlin Pride)
• About: Huge street festival around Nollendorfplatz...music, wellness, politics, and community gathering.

WHOLE Festival (Ferropolis, Germany)

• Events Dates: July or August
• About: A queer-focused electronic music festival set in a lakeside industrial site with a utopian, sex-positive vibe. Feel like dancing in a post-apocalyptic utopia—electronic freedom and playful expression. — Perfect for anyone looking for raw energy and queer unity under open skies.

Folsom Europe (Schöneberg district, Berlin)

• Events Dates: September (Annual)
• About: Fetish and leather street fair in Schöneberg, blending activism, community, and fetish culture.
  Raw, bold, and unapologetic—this is after-hours culture in broad daylight. — If kink is part of your journey, Folsom offers both visibility and solidarity.

Hustlaball (Berlin)

• Events Dates: 16-18 October
• Description: An internationally renowned fetish and party event, celebrated for its high-energy atmosphere, daring themes, and powerful sense of liberation within the queer community.

Berlin Festival of Lights (Berlin)

• Events Dates: October.
• Description: While not a music-only festival, this city-wide event includes many queer parties and events. Berlin's entire club scene is a de facto queer-friendly festival.

Greece 🇬🇷

Queer Ranch Festival (Lesbos)

• Events Dates: Late May
• About: Sapphic-focused 5-day beach party with DJs, workshops, cinema, wild swimming, and connection.

Xlsior (Mykonos)

• Events Dates: Second Last Week of August
• About: A premier international gay summer festival, transforming the island into a luxurious paradise of world-class DJs, stunning pool parties, and glamorous seaside events.
• Where to stay: Cavo Tagoo Mykonos — An iconic cliffside sanctuary featuring infinity pools, chic suites, and spectacular Aegean Sea views—perfect for a romantic escape.

Ireland 🇮🇪

The Outing Festival (Co Clare)

• Events Dates: Valentine’s Weekend (Feb)
• About: LGBTQ+ matchmaking retreat with live music and drag—heartfelt and magnetic.

Dykonic (Dublin)

• Events Dates: August
• About: Queer women+, trans, and nonbinary music festival—a sapphic sonic space.
• Where to stay: Conrad Dublin — Situated in the heart of the city, this Proud certified hotel provides sophisticated, contemporary luxury and is steps away from Dublin's vibrant cultural quarter.

Italy 🇮🇹

Pride Village (Padua)

• Events Dates: Half-June to half-September, 2026
• About: Three months of culture, music, talks, sport, activist talks, clubbing, and drag shows at Padua’s fairgrounds, in the heart of the Veneto region. This is more than just a festival—it’s the inclusive summer heartbeat of Northern Italy. — the mix of comedy, drag, sports, and talks made me feel part of a community, not just a party.
• Where to stay: Hotel Majestic Toscanelli — A charming boutique hotel in Padua's historic center, perfect for discovering the Veneto region from a cozy and intimate base.

Area Roma Pride (Rome)

• Events Dates: Since the Rome Pride until half of August
• About: A dynamic season of culture, music, art, and activism taking over the city's venues. This is more than a series of parties—it's the powerful, collective voice of the Italian capital. The blend of live performances, thought-provoking discussions, and electrifying parties created a profound sense of belonging and celebration.
• Where to stay: Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie — A romantic Roman hideaway featuring a dreamy courtyard garden, offering serene luxury in the heart of the city.

Netherlands 🇳🇱

...IsBurning (Utrecht)

• Events Dates: June
• About: Intimate techno parties that embrace freedom and queer expression.

Amsterdam Open Air (Amsterdam)

• Events Dates: Early June
• About: A large electronic and house music festival known for its open and friendly atmosphere, attracting a significant LGBTQ+ crowd.
• Where to stay: W Amsterdam — A daring five-star property moments from Dam Square, featuring ultra-modern design, premium amenities, and a rooftop pool with stunning city views.

Milkshake Festival (Amsterdam)

• Events Dates: Early August
• About: Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ pop and drag music carnival with bold performances and DJs. See our review here.

Tropikali Festival (Amsterdam)

• Events Dates: 13 June
• About: Tropical-themed queer beats at NDSM harbor—Latin, Balkan, and underground grooves.

Superflirt Festival (Amsterdam)

• Events Dates: August
• About: Boutique queer party featuring drag Olympics, flirtation, and inclusive acts.

Portugal 🇵🇹

Neopop Festival (Viana do Castelo)

• Events Dates: August
• About: A respected electronic music festival known for its techno and house lineup and its inclusive, forward-thinking crowd.

Spain 🇪🇸

Sónar (Barcelona)

• Events Dates: Mid-June
• About: A massive and influential festival of advanced music and multimedia art. It has a long-standing reputation for a progressive, open-minded, and queer-friendly audience.
• Where to Stay: W Barcelona — A sail-shaped architectural icon situated right on the beach, offering luxurious rooms, panoramic sea vistas, and easy access to the city's vibrant queer scene.

Circuit Festival (Barcelona)

• Events Dates: August 1–9, 2026
• About: A full week of day-to-night parties—think matinée raves, beachside DJ sets, and iconic “Pervert” events. — Trust me, this is unmissable. I’ve done it twice—it’s vibrant, international, and the water park + Papa party are game-changers. All the pool, sand, and sun energy in one place. (Main Party: Water park)

Matrix Sun Festival (Torremolinos)

• Events Dates: Mid-August
• About: Over-the-top beach circuit parties with DJs, GoGos, and theme nights.
  This Madrid-based circuit brand brings the energy to the Costa del Sol every summer—visuals, DJs, sexy dancers included. — Book early and prep for non-stop dancing from noon to dawn.
  Where to stay: Moon Dreams Torremolinos (Adults recommended) — An adults-only retreat that is proudly inclusive, offering a relaxed, sun-drenched atmosphere just a short walk from the beach and gay nightlife.

The Girlie Circuit Festival (Barcelona)

• Events Dates: August
• About: Women-centered beach, party and sports programming within Circuit Festival.

Sweden 🇸🇪

West Pride (Gothenburg)

• Events Dates: June
• About: LGBTQ+ cultural festival featuring films, theater, talks, and performance held across museums and theaters. Artsy, inclusive, and intellectually rich—Pride with substance. — It strikes the perfect balance between activist energy and deep cultural engagement.

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Mighty Hoopla (London)

• Events Dates: Summer (ticket capacity ~25,000)
• About: Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ pop and drag music carnival with bold performances and DJs.
• Where to stay: The Soho Hotel — A stylish boutique hotel in the heart of London, offering spacious rooms, a warmly welcoming ambiance, and effortless access to the West End.

Out & Wild (Abbotsham, North Devon)

• Events Dates: Early July
• About: Women+, nonbinary, and trans camping fest with wellness, silent DJs, comedy, surfing, and spoken word.

Meltdown Festival (London)

• Events Dates: June
• About: Curated each year by a different iconic artist (often queer or strong allies like Christine and the Queens or Grace Jones). The lineup is inherently reflective of that artist's queer-friendly circle.

Glastonbury Festival (Pilton)

• Events Dates: Late June (not every year)
• About: The legendary festival has a dedicated area called "The NYC Downlow," a fully immersive queer NYC disco experience, making it one of the most queer-friendly major festivals in the world.

Homobloc (Manchester)

• Events Dates: TBC
• About: Marathon queer music and art fest—intense, UK queer energy on full display

Gay Festivals in North America

United States 🇺🇸

Coachella (Indio, California)

• Events Dates: Two weekends in April
• About: This mainstream giant has a significant queer presence, especially on the fields and at the "Out on the Fields" activation by GLAAD. Many attendees see it as a fashion and cultural pilgrimage.

Electric Daisy Carnival (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Events Dates: May
• About: The largest electronic dance music festival in North America, built on the ethos of PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect). It has a massive and very visible LGBTQ+ contingent.
• Where to stay The Venetian Resort Las Vegas By Suiteness — A Travel Proud certified resort providing spacious suites and a tranquil oasis just off the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

Bear Week (Provincetown, MA)

• Events Dates: 12-18 July
• About: Nine days of pool parties, beach hangouts, dance nights, and leather events, all set in the most queer-friendly town in New England. A delightful mix of celebration and community.
• Where to stay: Brasswood Inn — A quintessentially P-Town retreat, celebrated for its deeply welcoming atmosphere and stylish, comfortable accommodations in the heart of it all.

Girl Splash (Provincetown, Massachusetts)

• Events Dates: July
• About: A long-running music and arts festival for queer women, featuring DJs, pool parties, and performances.

Lightning in a Bottle (Buena Vista, California)

• Events Dates: 20-24 May
• About: A transformational festival with a strong focus on community, art, and yoga alongside its music lineup. It is explicitly welcoming and celebratory of all identities.

Lazy Bear Week (Guerneville, CA)

• Events Dates: 27 July - 3 August
• About: Self-described as the “biggest, hairiest, burliest, craziest, laziest fund-raiser,” this bear festival blends community bonds with thoughtful activism and fun.

Folsom Street Fair (San Francisco, CA)

• Events Dates: September
• About: San Francisco transforms during the Folsom weekend. While not a confined festival, the city's energy shifts, creating a pervasive, city-wide carnival that extends far beyond the main event. San Francisco: The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco — A Nob Hill legend that marries sophistication with comfort, located just a short distance from the city's iconic LGBTQ+ neighborhoods.

Key West Bear Weekend (Key West, FL)

• Events Dates: Late October
• About: Sunset pool parties, themed nights, and relaxed island vibes—this is autumn bear celebration at its coziest.

Palm Springs Leather Pride (Palm Springs, CA)

• Events Dates: Late October
• About: A spirited, leather-centric festival with shows, competitions, cruise alley walks, and tons of queer energy.
• Where to Stay: La Quinta Resort & Club — A historic desert oasis and Travel Proud certified property, famed for its iconic casitas, sprawling pools, and legendary hospitality.

World Bear Weekend (Lexington, KY)

• Events Dates: Late October/Early November
• About: A global gathering of bear culture with themed parties, communal events, and a spirited Halloween/Day-of-the-Dead twist.

Swaggotfest (NYC, USA)

• Events Dates: Date Varies (TBC)
• About: A DIY anarcho-pride underground rave featuring hyperpop, acid techno, zines, and radical art activism — queer resistance in club form.
  Where to stay: The Greenwich Hotel — An intimate Tribeca retreat combining understated luxury with authentic style, nestled near downtown NYC's iconic LGBTQ+ spots.

Canada 🇨🇦

Igloofest (Montreal)

• Events Dates: 15 January - 7 February
• About: An outdoor winter electronic music festival where the crowd is as vibrant as the music. The queer community is a huge part of its identity.
• Where to stay: Hotel William Gray — A chic, contemporary hotel in Montreal’s Old Port, complete with beautiful rooftop terraces and prime access to the city's gay village.

Mexico 🇲🇽

Bahidora (Las Estacas, Morelos)

• Events Dates: 13-15 February
• About: A carefully curated "boutique" festival focusing on indie, electronic, and alternative music. It attracts a stylish, open-minded, and inclusive crowd.

Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Holy Ship Wrecked

• Events Dates: Varies, often March (TBC)
• About: It's organized by US promoters. This beach festival is the successor to the legendary Holy Ship and is known for its incredibly tight-knit, weird, and queer-friendly community.

Gay Festivals in South America

Brazil 🇧🇷

Tomorrowland (Itu, São Paulo)

• Events Dates: April 30 - May 2, 2027
• About: Brazilian version of the Belgian party set to be in Parque Maeda Itu, São Paulo

Argentina 🇦🇷

Quiero Quiero Queer Tango Festival (Buenos Aires)

• Events Dates: Various dates (TBC)
• About: Queer-affirming tango gatherings and milongas, offering dance culture with heartfelt resonance and queer closeness.
  Where to stay: Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires — A restored palace in the elegant Recoleta district, fusing old-world grandeur with contemporary luxury for a truly glamorous stay.

Vendimia para Todxs (Mendoza)

• Events Dates: February/March (TBC)
• About: A flamboyant queer wine harvest festival with drag queens, floats, and grape-throwing beauty pageant fun.

Gay Festivals in Asia

Japan 🇯🇵

Rainbow Disco Club (Izu, Shizuoka)

• Events Dates: 17 - 19 April
• About: Daytime countryside rave with techno legends and queer-friendly all-weather party energy.
• Where to stay: Park Hotel Tokyo — An art-filled, design-centric hotel with impressive skyline views, conveniently located for exploring Tokyo's dynamic queer nightlife.

Taiwan 🇹🇼

White ball - X-Formosa Rainbow Music Festival (Taipei)

• Events Dates: Late October (Pride Weekend)
• About: Three night parties with distinct dress-code themes like Black Arena, White Ball, Woof Tea Dance, and Pink!
• Where to stay: HINOEN Hotel— A tranquil, Proud certified ryokan (traditional inn) offering an authentic Japanese experience with serene hot springs and meticulous service.

Organik Festival (Taiwan)

• Events Dates: April (TBC)
• About: Coastal camping rave with international DJs, warm vibes, community spirit, and dance under starlit skies.

Thailand 🇹🇭

Circuit Festival Asia (Pattaya)

• Events Dates: Between May and June (TBC)
• About: Beach & water park parties powered by DJs, circuit energy brought to Southeast Asia—think Barcelona’s rave scene on Thai sand.

White Party (Bangkok)

• Events Dates: Songkran and NYE
• About: Asia's most iconic gay circuit party, which transforms into a large-scale festival during Songkran and New Year's. It's known for its electrifying music, spectacular production, and massive, international crowds.
• Where to stay: SO/ Bangkok — A bold, design-forward luxury hotel overlooking Lumpini Park, celebrated for its rooftop pool and vibrant, inclusive atmosphere.

Wonderfruit (Pattaya)

• Events Dates: December
• About: A sustainable arts and music festival celebrating creativity and inclusivity. While not exclusively LGBTQ+, it's known for its welcoming atmosphere, diverse lineup, and strong queer presence in its art installations and performances.
• Where to stay: Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa — A beachfront sanctuary offering modern luxury and a welcoming environment, perfectly positioned for both relaxation and festival access.

South Korea 🇰🇷

Jeju Queer Culture Festival (Jeju Island)

• Events Dates: July (TBC)
• About: Cultural performances and solidarity in Korea’s queer-friendly beach region.

Vietnam 🇻🇳

Equation (Mai Châu)

• Events Dates: 3-5 April
• About: A “rave in a cave,” underground vibes, electronic escape in an epic natural setting.

Gay Festivals in Oceania

Australia 🇦🇺

Beyond the Valley (Lardner)

• Events Dates: December - January
• About: A popular New Year's camping festival that prides itself on a progressive, inclusive policy and attracts a diverse, queer-friendly audience.

Midsumma (Melbourne)

• Events Dates: January - February
• About: A vibrant and diverse celebration of Melbourne's LGBTQIA+ community, spanning weeks with an expansive program of art, culture, live performance, and public events.
• Where to stay: Crown Towers Melbourne — An opulent riverside retreat featuring lavish rooms, world-class dining, and convenient access to Melbourne’s celebrated nightlife and Pride events.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Sydney)

• Events Dates: 13 February - 1 March
• About: Iconic parade and massive shindigs including Fair Day, Harbour Party, and Bondi Beach Drag Races. Big, bold, and electric.
• Where to stay: The Langham Sydney — A refined urban sanctuary in the center of Sydney, boasting luxurious suites, a decadent spa, and proximity to the entertainment hubs of Darling Harbour and Oxford Street.

Gay Festivals in Africa

South Africa 🇿🇦

Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival (Knysna)

• Events Dates: Late April–May
• About: Drag, beard parties, art festivals, and parades in coastal Knysna—South Africa’s biggest LGBTQ carnival with camp, heart, and art. (Wikipedia)

AfroPunk (Johannesburg)

• Events Dates: December (TBC)
• About: The Johannesburg edition of this global festival, centered on Black alternative culture, fiercely embodies the "No Sexism, No Racism, No Ableism, No Ageism, No Homophobia, No Fatphobia, No Transphobia" mission. It is explicitly and proudly queer-friendly.
• Where to stay: African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection* — A boldly designed, Proud certified hotel located in Johannesburg's chic Melrose Arch precinct, known for its vibrant art and social scene.

And there you have it...your ultimate guide to the world's most bangin' queer-friendly festivals and LGBTQ+ events

From the iconic circuit parties of Europe to the vibrant community celebrations across the globe, this calendar is your passport to a year filled with queer joy, inclusivity, and unforgettable music. We hope this inspires you to pack your bags, connect with our global community, and create memories that last a lifetime.