8 International LGBTQ+ Events Worth Travelling For

Let’s be honest, attending a Pride event or LGBTQ+ celebration abroad is a win-win. Not only is it a great way to explore somewhere new, but you can immerse yourself in the local queer community - not to mention, see how they like to party.

If these LGBTQ+ events in the UK and Ireland feel a little too local, this is your sign to go further afield to one of these amazing queer events worth travelling for.

Just outside Barcelona lies the seaside town of Sitges - also known as one of the gay capitals of Europe. But when June rolls around, Sitges also earns another accolade: throwing one of the most spectacular parties in all of Spain.

From a Pride Parade that’s as loud and colourful as the town’s signature Carnival earlier in the year (something you also should go to!) to drag shows and tribute nights (Spanish Kylie, anyone?) Sitges Pride is made even better by the fact that you can stay in Barcelona, then get the first train back in the morning.

When: June

Where: Sitges, Spain

Find out more: sitgespride.com

If you love watching (and playing) sport, the Gay Games are for you. Held every four years, this 10-day event celebrates sports and culture like the Olympics, but is a lotgayer. Not only is there a focus on LGBTQ+ identities and our allies , but those taking part in gendered events can self-identify into whichever category they feel most comfortable.

You can buy a ticket for the Games either as a participant or as a spectator. General entry includes the chance to take part in the Opening and Closing ceremonies and access to the Festival Village. And if you’re not quite as good at diving as Tom Daley, don’t worry - there’s no qualifying category in the Games and you can choose where you want to compete!

When: Every four years - 2026, 2030, etc

Where: Hosted by a different country each time

Find out more: gaygames.org 

Pride parades, drag shows and boat cruises - it must be Maspalomas Gay Pride. May each year brings around one of Europe's biggest (and sunniest!) Pride celebrations on the Spanish Canary Islands. If you prefer celebrating Pride with a beach in sight, this one is for you. Especially if you’re planning a queer European summer…

But there isn’t just a party in May on the islands. It’s also worth jumping on a flight in January for CanCanaria Adventure Week , in April for the Bear carnival , and in November for Winter Pride … well, you get the picture.

When: May, with LGBTQ+ events all year-round

Where: Canary Islands, Spain

Find out more: maspalomaspride.com 

If you’re into cinema, check out Frameline Film Festival, the LGBTQ+ event abroad aiming to ‘change the world through the power of queer cinema.’ Held every year in San Francisco, Frameline showcases a huge variety of LGBTQ+ films , alongside director Q&As and special guests from the world of acting.

Not only is it the oldest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world, but its spot in the late June calendar means the festival’s closing night coincides with San Fran’s Gay Pride Day - great if you fancy ticking off two great LGBTQ+ events in your travelling bingo card.

When: June

Where: San Francisco, U.S

Find out more: frameline.org 

The city of Berlin is already a favoured holiday destination for the queers. But if you head there in July, you’ll also get the chance to experience the largest Pride Parade in Germany - and one of the biggest in Europe. This is CSD, or Christopher Street Day.

Named to commemorate the Stonewall Riots on Christopher Street in June 1969, CSD festival is known for its colourful march and deep roots in political activism; while many Pride events only have hints of the original protest, CSD’s main focus is a rally for equal rights in the LGBTQ+ community. Which is exactly why Pride started in the first place!

When: Late July

Where: Berlin, Germany

Find out more: berlin.de/en/events/csd-christopher-street-day 

If you think bigger is always better, you can’t get much bigger than the world’s largest pride parade. São Paulo Pride attracts an estimated three to five million participants each year, which makes sense given that things start happening in the Brazilian city three weeks before the final weekend. There are concerts, performances, plays, street markets and even debates.

Speaking of debates, Sao Paulo Pride is as much a protest as it is a party. In 2024, organisers asked attendees to wear green and yellow to rebuke followers of the former far-right Brazilian President. Who led the march? None other than transgender icon Erika Hilton, who in 2022 became one of two openly trans people elected to Brazil’s congress.

When: Sunday after the Corpus Christi annual holiday

Where: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Find out more: instagram.com/paradasp 

Held every year in support of the LGBTQ community in Singapore, Pink Dot SG was started as a way of bringing queer Singaporeans closer to their family and friends in a country that’s largely conservative about the LGBTQ+ community. Today, Pink Dot events include everything from small booths organised by brands that support the queer community in Singapore, to fully-fledged concert performances.

But the best part of Pink Dot is undoubtedly the moment when all attendees gather to form the “dot” this event is known for; the colour was chosen for being the result of mixing red and white - the two colours of Singapore’s national flag. Since 2009, this statement has created a space ‘where sexual orientation represents a feature, not a barrier.’

When: May, June or July

Where: Singapore

Find out more: pinkdot.sg 

If you’ve always been looking for an excuse to travel around India, then make South Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ film festival your reason to go. The KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival takes place across multiple venues in Mumbai and makes a perfect jumping-off point for exploring the rest of the country.

Both cinema buffs and casual viewers will enjoy the chance to experience 150+ queer films from around the world, before watching panel discussions with industry big names. There’s a chance to engage in Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and even see incredible performances at the Opening and Awards night. Did we mention you can also walk the red carpet?

When: June

Where: Mumbai, India

Find out more: mumbaiqueerfest.com