Throughout the summer, cities around the world will host Pride, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and honoring the history and losses they’ve experienced. If you are looking for the most colorful, jubilant and cultural Pride festivals this year, head to these top spots.
What is Pride?
Pride events are an opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other queer individuals to come together. The LGBTQ+ community and their allies celebrate their unique identities and history while promoting LGBTQ+ activism and awareness.
The first Pride march took place in June 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of the previous year. These riots, ignited by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, marked a pivotal moment in the history of gay rights and led to a surge of activism and support for LGBTQ+ rights in the following decades.
Pride events quickly spread around the world. Today’s Pride events include parades, festivals, protests and parties, often lasting several days. While hundreds of towns and cities host their own events, these are the top cities and best countries to visit for Pride celebrations.
Pride festivals around the United States
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the U.S. and many cities honor the month with marches and festivals. Attend events from coast to coast, including historic Pride celebrations, throughout the month of June.
Celebrate LGBTQIA+ history at NYC Pride
Pride started in New York City after the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village. Today, NYC Pride is a civil rights demonstration that honors activists of the past, memorializes those lost to the AIDS epidemic and celebrates today’s community. NYC is one of the best places to visit on the east coast for Pride. Locals and visitors alike come together to make this one of the largest Pride celebrations with over two million attendees.
Pride events in NYC happen throughout the month of June, culminating in PrideFest and the famous NYC Pride March on Jun 30, 2024. The Pride March starts at 25th Street and 5th Avenue and travels through Manhattan. Join a registered group to march in the parade or watch from the sidelines. Happening concurrently, PrideFest is a street fair in Greenwich Village. It features vendors, exhibitions, community leaders and celebrity performances all day long.
Attend San Francisco Pride events
San Francisco, CA has a thriving LGBTQ+ community. In June, the city hosts a month of events throughout the city. Experience SF history at the Kickoff Party on June 7. Now in its second year, the SF Pride Civil Rights Summit is on June 27 in the Embarcadero.
On June 30, the SF Pride Parade brings together over a million marchers and spectators. The 2024 parade will feature Billy Porter as the Celebrity Grand Marshal and headliner at the Pride Celebration on Sunday. Afterward, celebrate with the community at SF Pride Official After Party on June 29 and SF Pride Party at City Hall on June 30, or explore the city to find hundreds of events at local bars, clubs, theaters and more.
Summer’s largest global Pride festivals
The world’s largest Gay Pride parade takes place in São Paulo, Brazil, annually drawing over three million attendees, according to Brazil Reports. The parade takes place each year on the Sunday following Corpus Christi, usually near the beginning of June. In the weeks before the parade, experience hundreds of parties around the city. Parties following the parade often move to local clubs and go late into the night.
Asia’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride parade is in Taipei, Taiwan, in October. As the last celebration of the season on October 24 through 26, this is a great way to end a summer of Pride. Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalize gay marriage. The parade and parties at local clubs are an opportunity for locals and visitors to celebrate their community.
Best Pride celebrations in Europe
Combining vibrant diversity with local culture, cities in Europe organize Pride events all summer long. You can plan a trip to one of these iconic cities or tour Europe to participate in events throughout the summer. Bring your best Pride gear, your camera and the best camera backpack for travel for unforgettable memories.
Madrid, Spain, is one of Europe’s largest and most welcoming Pride festivals. In 2024, it will run from June 28 to July 7. It will feature a street fair, outdoor concerts, sporting events and parties. Mr. Gay Pride España on July 5 is a thrilling pageant competition to choose who will represent Spain. The week is capped off by the WorldPride Parade on July 6 which expects to welcome over two million attendees.
Since its first Pride march in 1979, Berlin, Germany, brings its eclectic and diverse spirit to Pride. Kick off Pride with a boat trip along the River Spree with Pride Boats on July 13. The main celebration runs from July 20 to July 27, ending with the Christopher Street Day Parade and Euphoria after party.
Pride in Amsterdam is unique for its Canal Parade on August 3, 2024, which will travel along the city’s historic waterways. Over 300 other events will take place from July 27 to August 4, including a march, parties, street fairs and an open-air cinema showcasing LGBTQ+ films.
Experience global Pride celebrations this summer
Whether 2024 will be your first Pride celebration or one of many, donning your rainbow gear and Pride flags at events around the world is a fantastic way to explore cultures and find community in new places. Pride events everywhere are a chance to remember past activists, inspire solidarity in the fight for equality, celebrate diversity and be your authentic self.
Norbert Figueroa of GloboTreks.com is an architect and travel writer on a mission to visit all 195 U.N. Recognized nations, and beyond. He shares his adventures and passion for travel, architecture and cultures on his blog and social media.