The Best Cities Around the World to Celebrate Pride

As the birthplace of the Stonewall Riots—where police raided a Greenwich Village gay bar in 1969—New York City is key player in the fight for LGBTQ rights. In honor of that, the city will host the massive Pride March on June 26, as well as Greenwich Village's PrideFest on the same day. More than 3 million people are expected to attend the lectures, rallies, and parties as part of NYC Pride 2022, including Pride Island (the event's post-pandemic, in-person comeback), a 3-day music festival on Governors Island which will be headlined by Kim Petras.

For years, Madrid Pride has taken the crown as the epicenter of Europe’s biggest festivals. From July 1 to July 10, 2022, there will be high-octane Orgullo events to mark the 30th anniversary of EuroPride, with costumes of all colors, feathers, beads, and leather. The heart of the party is in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Chueca, which will have outdoor concerts, street fairs, and more, but you can also follow the crowd of locals to the bars in Malasaña. The Pride Parade itself takes place on July 9, and marches down Paseo del Prado in the heart of the city.

From June 1 to June 12, 2022, Vienna welcomes its annual Pride events, including the Pride Run Vienna on June 10. The official parties, park, and parade are open and welcome to all—plus, they're completely free. For those wanting to be in the center of the action, stay in Wienzeile, the predominantly gay area of the city. June 11 will be the biggest day, with the Rainbow Parade along the Ringstrasse. There are even gay city tours available around sights such as the Vienna State Opera, Neuer Markt, and the Park of Belvedere Palace, the former summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (one of Austria’s most prominent gay figures).

Called the “San Francisco of the East,” Taipei is home to the largest LGBTQ event in Asia: Taiwan Pride. In 2022, the celebration will be bigger and better than ever. Over four days in late October, around 80,000 revelers are expected to take over Kaidagelan Boulevard’s Pride Village and the Zhongzheng District, which is home to 25 gay bars and shops. The Pride Parade itself will be held on the last Saturday of the month—October 29, 2022.

The West Coast does it best, starting with Seattle PrideFest. Come June 25 and 26, 2022, a host of rooftop parties, activist talks, and art shows will take over the city. Make the W Seattle your home base; then, head out on the town to explore the queer art walks, film fests, and parties at Seattle Center and the gay-friendly Capitol Hill area (think food trucks and five stages of entertainment).

This lively Canadian city is home to Pride Toronto, one of the world’s biggest LGBTQ Pride events. The whole month of June is a party for anyone in the queer community to come out and celebrate. Join the diverse events such as the Dyke March, Trans March, and of course the famous Pride Parade on June 26, 2022. Don’t miss other top events including The Kick-Off Party and Mini-Ball at El Mocambo and the Cabana Pool Party on June 15 either.

If you want to party down under, there’s no better place than Australia. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a massive fest that draws LGBTQ people from around the world as well as A-list celebrities such as Cher and Kylie. Beyond the traditional parade, there are pool parties, as well as art and music tours. The 2022 event was held from February 18 to March 6, but there's no time like the present to gear up for 2023's showstopping events.

Miami may be first to come to mind when we think of a gay-friendly city in Florida, but St. Pete actually takes the prize for the state’s most popular Pride event. More than 250,000 people are expected to show up for St. Pete Pride's 20th anniversary edition, with events scheduled throughout June 2022. Enjoy a pre-Pride drag show at the Miss St. Pete Pride on May 22, 2022; learn about and honor Juneteenth during the Shades of Pride celebration on June 19; and join the Pride parade marching down Bayshore Drive on June 25.