9 of the best places to celebrate Pride around the world

Every June, millions of people around the world come together in the best places to celebrate Pride month, with parades, picnics, parties, concerts, workshops and more taking place everywhere from Manchester to Sydney.

June is the official month for Pride as it marks the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, when Black and Latinx trans activists led LGBTQ+ community members in protests against police violence and raids at gay bars in New York City. This became a catalyst for gay rights and a turning point in the battle for equality.

Read on to discover nine the best places to celebrate Pride around the world where you can join in the party and show your support.

Of all the places to celebrate Pride – where else but the city where it all began? Get down to the festival area on 4th Avenue between East 8th Street and East 13th Street to take part.

Pride in New York can be as glitzy or low-key as you like it. There are events that welcome everyone – from family fun days to queer cinema shows. Sit in at a poetry reading or don your best rainbow cape and dance with abandon. The parade grows every year, with floats from popular TV shows and huge names like Madonna and Lil’ Kim performing.

This huge event attracts up to 1 million revelers each year and is known as CSD (Christopher Street Day) in Berlin. It is easily one of the best places to enjoy Pride in Europe, largely due to Berlin’s reputation for celebrating underground culture. There are rallies for different parts of the LGBTQ+ community and a two-tenor gay operetta being held this year. The Gay Museum, on Lützowstraße 73, Schöneberg is also hosting several interesting exhibitions, including one on the gay scene in East Berlin.

Explore the Berlin on the Best of Germany tour.

Marcha por la Diversidad has been running in Montevideo since the 1990s. Uruguay is extremely friendly and welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community – homosexuality was decriminalized here in 1934. Rainbow flags fly outside many bars and restaurants and there’s a great drag scene in Montevideo. If you prefer the party over the politics, then Punta Pride on the beach takes place every February.

Visit Uruguay on the Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil Discovery tour.

One of the top Pride destinations, Madrid hosts a comprehensive cultural program across the city every July. Mado (as the locals call it) is known for its diversity with art, literature and children’s activities sitting alongside debates, and of course, enormous dance parties. Most of the events take place in the Chueca neighborhood, where a thriving LGBTQ+ community live harmoniously alongside mostly elderly people who have lived there all their lives.

Join the Mado party on Highlights of Spain tour, which ends in Madrid.

Over a million people of all ethnicities, sexualities, genders and race gather in London on the nearest Saturday to the Stonewall anniversary to celebrate diversity. A political rally is held after the parade and free concerts take place at Trafalgar Square. It truly is a fanfare and has several famous patrons including Laverne Cox and Sir Elton John.

Check into London for Pride on the Gems of Britain guided tour.

A week-long extravaganza brings supporters from far and wide to the Swedish capital. It had small beginnings at its launch in 1988, but Swedish Pride has since grown to over 600,000 attendees – the city has also hosted EuroPride three times. Festivities center around Pride House, where visitors can catch debates, seminars and exhibitions. The Swedish language even has a dedicated gender-neutral pronoun – hen. It isn’t called the Open City for nothing.

See the rainbows of Stockholm on Day 3 of the Grand Scandinavia tour.

When choosing the places to celebrate Pride around the world, Tel Aviv is high on the list of many gay travelers. That’s because the city knows how to party. The City Hall is decked out in rainbow stripes and the Love Parade has been held here since 1997. Expect lively music performances, drag shows at the beach and a huge afterparty in Charles Clore Park.

Join the biggest Pride in the Middle East on the Israel Discovery tour.

In the city of love, it’s hardly surprising that Pride in Paris, or Marche des Fiertés LGBT as it is known, is a huge event. Also notable is that France has led the fight for gay rights for centuries, decriminalizing homosexuality in 1791! The parade begins at Tour Montparnasse so attendees pass some of the most historic and beautiful buildings in Paris, and witness declarations of love and the best of humanity at this amazing ‘Pride in Paris’ party.

Find out more on the French Heritage tour.

Inclusivity is so important in Copenhagen that the city hosts two Pride weeks, one in summer and the other in winter. The City Square becomes the home of Pride, but the people here are always liberal and open-minded, making every neighborhood queer for Pride. Drag Night is always a fun event, while Unbound showcases queer theater, opera, comedy and music. The closing ceremony often features huge artists and speeches by world leaders. And the Danes know how to dazzle.

Soak up the Pride vibes of Copenhagen on the Country Roads of Scandinavia tour.