From glittery parades to community forums, Pride events come in all sizes and flavours but they all fly under the same radiant motto: be proud, be visible, and take up space. 

Below, we’ve gathered some of the biggest, brightest, and boldest Pride celebrations from every continent. Plus, we’re sprinkling in a few health tips so you can celebrate safely wherever you go. 

New York, United States

When:  June 27–29, 2025 

New York isn’t just a city that celebrates Pride–it’s where Pride was born. The first NYC Pride march took place on June 27, 1970, exactly one year after the Stonewall Riots sparked a global movement. Organized by the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee, it marked the beginning of what would become an annual tradition, growing bigger, louder, and more colourful each year. 

Today, NYC Pride is one of the world’s most iconic Pride celebrations, drawing millions of people from across the globe. The festivities include much more than just the famous march down Fifth Avenue: you’ll find Youth Pride, PrideFest (a massive LGBTQIA+ street fair), rallies, performances, and parties that stretch across the five boroughs. 

Health tips:  Summers are no joke in the concrete jungle. Expect heat, humidity, and lots of pavement. Bring water, sunscreen, and maybe a portable fan if you’re out all day.  

Toronto, Canada 

When:  Festival weekend from June 26 to 29, 2025 

“We’re Canada’s largest festival and the second largest Pride in the world!” – states their website boldly. What began as a small picnic in 1970, organized by the city’s first queer activist groups, has grown into one of the most vibrant Pride festivals worldwide. Today, Toronto Pride draws around three million attendees and is celebrated not just for its scale, but also for its inclusive spirit.  

You might come across the acronym 2SLGBTQ+ while researching Toronto Pride. It stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, with the plus sign embracing the full spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities. The “Two-Spirit” term specifically honours identities found in many Indigenous cultures, referring to people whose gender or spiritual identity encompasses both male and female spirits. 

Health tips:  June in Toronto can be hot and humid! Make sure to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated. 

São Paulo, Brazil 

When:  First Sunday after Pentecost, June 20–22nd 2025 

Everything big once started small. What began in 1997 with just 2,000 attendees has grown into the largest Pride parade in the world, with three to five million people filling the city’s famous Avenida Paulista each year. It’s not just South America’s biggest Pride - it’s a global record breaker, with Guinness World Records recognizing it multiple times for its scale. 

São Paulo Pride is a vibrant fusion of political activism, cultural celebration, and unapologetic visibility. Floats, dancers, DJs, and rainbow flags take over the streets. Despite being held in Brazil’s winter, the city tends to stay mild and warm, so no need to bundle up. Just bring your shiniest outfit and your proudest self. 

Health tips:  A trip to Brazil requires some preparation. In addition to your routine vaccinations, good insect repellent is essential. Malaria prophylaxis is not needed for São Paulo specifically, but may be recommended if you travel to other regions of Brazil. Vaccinations against Yellow fever, Typhoid fever, rabies (in certain cases), and Hepatitis A are also advisable, depending on your itinerary. Additionally, avoid bathing, wading, or washing in stagnant or slow-flowing fresh water to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm disease. 

Reykjavík, Iceland 

When:  August 5–10, 2025 

Small in size, massive in spirit. Each year, over 100,000 people take to the streets to celebrate, which is astonishing when you realize that Iceland’s entire population is just under 400,000. That means a fourth of the country shows up for Pride–now that’s what we call solidarity!  

The Icelandic name for the event, Gleðigangan, translates to “The Joy Parade,” and that joyful, loving spirit pulses through every part of the celebration. The first official Pride parade took place in the year 2000, building on earlier protests in 1993 and 1994, where brave queer Icelanders demanded their rights and freedom. Today, Reykjavík Pride is the biggest annual event in Iceland, known affectionately as “the world’s biggest small Pride.” Iceland itself ranks among the world’s most progressive countries for LGBTQIA+ rights, with widespread support, inclusive laws, and a proudly queer-positive society. 

Health tips:  Icelandic summer is gorgeous but unpredictable, so bring a windbreaker or light rain jacket, even in August. Also, the days are long. Bring a sleeping mask if you’re sensitive to light. 

Madrid, Spain 

When:  Events begin June 28th, with the main parade on the first Saturday of July 

Olé! and welcome to Europe’s biggest Pride celebration! Madrid Orgullo (MADO) turns the city into a sea of color, music, and dance. The celebration stretches across several days, but the true highlight is the Pride Parade, which goes all the way through central Madrid on the first Saturday of July. 

What began as modest demonstrations in the 1980s, following Spain’s transition out of dictatorship, has transformed into a massive cultural and political event, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe each year. With concerts, drag shows, human rights conferences, and a community spirit like no other, Madrid Pride is not just a party–it’s a movement. 

Health Tips:  July in Madrid can be scorching with temperatures often climbing above 35°C. Sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and a foldable fan are absolute essentials. 

Cape Town, South Africa 

When:  Events all throughout February until early March 

With the Table Mountain in the background and summer in full swing, Cape Town Pride is Africa’s most vibrant and important LGBTQIA+ celebration. First held in 1993, this event has grown in both size and significance–not just for South Africa, but for the entire continent. 

Next year’s 2026 edition will be particularly meaningful, marking 30 years since the inclusion of an equality clause in the South African constitution, and 20 years since marriage equality became law. South Africa remains the only African country with constitutional protections for LGBTQIA+ people, making Pride in Cape Town both a celebration and a statement of progress. The festivities feature a mix of parades, parties, film screenings, community events, and memorials.  

Health tips:  In addition to your routine vaccinations, consider getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, rabies, and Typhoid. Be sure to protect yourself thoroughly from mosquito bites: use repellents, mosquito nets, and long-sleeved clothing as mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and malaria. Just like in Brazil, avoid contact with stagnant or slow-flowing fresh water to reduce the risk of schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm infection. 

Sydney, Australia 

When:  Pride Month in June; Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras held in February 

Few cities know how to throw a glitter-drenched, feather-filled, and unapologetically fabulous celebration quite like Sydney. While June marks Pride Month in alignment with the global calendar, Sydney truly shines during Australia’s summer in February. This is thanks to the world-renowned Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. 

Mardi Gras is not your average parade. It’s a weeks-long festival of parties, performances, forums, and community gatherings that ends in a magical nighttime parade down Oxford Street. In 2023, Sydney even had the honor of hosting WorldPride, becoming the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to do so. 

Health tips:  Timing matters: June is winter in Australia, cool but still pleasant. If you're going for Mardi Gras in February, prepare for the summer heat! In addition, make sure to protect yourself against mosquito bites, as Japanese encephalitis and the Ross River virus do occur in Australia. 

Mumbai and Delhi, India 

When:  Mumbai Pride in January–February; Delhi Pride in late November 

India’s Pride movement is a powerful mix of joy, resistance, and rebirth–especially since the historic repeal of Section 377 in 2018, which decriminalized homosexuality. Home to Bollywood and some of India’s most progressive voices, Mumbai hosts the largest Pride celebration in the country: the Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride March. Azaadi means "freedom," and that’s exactly what this march celebrates: the freedom to love and live openly. The Pride festivities include cultural events like the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival later in the year in June, which is the largest queer film festival in South Asia. 

In the capital, the Delhi Queer Pride Parade has been lighting up the streets since 2008, held every last Sunday of November. Alongside the parade, events like the Delhi Queer Fest and Queer Theater and Film Festival bring the community together. 

Health Tips:  For a trip to India, make sure you're protected against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and rabies. For some travelers, Japanese encephalitis vaccination may also be recommended. In both Delhi and Mumbai, there is a slight risk of malaria. To stay safe–and to protect against other mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika–take precautions against mosquito bites at all times by using repellents, wearing long sleeves, and sleeping under mosquito nets if needed. 

Tokyo, Japan 

When:  June 7–8, 2025 (Youth Pride: June 14–15)  

Tokyo Pride is one of Asia’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ events–and it’s stepping into a new era! Starting in 2025, the festival formerly known as Tokyo Rainbow Pride, which used to take place in April, is now officially rebranding as Tokyo Pride. The 2025 theme, “Same Life, Same Rights,” is a clear message demanding equality, not just acceptance. 

The event has grown enormously since its first edition in 2012, which brought together just 4,500 people. Fast forward to April 2024, the event drew over 270,000 attendees. This makes Tokyo one of Asia’s major Pride destinations. This June, Yoyogi Park, the event’s venue, becomes a vibrant hub for music, parades, activism, food stalls, and community spaces. There’s also a dedicated Youth Pride event one week later, highlighting Japan’s emerging generation of LGBTQIA+ voices. 

Health tips:  Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date. A vaccination against Japanese encephalitis may be recommended, but only if you’re traveling between July and October and visiting rural areas. 

Taipei, Taiwan 

When:  October 24–26, 2025 

Taipei Pride isn’t just the biggest Pride celebration in East Asia, it’s also a symbol of hope and progress across the continent. With same-sex marriage legalized in 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to take that historic step toward full equality, and its Pride reflects that spirit. 

Celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2025, Taipei Pride attracts more than 200,000 attendees from around the world for four days of marches, performances, community events, and celebration. At Taipei Pride, colorful floats and dazzling drag shows meet powerful activism, with strong participation from schools, local organizations, and international allies. The parade route typically goes through central Taipei, ending near the iconic Presidential Office Building–a powerful symbol of visibility and progress. 

Health tips:  In addition to the routine vaccinations, all travelers to Taiwan are recommended to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and rabies. You should also ensure you have good mosquito protection to protect yourself against mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue fever, Chikungunya, and Zika. 

Sexual Health during Pride

Pride is a celebration of identity, love, freedom, and, for some, also sexual expression. No matter where or how you celebrate love and diversity, make sure you do so safely.  

• Bring enough condoms (look for the CE or OK seal for tested quality) and lubricant. 

• In some destinations, condoms are inadequate, or they are not available at all, so it’s best to come prepared. 

• While condoms are great at protecting against many STIs, they can’t prevent everything. That’s where vaccinations and testing come in. 

We recommend the following vaccinations before your trip as they help protect you and the people you connect with: 

• Hepatitis A 

• Hepatitis B 

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for people under 27
  

• Mpox