Summer is finally here; the season has started! It’s time for grill parties, wine spritzers (fröccs!), and heading to the beach; furthermore, it’s time to celebrate life in all its different styles! Is there a better way to do so than for us to join a wonderful Pride parade? Aside from Budapest Pride, there will be parades and pride events in other cities across Europe as well. It’s fun to wander around – so we have rounded up some of the most exciting European locations to visit this summer, which we wholeheartedly recommend.
Austria: Regenbogenparade, Vienna – 14th June
Let’s say you do not want to/cannot travel too far and, in addition to the super-atmospheric parades, you also love the vibrant cultural and nightlife of gay-friendly cities, then you’ve found your programme for Saturday, 14th June: https://viennapride.at/en/event/pride-parade-2025/
Portugal: EuroPride 2025, Lisbon – 21st June
EuroPride takes place in a different city every year: this year it is in the beautiful Portuguese capital, which is already worth a visit, let alone during a pan-European LGBTQ+ celebration! Eat pastel de nata. And anything at all. You can find info about the party here: https://europride2025.pt/
Spain: Pride BCN, Barcelona – 19th July
Ahh, those Catalans… they know how to live! After the parade, lie on the beach of La Barceloneta with a sangria, if not for yourself, then for the sake of the author of this post, for whom the Catalan regional capital is “The City of Love”. Of course, you don’t have to be so in love with the city to enjoy the festivities: https://www.pridebarcelona.org/en/
Slovakia: Dúhový Pride Bratislava, Bratislava – 19th July
Oops, scheduled for the same time as the Catalans’ Pride! If you don’t fancy dancing in the heat and would welcome less travelling, the party in Bratislava will be your event that day. Bratislava is an undeservedly neglected place; it’s worth taking a peek over to neighbouring Slovakia every now and then. This year marks their 10th celebration of the march that has had quite a few opponents throughout the years, but just like us, they are not giving up the fight for equal rights: https://duhovypride.sk/
Czechia: Pride Parade, Prague – 2nd August
Quality beer, the spirit of Hrabal, fascinating architectural traditions, and a (maybe not just a) hint of Budapest vibe: this is Prague, a perfect visit all year round, but worth planning that visit for the first weekend of August. The Czech Republic (Czechia) has a similar historical-social background to our own, providing a sense of home, and their theme is also linked to “being at home” with the slogan ‘Where my home is?’: https://festival.praguepride.com/en/
+1: Malta: Malta Pride, Valletta – 14th September
According to ILGA-Europe (link https://rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/), Malta is the continent’s most LGBT+ friendly country – tiny but mighty when it comes to human rights. Take sunscreen, because you’ll definitely need it even at the end-of-summer parade: https://maltapride.com/nextyear/
Whether you are drawn to the buzz of big cities or the possibility of some light-hearted summer flirting, the parades are not just celebrations, but they are opportunities. A chance to be visible, to connect, and to just let us go a little. So, pack your rainbow flag, get your glitter on, and embark on the most colourful tour of the year! Happy Pride!
Translation by Zsuzsa Petrás
