Barcelona Gay Pride, the biggest pride festival in Spain and Europe

Hundreds of thousands of people attend the Pride March in this cosmopolitan Spanish city every year / Creative Commons

25 May 2018, 11:13

The Gay Pride Parade in Barcelona

When: 23rd–30th June 2018
Where: Barcelona, Spain
Website: pridebarcelona.org

Barcelona Gay Pride is a colourful party that normally takes place between the end of June and the beginning of July, this year the week from 23rd to 30th June. The event is organised by and for the LGBT movement (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and every year people from all over the world participate.

The Gay Pride Parade in Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the most lively popular festivals in Spain, and surely one of the best Pride celebrations in all of Europe – an unforgettable experience to have a great time and meet many interesting people.

See gay friendly accommodation in Barcelona and Madrid

The best of Barcelona

Barcelona, as Spain’s second capital city, has so many things that with just one short weekend getaway you won't have enough time to see it all. The city has a special urban layout built from its varied history with Roman remains, 20th century avant-garde buildings and medieval districts, yet at the same time it’s also a cosmopolitan city.

Its most emblematic buildings like the Sagrada Familia and Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner, have been declared World Heritage Sites. In addition to enjoying its history and rich artistic heritage, you’ll be privy to its complete and varied cultural agenda: exhibitions, concerts, plays, dance performances, museums and more.

Visit the most emblematic neighbourhoods of Barcelona such as Sants, Poblenou or Gràcia and take advantage of your visit to experience some of its other festivities like the Fiestas of La Mercè.

They’re very creative when it comes to food and there’s a wide range of restaurants that use only quality products: fresh fish, sausages, vegetable garden products and olive oil. Likewise, homemade pastries and sparkling wines complete the extraordinary gastronomic culture of the place.

Taking a walking tour around Barcelona is truly a delight. You’ll come across some unexpected surprises in the form of historic façades, natural spaces and neighbourhoods as beautiful as they are old. Barcelona is past and future, with the incorporation of incredible infrastructures to host fairs, congresses, contests and seminars. With an excellent communication network, golf courses with the sea in the background, luxury marinas and urban beaches, Barcelona really is unique.

Gay Pride in Barcelona: parades, activities and loads of fun

Over the years, the LGBTQ collective has fought for its rights and freedoms and the visibility they have demanded is now a reality. Spain is considered to be one of the most gay-friendly countries in Europe and Barcelona has become one of the most sought-after gay destinations. In these spring and summer months, the gay life of the city is especially strong, and comes alive with the Pride Parade.

Gay Pride has been held in Barcelona since 2008. The festival welcomes hundreds of thousands of people who gather in an enormous parade through the city, enjoying the good weather and good vibes. For the whole duration of the celebration, there are countless concerts, debates, sports and cultural activities, all in a spectacular atmosphere of celebration.