Gay Pride in Madrid 2019
- When: 28th June 2019 – 7th July 2019
- Where: Madrid, Spain
- Website: gomadridpride.com
Gay Pride Madrid 2019 will be held in the capital of Spain in the gay neighbourhood of Chueca. 2019 is the 50th anniversary of gay pride, and the Gay Pride celebrations in Madrid start on 28th June, 50 years to the day after the Stonewall riots in New York.
This LGBT pride event promises to be one of the biggest and most spectacular to date and the main event, as always, will be the Madrid gay pride parade on Saturday 6th July 2019 when thousands of people march through the streets to celebrate freedom of expression and different types of sexuality.
Here, we look at the Gay Pride program for 2019, what to do and where to go, including services and accommodation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people in Madrid.
Visit Gay Pride in Spain
The Gay Pride movement, which is known in Spanish as Orgullo Gay, started in 1969 in New York City after several LGBTQI+ activists marched against sexual discrimination and the prejudice the was present in that society at the time. Today, it has blossomed into a global phenomenon, with cities all over the world celebrating sexual pluralism and partying.
Madrid is one of the best cities to visit for Pride thanks to its famed gay neighbourhood, Chueca, which has many specialised LGBT products and services, including bars, cafés, clubs, gay accommodation and numerous sex shops. In fact, Spain has been ranked the most gay friendly country in Europe and has other great gay holiday events such as Barcelona Gay Pride and Sitges Gay Pride.
Madrid Gay Pride program 2019
- Friday 28th June 2019: 50 years of Stonewall
Bohemian neighbourhoods in the centre of Madrid, including Chueca, Lavapiés, Malasaña and the Barrio de las Letras have many events and activities on to commemorate the anniversary of LGBTQI+ Pride. - Monday 1st July 2019: Inauguration of Madrid Summit 2019
Madrid Summit is a conference that explores and discusses the discrimination and unequal treatment which LGBT people experience in their everyday lives to try to bring about understanding and equality. You can join in the public debate on issues facing all members of the LGBTQI+ community. - Wednesday 3rd July 2019: The Pregón Speech
The Pregón is the official opening ceremony of the Madrid Gay Pride festival. It kicks off the celebrations and introduces the various different outdoor stages where there will be music and partying for the next 5 days. In 2019, the Pregón speech is being held in the Plaza de Pedro Zerolo square in Chueca at 18:00 in front of the Room Mate Oscar Hotel, an excellent LGBT accommodation in Madrid.
Four of the biggest and most important stages this year will be in the Plaza de Pedro Zerolo and the Plaza del Rey in Chueca, in the Puerta del Sol and in Plaza de España. - Thursday 4th July 2019: Heel race (Calle Pelayo, Chueca)
One of the funniest and most unique events that is held during Madrid Gay Pride week every year is the Carrera de Tacones, a race along the Calle Pelayo at 17:00 where everyone wears high heels. Anyone can take part for free by signing up at LL Bar, A Different Life or the SR Fetish Leather Shop. - Friday 5th July 2019: Mr. Gay Pride España
Witness the crowning of the winner of the 12th annual Mr. Gay Pride competition in Spain, which pits contestants against each other based on their performance in a catwalk fashion show and their commitment to furthering the cause of the LGBT movement. - Saturday 6th July 2019: Madrid Gay Pride Parade
The parade is the main event of the Madrid Gay Pride celebration. Thousands of individuals and organisations march through central Madrid with banners, floats and lots of enthusiasm and dancing. It starts in Atocha and goes up the main street of Paseo del Prado to Colón and often lasts for over 6 hours. Here is the Madrid Pride Parade route and schedule:
17:30: Start of the parade in Atocha
19:30: The last marchers on foot leave the starting point
20:15: The first parade float sets off from Atocha, ready to party
22:45: The last float leaves the gate
00:30: The end of the Gay Pride Parade 2019
- Sunday 7th July 2019: Madrid Gay Pride 2019 closing ceremony
Gay accommodation and LGBT accommodation in Madrid
It is easy to find gay-friendly places to stay in Spain’s capital, and most of the best places are focussed around the central neighbourhood of Chueca:
- Axel Hotel Madrid: a particularly tolerant hotel chain specialising in gay clientele located right next to Atocha, where the parade begins. Room prices are around 200 euro per night for 2 people.
- Hostal La Zona: situated near Chueca, this hostel offers a cheaper alternative, with room prices between 50 and 100 euro per night.
- Hostal Puerta del Sol: another gay-centred hostel in the centre of Madrid located right in the middle of the main square. A double room with a bathroom and views of the square will set you back 120 euro per night.
- Only You: on the more upmarket end of the gay hotels in Madrid is this accommodation with beautiful design features in the middle of Chueca close to the gay clubs. Prices start from 205 euro/night and go up to 410 euro/night.
- Room Mate Óscar: As previously mentioned, the Room Mate Oscar is a luxury gay and lesbian hotel in Madrid that showcases the best of comfort and quality gay services in Spain. Room prices range from 197 euro to 369 euro per night.
See more gay friendly accommodation in Madrid and Barcelona
Madrid Pride 2019 concerts and parties
Madrid Gay Pride is also an excellent opportunity to experience some of the fantastic party atmosphere that the city has to offer. These are the best events happening in Madrid during the gay pride festival:
- WE Party: the WE Party group brings you WE Pride Festival 2019 from 3rd to 7th July, a showstopping concert involving decorations, DJs and lots of dancing. While they host parties all around the world, the event was born in Madrid and that continues to be where its best location. Tickets are available on the website and cost 23 euro per person, or between 180 and 210 euro for a VIP table.
- MalaMala: showcasing the best of Madrid clubbing, MalaMala is suitable for everyone with good, old fashioned pop tunes and a festive atmosphere. For the best in gay events and music, head to this club night at calle Ventura Rodriguez, 7.
- Elton John “Farewell Yellow Brick Road”: the last hurrah of the one and only Sir Elton comes to Madrid a couple of days before Pride kicks off, on 26th June 2019. He will be playing in the WiZink centre at 21:00, and you can buy tickets here.
- Bearbie Madrid: a gay nightclub just for bears, this venue has club nights on every night of the week during the Pride period, and a friendly atmosphere with lots of pop and house music.
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