When Pride Happens, A Month-by-Month Map

Most people picture Pride as one weekend in June. In practice it runs all year - somewhere on the map a city is always about to march. That makes it one of the easiest things to plan a trip around, if you know the rhythm.

Here is the shape of the calendar, and how to travel for it.

The rough calendar

It moves roughly with the seasons. A few anchors worth knowing:

• February to March: Sydney throws Mardi Gras, the southern-summer giant, finishing with one of the largest parades on earth.
• June: the classic month - much of North America and Europe marches, from the big US cities to the Mediterranean capitals.
• July: London, Madrid, and a wave of European cities take the baton as summer settles in.
• August: Amsterdam floats its canal parade; much of northern Europe follows.
• November: the southern hemisphere closes the year, with Buenos Aires marching as spring arrives.

That is a sketch, not a timetable - dates shift year to year, so check before you book.

Book earlier than you think

Pride weekend empties a city’s hotel rooms. Lock in a bed months ahead, stay near the route if you can, and expect prices to climb the closer you get to the date. The popular destinations sell out first, and the good rooms go before the cheap ones.

The week is bigger than the march

The parade is one afternoon. The parties, talks, film nights, and street events around it often run for the better part of a week, and that is usually where a city shows you its real scene rather than its postcard. Build a day or two of slack on either side of the main event.

Pick your month, then your city

Decide whether you want southern summer in February, the June classics, or a quieter shoulder-season Pride - then choose the city to match.

Browse the directory to see when and where, and let the newsletter bring new cities and dates to you every week, free.

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