The Best Pride Parades Around the World

Every month of June, the whole world comes together as one to celebrate Pride Month. During 30 days, we commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969, a historic event that marked the start of the modern movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and asexual rights (known as LGBTQIA+) across the globe.

One way to celebrate is with massive parades, thrown all over the world, and we have created a list of the best ones to grab the rainbow flag and celebrate acceptance while serving as a rallying point for further demands for equality. This year, track your Pride Day Adventures with the Avenza Maps App. Here are the best parades in the world in alphabetical order:

Amsterdam, Netherlands


The most unique parade in the world because it’s celebrated on the water. The canals of Amsterdam are home to nearly one hundred exquisitely decorated boats while spectators cheer from the streets and bridges. On top of Pride, Amsterdam’s top music venues and clubs will be hosting parties all night long.

Berlin, Germany


Since 1979, it’s been one of the most famous Pride events around Europe for years. Starting at Berlin’s Champs-Elysees, the parade finishes at the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of division. Locally it’s known as CSD, Christopher Street Day and over a million people gather each year.

Madrid, Spain


Under the Madrid Orgullo celebrations, the capital of Spain throws a colourful week-long celebration in Chueca, Madrid’s famous gay neighbourhood and the very center of the city. This year, the city is expecting over two million attendees.

Mexico City, Mexico


One of the largest Pride parades in Latin America, or as locals call it, la Marcha del Orgullo LGBT de la Ciudad de Mexico. With more than 40 years of antiquity, the celebration walks through the whole city all the way to the iconic Zocalo, where the party will start for the whole night.

Montreal, Canada


Montreal’s parade is still one of the most recent ones, started in 2007, but it will still attract more than 2 million people between local and international visitors for the two weeks that the Pride celebrations will take place. Of course, the finish of the parade is at the Gay Village, bridging from the old LGBTQ+ sector to the new one.

New York, United States


For 30 days, New York becomes the world’s Pride capital with over 50 events and three million visitors. The first march was in 1970, months after the Stonewall Riots and it walks by the most important streets of Manhattan. Pride was born in New York and still remains the most famous march in the world.

San Francisco, United States


San Francisco Pride is one of the oldest and largest LGBTQIA parades in the world. The celebration is set to have more than 200 groups and exhibitors participating, and the accompanying two-day Pride celebration will have more than 20 stages and venues.

Sao Paolo, Brazil


Considered the largest parade in the world, the Parada Gay Sao Paulo attracts between three and five million people every year. It still holds the Guinness World Record for the largest headcount. This 2022 will be its 25th anniversary and for sure Brazil will celebrate with samba and spectacular dance routines.

Sydney, Australia


The only one not celebrated during June. Sydney Pride takes place during late February and early March, coinciding with Carnival season. In its first year, only 500 people attended; last year, more than five hundred thousand people took over the city. Other Australian cities also have pride parades during the year: Melbourne in late January, Adelaide in November and Brisbane in September.

Tel Aviv, Israel


What’s different about Tel Aviv’s parade? It’s fully beach orientated. Being the most important parade in the Middle East, the climax of the celebration is the beach party on Charles Clore beach. Before the pandemic, almost 250.000 people gathered to celebrate.

Sources: Travel US News, Mr. Hudson Explores, Seeker

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