by Paul Heney
Last updated: 9:00 PM ET, Sat July 1, 2023
Pride month has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean that the celebration is over for 2023. There’s an explosion of European travel happening this year, and many LGBTQ travelers enjoy a good beach vibe. So, we decided to take a look at six great ways for Mediterranean vacationers to extend the party a bit, through the end of summer.
1. Pride! BCN 2023 (July 13-15). Barcelona gets its Pride game in a bit later than some of its neighbors, but we’re here for it. The popular Pride Village will be open on July 14-15 and will host a series of concerts, and the parade itself will take place on July 15. Performers already announced include Paulina Rubio, Loreen, Ptazeta, Eleni Foureira, Vicco, Ms Nina, Ladilla Rusa, Agoney, Rosa López, WRS, María Escarmiento, La Zarra, Sofía Martin, Julieta, Karmento, and Siderland.
Picturesque view of the Mykonos waterfront. (Photo Credit: Paul Heney)
2. Xlsior Festival (August 16-23). Head to super-queer-friendly Mykonos, Greece, for this gathering of 30,000 friends, celebrating some of the hottest queer artists from the gay circuit scene. In addition to the incredible scenery of this picture-perfect island, there are a range of both indoor and outdoor venues, including Cavo Paradiso, Sueno Beach Club, Zenit Pool Club, and Noia Club. More than a dozen guest DJs have been confirmed, such as Aron, Ana Julieta, Dani Brasil, and Eversend. In addition to regular passes, VIP passes will get attendees guaranteed full access to events, artist meet and greets, and VIP areas with fresh fruit and more.
3. Italy Gay Summer Party (September 1-3). Held in Gallipoli, in Italy’s stunning Puglia region (think the heel of the boot), the Gay Summer Party spills across the beaches for three days in early September. Grab a glass of Prosecco and bring your dancing shoes (sandals?), as there will be plenty of music and parties. Events include a sunset toast over Gallipoli Bay, a gay boat party, an al fresco dinner, beach party at Lido Pôr do Sol, and the headline party, featuring everything from 80s Italian Pop to great DJ beats.
4. Benidorm Pride (September 5-11). This Spanish coastal gem, located in Valencia, hosts the weeklong Benidorm Prode Festival toward the end of summer, capturing plenty of visitors from Alicante, Valencia city, and even Barcelona. Come for the drag shows, parties organized by the many local bars, the Magic Boys strip show, a White Party, a neon party, tribute performances, pool parties, and of course the main parade. The closing show, “Crazy Circus,” is held at Levante Beach.
5. EuroPride (September 7-17). Valletta, Malta is the host of this year’s huge EuroPride, arguably the hottest ticket in the region all summer. With headliner Christina Aguilera, this year’s EuroPride is set to be one to remember. Malta has been named the most LGBTQ-friendly nation in Europe multiple times, and the capital city is accessible from all over the continent through both low-cost and mainstream airlines. Throughout the 10-day festival, activities will abound, such as a photography exhibition, a Gozo island Pride march, brass band performances, dancing, and the parade itself.
6. International Eressos Women Festival (September 10-20). The famed island of Lesbos (or Lesvos), Greece is where the word lesbian is derived from—and what better place to queer women to gather for a huge festival to wrap up summertime? Hosted by the non-profit Sappho Women, the event is not only a place to celebrate diversity but allows women to come together over a 10-day period in friendship, empowerment, and learning. Attendees will enjoy dance, performances, music, art, walks on the beach, and more. Confirmed acts include Cher tribute artist Kelly Marie, Jenny Ball, and Anastasia “Stars” Walker.
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