Pride festivals get all the attention. They’re big come-one-come-all parties, often mostly free.
But there’s another kind of LGBTQ2S+ event that helps put a city on the pink map. And we’re talking about something more sophisticated than circuit parties.
Queer film festivals are important anchor points for culture vultures, showcasing an array of cinematic storytelling. More than Pride and gay bars, they tend to be inclusive across the LGBTQ2S+ acronym and across age demographics. Of course, they usually require more planning and spending than attending a Pride—picking films and booking tickets. But these celebrations of LGBTQ2S+ cinema, whether they last a weekend or a couple of weeks, can be much more inspiring and uplifting. Cinephiles might want to plan a trip around a film festival, while travellers might merely adjust their dates a bit so their visit overlaps with at least a few days of a festival.
Though they have a common DNA, there’s an amazing amount of variety among these festivals. Some focus on local and independent films, while others feature Hollywood-sized productions. Some feature other art forms, like music and performance, while others are known for their parties.
Language can sometimes be a barrier, but not always. Most festivals subtitle many of their films, and English is often a default language in the film industry. That said, 12 of the 22 festivals listed here are in primarily English-speaking cities, and one is dedicated to presenting bilingually in English and French.
Here are our picks for the world’s best queer film festivals, all of them worth building a holiday around.
NewFest—New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
New York City, New York
Coming up: October 9 to 21, 2025
Founded in 1988 in direct response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, NewFest has been a tentpole of NYC’s queer cultural scene, attracting industry leaders as well as film lovers. Its cachet often gets the festival access to some impressive world premieres and advance screenings. The who’s who of queer filmmaking—from Luca Gudagnino to Lisa Cholodenko—have screened here. For those who can’t plan a trip to New York in August, the festival organizes quite a few events throughout the year.
Pink Screens
Brussels, Belgium
Coming up: October 30 to /November 10, 2025
Organized by Genres d’à côté, Brussels’ Pink Screens is a 10-day festival chockablock with edgy features, experimental shorts, documentaries and local films, often accompanied by panel discussions. Live performances and parties are also part of the mix. Set across Brussels’ vibrant art-house cinemas, Pink Screens does its work with a healthy dash of theatrical flair. For those who can’t make the festival, the organization’s Cinéclub screens an LGBTQ+ film the first Thursday of every month at Cinéma Aventure (Rue des Fripiers 15, Brussels).
Homotopia
Liverpool, U.K.
Coming up: November 2025 (exact dates TBD)
The U.K.’s longest-running queer arts and culture festival, its film programming is consistently one of its most vibrant strands. Within Liverpool’s historic architecture—galleries, theatres and cinemas—the festival presents provocative queer films, experimental media, and community-led screenings alongside theater, music and visual arts.
Read our insider’s guide to Liverpool here.
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival
Prague and Brno, Czechia
Coming up: November 6 to 13, 2025, in Prague, November 14 to 21, 2025 in Brno
Czechia’s major queer film festival is split between two cities: the national capital, Prague; and the country’s second largest city, and eastern hub, Brno. Its programming blends fresh queer indie features, genre shorts, provocative documentaries and Eastern European premieres. Mezipatra, which translates as “mezzanine,” encourages creative engagement with live events—workshops, LGBTQ+ rights forums, and filmmaking masterclasses—in addition to screenings. Though Prague is on many travellers’ bucket lists, Brno is an off-the-beaten-path destination that the festival might make worth a visit.
LesGaiCineMad
Madrid, Spain
Coming up: November 11 to 23, 2025
Madrid’s International LGBT Film Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary, spans nearly two weeks and features everything from emerging-author narratives and activist documentaries to Spanish and Latin American premieres, and vibrant shorts programs. Often screening in Madrid’s best arthouses, LesGaiCineMad is firmly rooted in Spain’s dynamic queer heritage, elevating Latinx queer voices, Spanish-language queer cinema and intersectional perspectives, all while inviting global dialogue. For travellers, it’s a culturally sophisticated film experience in a city that celebrates expression—and does not shy away from the radical or celebratory.
Festival MixBrasil de Cultura da Diversidade
São Paulo, Brazil
Coming up: November 12 to 23, 2025
São Paulo’s MixBrasil is a powerhouse of Latin American queer culture, bringing together filmmakers, activists and artists from Brazil and across the Global South. Over 12 days, organizers curate an ambitious lineup of feature films, documentaries, experimental works and panel discussions—paired with performances, queer art exhibitions and street events. Its community-wide energy gives voice to Afro-Latino, trans and social justice–focused filmmakers. Not confined to the cinemas, the festival makes a real impact across the city.
Read our insider’s guide to São Paulo here.
Outburst Queer Arts Festival
Belfast, U.K.
Coming up: November 14 to 22, 2025
Belfast’s Outburst Queer Arts Festival is not solely a film fest, but its film strand features an incisive blend of queer cinema, performance and social activism spread over nine days. The festival champions international and local filmmakers, often with an unapologetic political pulse. Screenings pair with spoken-word nights, art installations and community forums, offering a multidisciplinary experience that always pushes past the screen.
Festival Chéries-Chéris
Paris, France
Coming up: November 15 to 25, 2025
Paris has long been a beacon for artists, intellectuals and queer culture—and Chéries-Chéris channels that spirit directly on to the screen. In its 30-plus year run, this landmark festival transforms several of the city’s cinemas into hubs of global LGBTQ+ storytelling. Its programming is as stylish and diverse as Paris itself, showcasing everything from bold narrative features to intimate documentaries and avant-garde shorts. With its mix of cinematic daring, intellectual rigour and Parisian glamour, Chéries-Chéris feels less like an isolated event and more like a cultural moment.
Read our insider’s guide to Paris here.
Image+nation
Montréal, Canada
Coming up: November 20 to 30, 2025
image+nation holds a historic place in queer Canadian cinema. Established in 1987, it’s one of North America’s longest-running LGBTQ2S+ film festivals. Over 11 days each autumn, Montréal’s festival showcases global premiere features, shorts, documentaries and experimental works, all presented in bilingual/two-language screenings. The festival features filmmaker Q&As, curated retrospectives and community outreach—especially in helping connect Francophone queer creators across Canada. The festival’s home city, Montréal, is worth a visit whether you’re a film lover or not.
Read our insider’s guide to Montreal here.
Berlinale—Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin, Germany
Coming up: February 12 to 22, 2026
The Berlinale is one of the world’s largest and most important film festivals. That is to say, it’s a mainstream festival. But its Panorama, Forum and the celebrated Teddy Award sections make it a mecca for queer cinema lovers. Every February, these strands present cutting-edge narrative, documentary and experimental films—it’s where some of the best indie queer cinema debuts before heading to other festivals and, fingers crossed, getting a commercial release. Berlin’s openness and underground energy make Berlinale not just a festival visit but an immersion in queer cinematic history, culture and community.
Read our insider’s guide to Berlin here.
Queer Screen—Mardi Gras Film Festival
Sydney, Australia
Coming up: February 2026 (exact dates TBD)
The standalone Queer Screen festival usually takes place in August. But the Mardi Gras edition, which coincides with the famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, has grown to be one of the largest LGBTQ+ film festivals in the world. Over 10 days, the festival screens international and Australian LGBTQ+ films in an inclusive, party-charged atmosphere—it’s Mardi Gras season, after all. Like most of the festivals on this list, the festival program often includes tailored programs for women, trans and nonbinary people, as well as the broader queer community. And if you get bored at a screening, you can always jump into the Mardi Gras party.
BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
London, U.K.
Coming up: March 2026 (exact dates TBD)
BFI Flare, the United Kingdom’s major queer film festival, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. Flare is famous for its inclusive curatorial sections, spotlighting emerging talents, feminist filmmakers and trans creators—and usually includes special retrospectives and community spotlights. BFI Flare also hosts panel discussions, live Q&A events, and social mixers that attract both cinephiles and creatives. It’s London at its most queer and cinematic.
Read our suggested London itinerary here.
Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival
Toronto, Canada
Coming up: Late May to early June 2026 (exact dates TBD)
Canada’s flagship queer film festival, one of the world’s biggest, reflects the diversity of its culturally diverse home city of Toronto—it’s the perfect place to see queer cinema from around the world. The well-curated festival is known for its thematic spotlights (e.g., family narratives, queer youth, trans voices), filmmaker brunches, and activist panels with Canadian and international creators. The parties are pretty good, too.
Read our insider’s guide to Toronto here.
KASHISH Pride Film Festival
Mumbai, India
Coming up: June 2026 (exact dates TBD)
In 2025, South Asia’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival screened 152 films from 48 countries, including 20 world premieres, 12 international premieres and 50 Asian premieres—a testament to its global reach and curatorial ambition. Founded in 2010, KASHISH stands out for its bold storytelling, its commitment to inclusion—especially featuring films by women, trans and nonbinary filmmakers. The word “kashish” means attraction or allurement in Urdu. The festival hosts an online version of the festival in August/September.
Frameline—San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival
San Francisco, California
Coming up: June 2026 (exact dates TBD)
Celebrating its 50th edition in 2026, Frameline is the longest-running and largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the US…and perhaps the world. Based in San Francisco, Frameline offers an expansive program, from LGBTQ+ mainstream films to offbeat experimental shorts and works by emerging voices. Each year includes a blend of red-carpet premieres, neighbourhood screenings across Bay Area venues and community events. Frameline’s golden anniversary promises to be historic: expect tributes to queer film pioneers, retrospectives and immersive editions at beloved venues like the Castro Theatre.
Read our insider’s guide to San Francisco here.
Outfest
Los Angeles, California
Coming up: July/August 2026 (exact dates TBD)
While San Francisco’s film festival has decidedly community roots, Outfest, based in Hollywood, also has industry roots and a more glamorous persona. Founded in 1982, it also has a very long history. Organizers took a year off in 2024, coming back with a smaller festival in 2025. But 2026 is slated to be a return to form, with gala premieres, celebrity appearances and red-carpet style. Expect festival organizers to be calling in favours from their Hollywood network.
GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival
Dublin, Ireland
Coming up: July 28 to August 3, 2026
GAZE’s program blends LGBTQ+ features and shorts, documentaries and Irish premieres with social events that include post-screening parties, filmmaker Q&As and city outings. Though the programming is international, there’s a penchant for Irish storytelling and intersectional issues, with particular attention to trans visibility and queer history. Set in Dublin’s historic cinemas and arts spaces, GAZE attendees might also enjoy some Irish hospitality—it shouldn’t take much to get invited to some afterparties.
MIX CPH—Copenhagen LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
Copenhagen, Denmark
Coming up: Fall 2026 (exact dates TBD, usually October/November)
One of the world’s oldest queer film festivals, MIX CPH still manages to be cutting-edge, presenting a bold, diverse film program that emphasizes cultural relevance and genre-blending. MIX Copenhagen is celebrated for nurturing new European queer filmmakers and mixing activism—climate, body politics and social justice—into its cinematic lens. Screenings often come with artist talks, performance mash-ups and pop-up events. For travellers, MIX offers a smart and socially conscious film vibe in a city that already feels mystically queer and inclusive.
Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Hong Kong
Coming up: September 2026 (exact dates TBD)
Asia’s longest-running LGBTQIA+ film festival was founded in 1989 and launched formally in 2001. Over two weeks, HKLGFF presents an eclectic program of films drawing from Hong Kong and global queer communities. The focus is on works that are provocative and not yet widely available, particularly short films; they’re known for their short film screenplay competition. The opening and closing parties can be a fun time.
Queer Lisboa/Queer Porto
Lisbon and Porto, Portugal
Coming up: September 2026 in Lisbon, November 2026 in Porto (exact dates TBD)
Created in 1997 as a contemporary of “sister” festivals of Madrid and Paris, Queer Lisboa has gained a reputation as a well-curated event, with films screened in some of the city’s beautiful arthouse venues. The vibe balances playful glamour and socially engaged storytelling. Lisbon’s golden light, tile-lined streets make Queer Lisboa a festival of sensual discovery. The Porto edition of the festival, founded in 2015, is not a carbon copy of the Lisbon event, though many of the films are screened at both.
Read our insider’s guide to Lisbon here.
Read our insider’s guide to Porto here.
Reeling—The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Chicago, Illinois
Coming up: September 2026 (exact dates TBD)
The first Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival took place in 1981, with patrons sitting on 90 folding chairs to watch queer films. It’s second only to San Francisco’s Frameline as the oldest such film festival in North America. The festival’s historical depth is matched by its fresh vision: notable retrospectives, Midwest premieres, artist talks and panel discussions. Chicago’s dynamic neighbourhoods, combined with Reeling’s legacy and evolving relevance, make it a special place for cinephiles interested in arthouse quality, queer history and finding community through film.
Out on Screen: Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Vancouver, Canada
Coming up: September 2026 (exact dates TBD)
Over 10 days, VQFF offers a curated program of queer shorts, features, documentaries and emerging media projects, often with local Pacific Northwest and Indigenous voices front and centre. VQFF is known for creating an inviting, inclusive atmosphere in one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. They also host a pitch competition for aspiring filmmakers—hopefully the winner makes their debut at the festival a year or two later.
Read our insider’s guide to Vancouver here.
