Pride season feels like a long way off. But don’t worry. We’ve got you. We know where you can find your tribe during the next seven months.
Here are some of the biggest and, to be blunt, sexiest gay parties happening around the world between now and next June. Some are from big, reliable party producers, others are a bit more niche. Whatever turns your crank, you’ll find a place to crank it. Here are the 13 hottest tickets for sinful gay parties.
Maspalomas Winter Pride
Gran Canaria, Spain, November 10 to 16, 2025
Just as temperatures are dropping in the Northern Hemisphere, things are heating up in one of Spain’s top gay travel destinations. Tens of thousands show up for big events like the parade and main-stage shows (this year they’ve got Vengaboys, Kate Ryan, Rozella among others), as well as smaller events like pool parties, boat trips and other excursions. For those who don’t even want to leave the mall, the restaurants, bars and cruising clubs of Yumbo Centre are abuzz with visitors.
Pig Week
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 28 to December 7, 2025
While most gay archetypes (bears, twinks, daddies…) are often connected to body type and demographics, pigs are defined by their lack of inhibitions. Expect a lot of friskiness at the 10th edition of this nine-day series of parties and workshops, many of them requiring or encouraging various states of undress.
The URGE Thanksgiving Circuit Festival
Miami, Florida, November 28 to December 1, 2025
This shirts-off long-weekend circuit party has the Latin flavour you’d expect from a Miami blowout. Producer Raul Griffith was born in Venezuela and grew up in Miami, and there are usually DJs from south of the equator. There are six official parties including the Monday after-hours party.
London Leather Weekend
London, U.K., November 21 to 23, 2025
Established as MSC London in 1973, the social group London Leathermen have a bit—just a tiny bit—of experience throwing a naughty party. In fact, they’re the U.K.’s longest-standing gay/bi/queer men’s club. The entrance criteria is different for every gathering, ranging from all-welcome, to “hypermasculine” to “dykes of all gender expressions and persuasions;” from “gear encouraged” to long lists of wardrobe dos and don’ts.
HustlaBall
Las Vegas, Nevada, January 16 to 18, 2026
This sexy three-day festival is built around, ahem, the adult entertainment industry, those who love it and those who would love to be a part of it—and who aren’t afraid to show you what they can do. The GayVN Awards are part of the programming, while performances and attendance by content creators keep things racy.
Woof Week Rio
Rio de Janeiro, March 1 to 8, 2026
The South American definition of a bear is a bit different from the North American definition—it’s primarily about body hair, less so about body mass. For this week-long party, Latin American bears of all shapes and sizes descend on one of the world’s sexiest cities for pool parties, beach parties and the grand ball, a sort-of variety show with musical performances, a fashion show and stand-up comedy.
Darklands
Antwerp, Belgium, March 3 to 9, 2026
This large, long-running, five-day series of parties is leather- and fetish-forward, but is open to all kinds of fantasies and wardrobes. The minimum dress code is pretty easy for newbies: jeans and a dark T-shirt.Though their FLINTA program welcomes female, lesbian, intersex, nonbinary, transgender or agender attendees to explore the fetish scene during the daytime events, all nighttime parties are male-centric.
Headrush and Damage: Springbreak Edition
Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 28, 2026
Though this dance/cruise/play party has changed locations over the years, co-promoters Headrush and Damage have brought it to roost these days at The Other Side (Rigakade 10, Amsterdam), a “raw and immersive” venue in Amsterdam’s Houthaven district. Adult performers will be on display both on the dancefloor and in designated play areas. And there’s techno, lots of techno.
Easter Berlin
Berlin, Germany, March 31 to April 6, 2026
Organized by the world-renowned gay fetish club BLF, this is an essential stop on the leather circuit, the one where Mr. Leather Berlin is chosen. While some of the parties are men-only—and many have stricter dress codes than others—there are some mixed and more relaxed events. There are spaces for dancing, cruising and playing, and everything in between. The infamous “anything goes” Snax party, which takes place at Lab.oratory in the basement of Berghain nightclub (Am Wriezener bhf, Berlin), is not officially part of BLF’s party lineup, but usually takes place the same week.
Matinée Easter Weekend
Barcelona, Spain, April 3 to 5, 2026
While attendees at Easter Berlin might want to try out various outfits in leather and latex, the Matinée crowd tends to wear as little clothing as possible as they bust their moves on the huge dancefloor at this glossy event by one of the world’s glossiest party promoters. Though their summertime circuit party is their signature blowout, their Easter party is a pretty nice and hunky appetizer, with spectacular shows and lots of eye candy.
International Mr. Leather
Chicago, Illinois, May 23 to 27, 2026
For those who take their leather seriously, IML is like a pilgrimage. The biggest and most important leather event in North America, and the oldest in the world, it has a history going back to 1979. Though the contest is the keystone event, there is an array of events, from sexually charged parties to vendor markets to workshops and brunches.
Maspalomas Gay Pride
Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain, May 4 to 10, 2026
Yes, we’re back in the Canary Islands for Maspalomas’ spring Pride, rounding out its triumvirate of blowout gay parties. This one has a parade and a greater diversity of activities, and a bit more of a community feel, than its Winter Pride and Fetish Pride festivals. Its 25th edition will be seven days rather than the usual 11. Partiers can buy a ticket to be on one of the 30 floats in the parade, as well as join in the 10-hour mainstage party with 80,000 others. It may be community-minded, but it’s as glitzy as you’d expect in Maspalomas.
White Party Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California, May 2026
Founded by Jeffrey Sanker in 1989, the White Party in Palm Springs is considered the template for all modern gay circuit parties: a multi-day, high-production-values dance event, usually on a long weekend, that’s held annually in an appealing destination and featuring a slate of well-known DJs. Since Sanker died from liver cancer in 2021, the White Party has struggled—it didn’t happen in 2025. But organizers have promised a 2026 festival, dates TBD.
