From Pride parades to queer film festivals and drag extravaganzas, these are the best LGBTQ+ festivals, events, and street parties in London to celebrate, dance, and party the night away. Discover London’s top gay events year-round.
London knows how to throw a party, especially if it involves drag queens on roller skates, warehouse beats, and at least one person dressed as a disco ball.
Over the years, we’ve found ourselves in all sorts of unexpected places: voguing under a railway arch in East London, salsa dancing in a pub car park, and once, memorably, trapped in a conga line that somehow migrated from a club in Vauxhall to a kebab shop in Clapham…
What we love most about London’s LGBTQ+ festival scene is that it’s not just about one big Pride parade (though Pride in London is a classic). It’s the year-round chaos! From the sweaty euphoria of Mighty Hoopla to the fabulous weirdness of Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, we keep coming back for more. Whether it’s dancing ‘til sunrise or sobbing over an indie lesbian short film, London knows how to deliver.
This is our round-up of the best gay festivals, events, and street parties in London in chronological order. Prepare your outfits, pace your liver, and maybe keep a Monday morning free for recovery…you’re going to need it! Be sure to also check out our terrific London gay guide for everything queer happening in LondonTown 🙂
Looking for a place to base yourself in London? Use our London gay hotels guide and our best gay Airbnbs in London to help plan your lodgings 🙂
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London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in March
Every March, we find ourselves back at the BFI Southbank, tissues in one hand and popcorn in the other, diving headfirst into BFI Flare, London's annual LGBTQIA+ film festival.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster: one minute we’re howling at a campy lesbian romcom, and the next we’re quietly weeping into our sleeves over a beautifully shot trans-coming-of-age drama. What we love most is how international the line-up is, stories from every corner of the queer world, all under one roof.
BFI Flare has become our unofficial launch into spring: 10 days of queer cinema, panel talks, and yes, the occasional party or two. If you’re even remotely interested in LGBTQ+ film or just want to feel things (deeply), this is one not to miss.
Mighty Hoopla in May/June
If Eurovision exploded in a park and sprinkled itself with drag queens, 90s nostalgia, and some questionable dance moves, you'd get Mighty Hoopla. Held every summer in Brockwell Park, this is hands down one of our favorite queer festivals on the calendar.
Think Sugababes on one stage, Bimini Bon-Boulash on another, and us somewhere in the middle trying not to spill our canned gin. It’s outrageously camp, full of joy, and a celebration of pop culture at its most gloriously unhinged.
The outfits alone are worth the ticket. We wrote about our full experience attending Mighty Hoopla. Trust us: you’ll leave sunburnt, sparkly, and slightly deaf, but grinning from ear to ear.
Queer Bruk in June
Queer Bruk is a party, but not just any party. It’s a celebration of queer Black joy, Caribbean vibes, and unapologetic self-expression.
We first stumbled into it on a friend’s recommendation and left wondering how we’d ever partied without it. Expect dancehall, bashment, afrobeat, soca, and a crowd that knows how to move.
Their annual horror-themed event, BlediBruk, takes things up a notch…costumes, body paint, and beats that’ll have you ravin' till the early hours. It's not just fun, it's super important: a space where QTIPOC (Queer, Trans, Intersex, People of Color) folks can be loud, free, and fabulous. Follow the Queer Bruk Instagram for the latest info.
Classical Pride in June/July
Who said classical music wasn’t queer? Classical Pride proves otherwise.
This newer festival started in 2023, and it’s already giving the London gay scene a fabulous new rhythm. We attended our first one in 2024 and were honestly blown away. Rainbow flags waving at the Royal Albert Hall, queer composers celebrated, and drag violinists stole the show.
From orchestras to intimate recitals, it’s camp in the most sophisticated way. What do we love most? It’s not about ironic queerness; it’s about genuinely reclaiming space in a traditionally stiff, elitist world, and making it ours. Check the Classical Pride website for the latest info and how to get tickets.
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London Pride in July
There’s nothing like London Pride. Every July, the city transforms into one giant queer playground, and yes, we’ve been known to shed a tear or two watching the parade march through the West End.
But it’s not just the parade: the entire weekend is packed with events, from club nights to community protests and the legendary Two Brewers Street Party in Clapham. We always say: London Pride is what you make of it—go wild, go chill, go dance until 6 am.
Whatever your vibe, it has a place for you. Read more in our guide to London Gay Pride.
As One In The Park in July
Held in Finsbury Park, As One in the Park is like a queer club crawl, except outdoors, during the day, and on steroids. Imagine all your favorite LGBTQ+ nightlife venues teaming up to throw one giant open-air rave.
We went a few times, sweating through our shorts and dancing in the mud, and honestly? We'd do it again in a heartbeat. From drag acts to big-name DJs, this festival blends circuit party energy with London’s unique queer diversity.
Bonus: the food trucks are decent, and the queue for the loos isn’t apocalyptic!
Black Pride in August
If London Pride is the mainstream sister, UK Black Pride is the radical, gorgeous, political one who turns heads and takes no nonsense. Every August, this celebration of LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern heritage fills a London park with joy, power, and fierce community spirit.
We've been going for years and it never fails to move us. The performances are electric, the speakers are fearless, and the energy? Off the charts.
It's a protest, a party, and a powerful reminder that not all Pride looks the same. And that’s exactly why it matters.
Maiden Voyage in August/September
Maiden Voyage is one of those festivals that feels like a secret until you realize everyone in London’s queer scene already knows about it.
Set in a different location each year (previously Lee Valley, in 2025 in Burgess Park), it's a boutique electronic music festival that leans queer without being overtly LGBTQ+. But trust us: the queers show up. Hard. We’ve seen voguing circles form at 2 pm, and the afterparties are something else entirely.
For the latest info check out the Maiden Voyage Instagram and to read about more parties like this, check out our guide to the best gay clubs in London.
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest in September
Every September, Fringe! takes over cinemas, galleries, and grimy bars across East London with a mix of queer film screenings, art installations, workshops, and wild afterparties. It’s low-budget, high-impact, and packed with heart.
We love it because it feels grassroots, like a true celebration for the community, by the community. One night you’ll be watching a short film about lesbian pigeons, the next you’re in a warehouse watching a drag wrestling match. We’re not joking.
More info and tickets can be found on the Fringe Film Fest website.
False Idols at Drumsheds (various dates usually in the Fall)
False Idols is the kind of party that makes your ears ring and your jaw drop. Held at Drumsheds, a giant industrial rave venue in North London, it’s a multi-room, multi-sensory event that’s not explicitly gay but feels it in spirit.
We went in 2023 and it felt like Berghain’s messier cousin had moved to London and invited drag queens, shirtless dancers, and 10,000 people who love to sweat in PVC. Dates vary each year (check the Drumsheds site), but usually fall between September and December. Go early, stay late, and bring a fan (literally and metaphorically).
Best gay events close to London
Sometimes London just isn’t enough, which is when we hop on a train and take the party elsewhere. Brighton Pride in August is London Pride by the sea, and it’s always a favorite. Manchester Pride is bigger, bolder, and throws one hell of a weekend (don’t skip the Gay Village). And then there’s Glastonbury, worth noting that Block9 (and especially NYC Downlow) is one of the most legendary queer spaces you’ll ever stumble into in a field.
Glastonbury Festival in June
Glastonbury is the UK’s most iconic music festival, a sprawling, five-day explosion of live music, muddy wellies, and magical chaos. From major headline acts to hidden circus tents, it’s a sensory overload in the best way. But come nightfall, all roads (at least for us) lead to Block9: the queer playground tucked in the southeast corner of the site.
At its heart is NYC Downlow, a multi-room club styled like a 1980s New York bathhouse, complete with drag, disco, and dancing until dawn. Just behind it? The infamous Meat Rack. Let’s just say… you won’t find that on the official map! All the latest info can be found on the Glastonbury Festival website.
Brighton Pride in August
Brighton Pride is London Pride’s cheekier, beachside cousin—and we love her for it. Every August, the entire city transforms into a rainbow-soaked celebration of queer joy. There’s the legendary parade along the seafront, followed by a massive park festival with big-name performers (Britney once graced that stage—we’re still not over it).
The vibes are sunny, campy, and slightly tipsy by 3 pm. After the main event, the party spills into Kemp Town where the bars and streets buzz till late. It’s Pride by the sea, and honestly, it hits differently with fish and chips in hand.
Manchester Pride in August
Manchester Pride is a full-blown weekend, and then some. Set in the Gay Village around Canal Street, it’s one of the UK’s biggest and boldest Pride celebrations. Think street parties, club nights, a parade that shuts down the city, and a music festival that’s had everyone from Ariana to Yungblud.
We love how everything’s walkable, the locals go all out, and the afterparties are next-level. The candlelit vigil on Monday evening adds a beautiful, grounding touch to an otherwise wild weekend. Manchester knows how to party, and it knows how to honor the fight behind the glitter, too.
The Manchester Pride website has all the latest info and our Manchester gay travel guide‘s got your back for everything queer in the city.
Non-gay-specific events in London
There are a few events in London that aren’t technically queer, but the gays have claimed them. The No Trousers Tube Ride in January? Iconic chaos. The World Naked Bike Ride in June? An annual celebration of body freedom, with more than a few rainbow flags flying. These may not be billed as LGBTQ+ events, but they’ve become low-key staples of the queer social calendar.
No Trousers Tube Ride in January
Picture this: it’s a grey January afternoon in London. You step onto the Tube… and half the carriage is in their pants! Welcome to the 12. It's silly, surreal, and unexpectedly liberating. We joined on a dare once and ended up high-fiving strangers at Liverpool Street Station while trying not to flash too much thigh.
It's not a queer event per se, but the LGBTQ+ crowd shows up in full force, because let’s be honest, we do love a bit of harmless public chaos. Bonus points for outrageous underwear and impeccable tube-station posing… Join the No Trousers Tube Ride Facebook group for the latest info.
World Naked Bike Ride in June
The World Naked Bike Ride happens every June, and yes—it’s exactly what it sounds like. Thousands of cyclists, zero clothes, one joyful protest-meets-party on wheels. The ride raises awareness for body positivity, cyclist safety, and environmental issues, but it’s also just a wildly liberating day out.
We cycled through central London with the group on a few occasions, cheeks (all four) on full display, waving at confused tourists and loving every second. Loads of LGBTQ+ folks take part…can't think why that is 🙂
This is London at its boldest, barest, and most unbothered!
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