Are you traveling to Barcelona in the summer and awaiting the pride events going on around the city? The twist is that the events here are held in July! But don’t let that fool you, as the main pride celebrations in July are just as massive as those during pride month elsewhere.
The first gay pride in Barcelona took place in 1977 on the 26th of June. The first protest march that liberated the movement across Spain took place in Barcelona’s iconic Ramblas (a thoroughfare that connects the center of the city to the port). A saying was born from this day called the FAGC which means “Front d’Alliberament Gai de Catalunya” translated as “Gay Liberation Front of Catalonia”. The FAGC changed the LGBTI+ movement all throughout Spain, and now we are blessed to have many ways to celebrate.
The PrideBCN events have been official since 2008 as part of Barcelona’s tradition. For the most part, pride was held the closest weekend to 30 June, but this year the celebrations are from 28th of June until the 21st of July with the main celebrations and parade happening July 18-21.
You can always come to CocoVail for an ice-cold beer, fresh food, and great company during the month of pride, but what’s going on for the main events in Barcelona during this celebratory weekend?
This year, the main weekend of pride celebrations is on the 18 - 21 of July 2024. There will be concerts going on through these dates to celebrate pride. The concerts will be held at the Avenida Maria Cristina, Lluís Companys, and Plaza de la Universitat. The big parade itself will be held on the 20th of July at 18:00. It will begin at Parque de las Tres Chimeneas and go to Avinguda Maria Cristina where the pride stage and Gaixample await!
This is where the real party begins; from music to dancing, and thousands will be crowding the main stage to celebrate pride. During the parade itself, unless you are part of a charity or group that is pre-registered to be on a float, you will have to watch from the sides. However, this means that the parade is free regardless of whether you get to join the march or if you are watching from the sides.
Besides the main pride parade, there are tons of events laid out for the 18th - 21st of July.
Each year the festival has a theme, this year's theme is “Education in sex-affective and gender diversity: pending subject”. Throughout the month of July and specifically the 18-21, you will find pride-themed parties all over, especially around the Gaixample, including: social events, protests, exhibitions, and campaigning for pride. Lots of museums and exhibits will project history on pride to celebrate during this time. You can find a link to the day-to-day events going on during pride on PrideBCN. However, to surely end Pride on a good note, the closing party is one you cannot miss. This year it will be held at La Terrazza on Sunday, the 21st of July, and is hosted by Churros con Chocolate. The doors open at 19:00 and it is a ticketed event, so don’t forget to grab those beforehand!
Pride in Barcelona is major! There is a ton to do, so don’t worry if you don't make your original plans. There's always something around the corner celebrating the LGBTQ+ community from 28th of June to the 21st of July.
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