Benidorm Pride 2025
- 1-7 September 2025
- Benidorm
Benidorm Pride 2025 transforms the Spanish resort of Benidorm into a weeklong celebration that blends Mediterranean sunshine, cultural flair and unapologetic lgbtq+Q+ pride. For a town better known for its high‑rise hotels and lively seafront bars, the seventh month of summer brings something different: rainbow flags along Levante promenade and thousands of visitors ready to dance, parade and connect.
The 2025 edition runs from Monday 1 September to Sunday 7 September 2025. That week has become affectionately known as the “European summer closing pride,” signalling the end of the continent’s busy pride calendar. Organisers are marking the 15th edition with more events than ever, and local businesses have embraced the festival with enthusiasm. From the moment you arrive, there is a sense that the city is determined to put on a show that rivals larger pride celebrations in Barcelona or Madrid while retaining its own distinctive coastal charm.
On opening night the old town’s gay village hosts a welcome party spilling out of narrow streets packed with tapas bars and music venues. Throughout the week theme nights keep the energy high: there are drag shows in intimate clubs, a Pink Party in a beachside venue, sunset pool parties at Marina Resort and a glamorous White Party at the Julio Iglesias auditorium. These events attract local DJs and performers alongside international guests. While some parties charge a modest fee, many community events remain free so that locals and visitors can mingle. During the day, visitors take advantage of Benidorm’s famous beaches, sailing tours or excursions to nearby villages. Pride volunteers organise morning yoga sessions on Poniente beach and art exhibitions in the town hall plaza.
The highlight of the week is the pride parade on Saturday 6 September. Floats assemble in the Rincon de Loix district and set off at 17:00, winding along the Levante promenade as thousands cheer from café terraces. The route ends at the Julio Iglesias Auditorium where a main stage hosts speeches, live bands and drag performances before the celebration spills into the streets again for an after‑party. In recent years the parade has been deliberately inclusive: local disability rights groups, migrants’ associations and sports clubs march alongside drag queens and activists. Organisers have worked closely with the City Council to ensure accessible viewing platforms and sign‑language interpreters. This commitment has helped attendance grow; local officials expect around 20,000 people in 2025.
Away from the big shows there is a more reflective side to Benidorm Pride. Midweek workshops address issues such as youth mental health, elder lgbtq+Q+ experiences and trans rights, all held in community centres near the old town. A film night at Casa del Fester screens documentaries and award‑winning features followed by discussions with directors and activists. Local galleries host photography exhibitions that celebrate queer life on Spain’s Costa Blanca. There is even a poetry slam in Valencian and English, giving space for voices often overlooked by mainstream pride coverage.
For visitors who may only know Benidorm from holiday package brochures, Pride offers a chance to see a different side of the city. The old town’s labyrinth of streets houses bars and restaurants that have served the lgbtq+Q+ community for decades. A short walk away, the modern Rincon de Loix area with its skyscraper hotels hosts all‑night club nights. Many participants take day trips to nearby Altea or Guadalest, exploring clifftop castles and quiet coves before returning for evening events. Pride organisers also encourage tourists to support small local businesses: there are artisan markets showcasing crafts by queer artists and independent designers.
Travel logistics are straightforward. Alicante airport is around 45 minutes away by bus or car, and there are regular tram connections from cities like Alicante and Denia. Hotels range from luxury beachfront resorts to budget guesthouses in the old town. Bookings tend to fill quickly for pride week, so planning ahead is wise. Many regular visitors prefer to stay close to the gay village or along Levante beach where you can easily walk to most events. Others choose the quieter Poniente area and take taxis or buses into town. While the large parties may go on into the early hours, there are plenty of quieter cafés and restaurants for those who want to escape the crowds.
What makes Benidorm Pride special, beyond the parties and parade, is its community spirit. Local campaigners credit the festival with advancing lgbtq+Q+ rights in Benidorm and the wider Valencia region. The City Council has backed new equality initiatives, from anti‑discrimination plans to funding for youth support services. Rainbow flags now fly permanently on municipal buildings, a powerful symbol in a tourist town that has not always been seen as progressive. Visitors often remark that the festival feels both celebratory and meaningful – a week where everyone is invited to contribute.
As the closing party winds down on Sunday night and visitors make plans for their journeys home, the organisers are already thinking about the next edition. They know that to remain relevant, Benidorm Pride must continue balancing entertainment with activism, international appeal with local roots. For now, though, 2025 promises to be a memorable celebration under the Mediterranean sun. Whether you come for the beach parties, the parade or simply to support a community that thrives on visibility and solidarity, this festival offers a warm welcome and a unique slice of Spanish pride culture.
Official Website
The 2025 edition runs from Monday 1 September to Sunday 7 September 2025. That week has become affectionately known as the “European summer closing pride,” signalling the end of the continent’s busy pride calendar. Organisers are marking the 15th edition with more events than ever, and local businesses have embraced the festival with enthusiasm. From the moment you arrive, there is a sense that the city is determined to put on a show that rivals larger pride celebrations in Barcelona or Madrid while retaining its own distinctive coastal charm.
On opening night the old town’s gay village hosts a welcome party spilling out of narrow streets packed with tapas bars and music venues. Throughout the week theme nights keep the energy high: there are drag shows in intimate clubs, a Pink Party in a beachside venue, sunset pool parties at Marina Resort and a glamorous White Party at the Julio Iglesias auditorium. These events attract local DJs and performers alongside international guests. While some parties charge a modest fee, many community events remain free so that locals and visitors can mingle. During the day, visitors take advantage of Benidorm’s famous beaches, sailing tours or excursions to nearby villages. Pride volunteers organise morning yoga sessions on Poniente beach and art exhibitions in the town hall plaza.
The highlight of the week is the pride parade on Saturday 6 September. Floats assemble in the Rincon de Loix district and set off at 17:00, winding along the Levante promenade as thousands cheer from café terraces. The route ends at the Julio Iglesias Auditorium where a main stage hosts speeches, live bands and drag performances before the celebration spills into the streets again for an after‑party. In recent years the parade has been deliberately inclusive: local disability rights groups, migrants’ associations and sports clubs march alongside drag queens and activists. Organisers have worked closely with the City Council to ensure accessible viewing platforms and sign‑language interpreters. This commitment has helped attendance grow; local officials expect around 20,000 people in 2025.
Away from the big shows there is a more reflective side to Benidorm Pride. Midweek workshops address issues such as youth mental health, elder lgbtq+Q+ experiences and trans rights, all held in community centres near the old town. A film night at Casa del Fester screens documentaries and award‑winning features followed by discussions with directors and activists. Local galleries host photography exhibitions that celebrate queer life on Spain’s Costa Blanca. There is even a poetry slam in Valencian and English, giving space for voices often overlooked by mainstream pride coverage.
For visitors who may only know Benidorm from holiday package brochures, Pride offers a chance to see a different side of the city. The old town’s labyrinth of streets houses bars and restaurants that have served the lgbtq+Q+ community for decades. A short walk away, the modern Rincon de Loix area with its skyscraper hotels hosts all‑night club nights. Many participants take day trips to nearby Altea or Guadalest, exploring clifftop castles and quiet coves before returning for evening events. Pride organisers also encourage tourists to support small local businesses: there are artisan markets showcasing crafts by queer artists and independent designers.
Travel logistics are straightforward. Alicante airport is around 45 minutes away by bus or car, and there are regular tram connections from cities like Alicante and Denia. Hotels range from luxury beachfront resorts to budget guesthouses in the old town. Bookings tend to fill quickly for pride week, so planning ahead is wise. Many regular visitors prefer to stay close to the gay village or along Levante beach where you can easily walk to most events. Others choose the quieter Poniente area and take taxis or buses into town. While the large parties may go on into the early hours, there are plenty of quieter cafés and restaurants for those who want to escape the crowds.
What makes Benidorm Pride special, beyond the parties and parade, is its community spirit. Local campaigners credit the festival with advancing lgbtq+Q+ rights in Benidorm and the wider Valencia region. The City Council has backed new equality initiatives, from anti‑discrimination plans to funding for youth support services. Rainbow flags now fly permanently on municipal buildings, a powerful symbol in a tourist town that has not always been seen as progressive. Visitors often remark that the festival feels both celebratory and meaningful – a week where everyone is invited to contribute.
As the closing party winds down on Sunday night and visitors make plans for their journeys home, the organisers are already thinking about the next edition. They know that to remain relevant, Benidorm Pride must continue balancing entertainment with activism, international appeal with local roots. For now, though, 2025 promises to be a memorable celebration under the Mediterranean sun. Whether you come for the beach parties, the parade or simply to support a community that thrives on visibility and solidarity, this festival offers a warm welcome and a unique slice of Spanish pride culture.
Official Website