Curacao Pride 2025
- September 26-October 5, 2025
- Curacao
Curaçao Pride 2025 is scheduled for September 26 through October 5, 2025. The 13th edition of this Caribbean celebration brings ten days of parties, cultural events, and community programs across the island’s capital, Willemstad. Since launching in 2013, the festival has become one of the largest lgbtq+Q+ events in the region, drawing participants from around the world to celebrate diversity and acceptance.
This year’s program builds on that tradition. The festivities begin on Friday, September 26, with an opening ceremony at the waterfront followed by a sunset boat cruise. Over the next week, visitors can drop in on pool parties, beach gatherings, drag shows, live music performances, and thematic events that showcase Curaçaoan culture. DJs from the Caribbean and Europe will spin at the White Party and several other nighttime events, while local artists host pop‑up exhibitions and workshops that explore lgbtq+Q+ history in the Dutch Antilles.
Daily events are spread across venues like the historic Pietermaai District, trendy bars near Mambo Beach Boulevard, and hotel terraces overlooking the turquoise sea. Food stalls and tasting sessions appear along the Handelskade waterfront, giving you a chance to sample the island’s mix of Caribbean, Dutch, African, and Latin flavors. Guided tours introduce newcomers to the colorful architecture of Willemstad’s UNESCO‑listed neighborhoods like Punda and Otrobanda, while boat excursions take travellers to secluded coves on the northwest coast.
The heart of Curaçao Pride is the Pride March. Scheduled for Saturday, October 4, it winds through the streets of Punda with floats, performers, and thousands of people decked out in rainbow colors. The route typically starts near Queen Wilhelmina Park and crosses the Queen Emma Bridge into Otrobanda, where participants gather for speeches and live music. Locals line the route to cheer and families picnic along the waterfront. It’s a loud, joyful celebration that blends Caribbean rhythms with a message of equality and inclusion.
As the week unfolds, there’s time to explore more of the island between parties. Several organizers arrange hikes in Christoffel National Park, scuba diving tours of coral reefs, and day trips to Klein Curaçao. You can wander through galleries displaying works by local queer artists, shop in the floating market for Venezuelan produce, or just relax on Playa Porto Mari. Many hotels and guest houses host meet‑ups and dinners for Pride attendees, making it easy to connect with travellers from across the globe.
Curaçao is known as one of the most lgbtq+Q‑friendly destinations in the Caribbean, and the Pride festival reflects that openness. Restaurants and bars put up rainbow flags and the local tourism board works closely with activists to ensure events are safe and welcoming. While the island has a conservative past, recent years have seen significant progress in visibility and rights, and the Pride celebrations have played a role in fostering conversation between communities.
If you plan to attend, be sure to book accommodations early. September and October are busy months for travel and many hotels near Mambo Beach and downtown fill up quickly. Temperatures hover around 30 °C, with cooling trade winds making outdoor events comfortable, but occasional showers mean you might want to pack light rain gear. English, Dutch, and Papiamentu are widely spoken, and the island uses the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG), though US dollars are widely accepted.
Attending Curaçao Pride is about more than parties; it’s an opportunity to learn about the island’s unique cultural blend and to support a community that has worked hard to carve out safe spaces in the Caribbean. Whether you’re dancing on a boat cruise, marching across the pontoon bridge, or sharing stories over a local dish of keshi yena, you’ll feel the warmth and hospitality for which Curaçao is famous. The 2025 edition invites everyone to experience that spirit first‑hand, celebrating love and authenticity in a place where sea meets sun and people from all backgrounds come together.
Official Website: https://www.curacaopride.org