France Gay Travel Index 2026
Score = Legal 58/60 + Scene 33/40 = 91/100
Updated 1 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
Legal composite · Legal milestones · Scene on the ground · Plan your trip · Frequently asked questions
Legal composite — 58/60 points
| Criminalization | Legal |
|---|---|
| Partnership | ● Yes (marriage equality) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Yes |
| Gender recognition | Legal route — recognition possible via medical or administrative process |
| Enforcement reality | Protective — the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people |
Research note: Court route Art 61-5, demedicalized 2016 — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 1791Revolutionary France abolished sodomy laws, becoming one of the first nations to decriminalise same-sex activity. ↗
- 1982President Francois Mitterrand's government equalised the age of consent, ending a discriminatory higher threshold for gay sex. ↗
- 1999The civil solidarity pact (PACS) created a registered partnership open to same-sex couples. ↗
- 2013The Taubira law legalised same-sex marriage and joint adoption across France. ↗
- 2022A law banning conversion therapy took effect, penalising attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. ↗
- TodayFrance provides marriage equality and broad anti-discrimination protection, though transgender legal recognition still requires an administrative process. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
Scene on the ground — 33/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Gay bars per million | 1.50 |
|---|---|
| Saunas per million | 0.48 |
| Events per million | 9.15 |
| Coverage grade | A |
| Scene score | 33/40 (raw scene index 82/100) |
Frequently asked questions
Is France safe for gay travellers?
France is rated Welcoming on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 91/100 overall with a legal safety component of 58/60. On enforcement reality, the state actively protects LGBTQ+ people.
Is same-sex marriage legal in France?
Yes. Same-sex marriage is legal in France. Overall legal status: Legal.
Does France have a gay scene?
Yes. GayOut lists 395 LGBTQ+ venues in France, including 102 dedicated gay bars, across 16 cities with a scene, and tracks 14 Pride parades there.
Which city in France has the biggest gay scene?
Paris has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in France, with 82 venues listed in the GayOut directory, followed by Bordeaux (28 venues).
How many gay bars and saunas are there in France?
GayOut currently lists 102 dedicated gay bars and 33 gay saunas in France, and tracks 14 Pride parades there. Counts exclude venues that are merely gay-friendly.