French Polynesia — Gay Travel Index 2026

Name: French Polynesia — Gay Travel Index 2026
Creator: GayOut
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

56/100

Welcoming #68 of 207

Score = Legal 50/60 + Scene 6/40 = 56/100 · thin scene coverage — legal-weighted provisional score

Updated 7 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

Papeete → gay city guide

Legal composite — 50/60 points

Criminalization	Legal
Partnership	● Yes (marriage equality)
Anti-discrimination	● Yes
Gender recognition	—
Enforcement reality	—

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.

1791France repealed its sodomy laws during the Revolution; French criminal law later extended to French Polynesia, so same-sex activity was never criminalized there. ↗
1985French anti-discrimination protections covering sexual orientation in employment and services applied across France's overseas territories. ↗
2013Same-sex marriage became legal when France's marriage equality law took effect, applying fully to French Polynesia. ↗
TodayFull French marriage and adoption rights applied, and the traditional mahu third-gender identity remained a respected part of Polynesian culture. ↗

Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.

Scene on the ground — 6/40 points

LGBTQ+ venues listed

Dedicated gay bars

Gay saunas

Cities with a scene

Pride parades

Queer film festivals

Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)

Gay bars per million	0
Saunas per million	0
Events per million	0
Coverage grade	A
Scene score	6/40 (raw scene index 15/100)

Frequently asked questions

Is French Polynesia safe for gay travellers?

French Polynesia is rated Welcoming on the GayOut Gay Travel Index 2026, scoring 56/100 overall with a legal safety component of 50/60.

Is same-sex marriage legal in French Polynesia?

Yes. Same-sex marriage is legal in French Polynesia. Overall legal status: Legal.

Does French Polynesia have a gay scene?

French Polynesia has a limited documented gay scene: GayOut lists 6 LGBTQ+ venues, including 0 dedicated gay bars.

Which city in French Polynesia has the biggest gay scene?

Papeete has the largest documented LGBTQ+ scene in French Polynesia, with 1 venues listed in the GayOut directory.