Bilbao Gay Pride 2023

Bilbao Gay Pride 2023

Gay Pride Bilbao, also known as Bilbao Bizkaia Pride, takes place in June each year and is billed as a socio-cultural festival that advocates for LGBT visibility and for diversity.

• Visiting Bilbao? Stay close to Bilbao’s gay venues, located within close proximity to each other in the areas known as Casco Viejo and Bilbao La Vieja. 

The Event

• The pride is centred around Bilbao Pride Stage (Arenal) with shows and acts taking place nightly from 8pm.
• Other events include the Football Championship for diversity in sports  (men’s and women’s), a family day and a Brunch for diversity in the Gastronomic Route.
• The Basque region’s message is positive, inclusive and welcoming: “everyone can join us because, no matter who or what, love always wins!”

Bilbao Pride Parade

• The highlight of Bilbao Pride is the parade itself, which is not a traditional parade, but rather a flotilla!
• Route and time to be confirmed – On the Saturday of the event at 17:30 boats leave from the estuary of Bilbao (departure: Pio Baroja) and continue along the river.
• Parties take place on all the boats and they are decorated with bright rainbow colours for all of Bilbao to see!
• Stay close to all the pride celebrations at the NYX Hotel Bilbao, rated “Fabulous” with modern rooms and the perfect location between the old and new town.

Gay Bilbao

• The bars and clubs of Bilbao will also host parties and events. Bilbao’s compact and highly local gay scene itself, is centred around the Old Town and the aptly-named San Francisco district just across the river and wrapped around the main train station.
• By no means everyone will speak English – or Spanish. Hub of northern Spain’s staunchly independent Basque region, Bilbao was a gay Mecca long before the Guggenheim Museum opened its doors

Where to stay in Bilbao

The following hotels are currently trending with our readers:

Hotel Meliá,  NH Collection Villa de Bilbao,  Hotel Conde Duque,  Baps Apartments.