Sao Paulo Gay Pride 2023

The World’s Largest Pride Parade – and its hottest 2023

The Sao Paulo Gay Pride is considered the biggest and best gay pride parade in the world. In fact it holds the title “largest pride” in the Guinness Book of World Records. The event is the second largest of the city, after the Grand Prix Formula One Brazil. Sao Paulo Gay Pride always takes place on the Sunday after the Corpus Christi annual holiday.

• Visiting for Pride? Stay in the Jardin district, just a short trip from all the gay bars. The neighborhood is home to the best hotels and restaurants in the city. 
• Alternatively stay on the Parade route along Avenida Paulista and enjoy a balcony view of the festivities. Enjoy some time on the street and some time on your balcony with friends!

São Paulo Pride Events

• Although officially this is a 5 day event, with the parade being the highlight, the party starts 3 weeks before with everything from debates, plays, music concerts, dance performances, cultural fairs, street markets and much more.
• Several circuit parties by Superfestas, São Paulo’s leading party promoter, are held over the weekend of Pride.
• June 7th – June 11th – Komplexo Tempo hosts Sao Paulo’s signature gay parties, and there is none bigger than the Pride Week celebrations.
• June 9th –  Fiesta BLK – The Black Party – one of the city’s most stylish and sexiest events in the city.
• June 9th and 10th – Bears and chasers should check out the Ursound Mega Pride.
• Saturday June 10th – Guapo Fiesta takes over Sonora Garden for a special pride 12 hour marathon party, from 10 pm.
• June 7th to 11th – TNW presents the Circuit Pride Festival, five days and nights of parties including the Castro Festival, and the Xlsior Mykonos Closing Party.
• Sunday June 11th – Fresh, the city’s most famous pool party returns for a 15-hour party running from 4 pm until 7 am.
• Sunday June 11th – GUAPO+JUNGLE party host a special Pride-edition, pool party from 10 am to 1 am.

São Paulo Pride Parade

• Sunday June 11th 2023 – The meeting point for the parade is in front of the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo (MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo), right in the middle of Sao Paulo’s main drag Avenida Paulista.
• The official meeting time is at 12 noon but the area will be packed by participants and bystanders from early morning. Furthermore, the march itself does not start to move before 2 or 3 pm.
• The route takes the participants along Rua da Consolacao, to Praça Rooselvelt, where the event eventually ends.
• The focal points of the parade are the 25 or so themed floats, called Trio elétricos.
• To get to the parade take the metrô to Trianon-Masp or Consolação stations along Linha 2 – Verde, which runs the length of Avenida Paulista.
• Festivities continue late into the night at Praça Rooselvelt.
• Enjoy amazing views of the parade and stay right on the steps of the event at the Melia Paulista.

Gay São Paulo, Bars, Clubs, Neighbourhoods & Where to Stay

The best part of town to stay in is Jardin, with all the shops on your doorstep and the gay bars and clubs nearby.

Frei Caneca / Consolação 

• Known locally as Gay Caneca, this gaybourhood is full of gay and gay-friendly venues and is situated between the bustling Avenida Paulista and the uber gay Shopping Frei Caneca. Most of the city’s gay nightlife revolves around this district, especially at Aloka Club, one of the longest-running in the city.
• Opened 21 years ago, A Lôca today hosts several well-known parties, such as Grind on Sundays, that brings crowds together to listen to rock, pop and 1980s music. Drag queen attractions are held occasionally on Thursdays and Sundays.
• Stay close to Frei Caneca at the Hotel Ca’d’Oro. The rooms have great views, and the breakfast buffet is delicious.

Largo do Arouche / Centro

• Everyone is welcome in this cheap and cheerful district, attracting all shades of the gay rainbow, from Bears to Transsexuals. Largo do Arouche is a section of the greater Downtown area (known as Centro). Danger Dance Club is a popular spot and home to EDM drinks, drag queens, and muscle guys.
• You will find the party starts late and continues well into the night, spilling out on the street at Avenida de Carvalho, especially outside gay bars Soda Pop and Caneca de Prata.

Pinheiros

• Pinheiros is an up and coming district popular with hipsters and younger gay guys. The neighbourhood is home to a famous Saturday outdoor fair at Praça Benedito Calixto.
• Bubu Lounge draws a large crowd, especially during the weekend. It is considered one of the three best LGBT clubs in São Paulo.

Bela Vista

• Bela Vista centres on charming Bixiga, or Little Italy, with plenty of homey trattorias and pizza parlours along and around Rua Treze de Maio. Narrow streets lead to the wide Avenida Paulista, the city’s economic and commercial nerve centre, lined with fashion boutiques, stylish cafes and cultural hotspots, including the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), in a striking concrete-and-glass structure.
• Stay at the Melia Paulista, famous for its warm welcome and close attention to detail and just steps from some of the city’s top attractions.
• The neighbourhood is home to Club Yacht, a bright & upbeat LGBT nightclub with nautical décor & waiters dressed as sailors. The club hosts its famous Lux party on Wednesdays, focusing on pop from as far back as the 1980s and today’s hits. Saturdays are for electronic music, ranging from EDM to House music for the Shout party. The entrance fee is one of the highest among LGBT bars in the city.
• Bubu Lounge plays primarily electronic music and retro, except for Saturdays where a band plays Brazilian Popular Music (MPB).

Jardins / Cerqueira César

• Jardins / Cerqueira César – Our preferred place to stay, this district is across from Avenida Paulista and home to upscale restaurants, chic fashion stores and several hotel options. Most are within a 15 to 20-minute walking distance from the gay hotspots in Frei Caneca.
• Spoil yourself at the Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo, a “superb” rated 5-star hotel offering rooftop breakfasts, lavish spa treatments and understated luxury.
• The Universe Paulista is also a great option; with four stars, it has a large outdoor pool, well-equipped gym and is steps from all the bars and shops.

Recommended Hotels in Sao Paulo

The following hotels are currently trending with our readers for the pride event:

L’Hotel PortoBay,   Tryp São Paulo,   Pergamon Hotel,   Novotel Jaraguá Hotel.