THE DELUXE QUEER GUIDE TO EUROPE ©
Text and photo © Gry Ellebjerg
2026 travel guide putting queer FLINTA life in your hands. Think Europe going absolute Lesbian. Covering art, film & festivals, bookshops, cafés, and clubs. It’s organised by countries and cities. Follow the 🦩 for personal stories from my time on The Pink Road. Did I miss your favourite? Let me know.
🇦🇹AUSTRIA
TRAHÜTTEN
🛌 ABSTEIGE ZUR BÄRTIGEN THERESE
📍Alexander Kortschak Weg 6
Austria's first queer hotel. Be warned: once you arrive, you may never want to leave.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: The Hotel Above the Clouds
As the far-right holds a steady grip on Austria, spaces for the queer community are challenged and norm-breaking people are once again under attack. But in the countryside, a queer comeback is brewing. Artists Io Tondolo and Itshe Petz have opened Absteige Zur Bärtigen Therese. Here, even the eggs come from a gay farmer.
VIENNA
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: In My Next Life I Will Reincarnate as an Artist
CAFÉ SAVOY
📍Linke Wienzeile 36
Vienna's oldest gay café/bar, opened in 1897. Today it is a popular meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community.
📚CHICKLIT
📍Kleeblattgasse 7
A shop with a strong personality. The books are curated by a brilliant mind. Add a cool interior design and you have this fantastic bookstore with a wide selection of literature focusing on feminist and queer perspectives.
📚LÖWENHERZ
📍Berggasse 8
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: The Shelf Where My Story Lives
MAREA ALTA
📍Gumpendorferstraße 28
Once a lesbian bar. Now a cozy queer bar. It retains a welcoming exciting atmosphere. It’s known for its diverse events and parties. Highly recommended.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: On the Hunt for Lesbians in Vienna
🎬TRICKY WOMEN/TRICKY REALITIES, AUSTRIA
11 – 15 March
Running every March since 2001, this international film festival is about animation by women and genderqueer artists. Expect competitions, curated screenings, workshops, and great networking.
🎬 QUEERTACTICS: QUEER FEMINIST FILMFESTIVAL, AUSTRIA
11 – 15 November
Find further details on their website and Instagram.
🇧🇪BELGIUM
ANTWERP
ANTWERP QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL
August
A volunteer-run festival with queer art, performance, and cinema. Independent and anti-corporate. It focuses on political and boundary-pushing works. It’s a community-driven space built on art, activism, and coming together.
BRUSSELS
THE CRAZY CIRCLE
📍Rue du Prince Royale 11
A queer-friendly bar in Brussels.
🎬 PINK SCREENS QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
29 October – 8 November
Pink Screens is dedicated to alternative and experimental queer cinema. The program showcases an impertinent selection of international shorts, feature films, and documentaries that deconstruct gender and sexual binaries, complemented by art exhibitions and nightlife events.
🇧🇬BULGARIA
SOFIA
🎬 SOFIA PRIDE FILMFESTIVAL
3 – 12 June
Focusing on LGBTIQ+ stories, as the country's main queer film festival, it plays an important role in Bulgaria. The festival is part of Sofia Pride and organized by the LGBTI rights organization "Deystvie".
🇨🇾 CYPRUS
NICOSIA
🎬 QUEER WAVE: CYPRUS LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL
18 – 27 September
The only festival in Cyprus dedicated to LGBTQIA+ cinema, focusing on underrepresented voices and regions lacking queer rights. Screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, and performances are held across Nicosia, the UN buffer zone, and other cities.
🇭🇷CROATIA
RIJEKA
FESTIVAL OF QUEER AND FEMINIST CULTURE SMOQUA
Check their social media for dates
Combining art and activism to promote queer and feminist culture. Features film screenings, art exhibitions, performances, panels, and workshops. It’s a space for open dialogue, challenging patriarchal norms, and connecting international artists with the local community.
🇨🇿CZECHIA
PRAGUE
🎬 MEZIPATRA QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
5 – 20 November
📍Prague & Brno
Screening around a hundred Czech and international LGBTQ+ films, with the main program evaluated by a professional international jury. Also expect discussions, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and regional screenings across the Czech Republic.
🇩🇰DENMARK
AALBORG
📚BUENS BOGCAFÉ - DENMARK’S NORTHERNMOST LGBT+ BOOKSTORE
📍Maren Turis Gade 12
Denmark’s first LGBT+ bookstore opened in April 2021. It offers a wide range of genres in Danish and English. The focus is entirely on queer love, transition, history, identity, and strong LGBT+ representation. They also host coffee clubs, talks, creative nights, and gatherings across Jutland.
COPENHAGEN
CAFE INTIME
📍Allegade 25
Meet a legend. A bar in Frederiksberg with roots in the 1920s. Expect live piano every evening and a jazz orchestra on Sundays.
GIRL X GIRL
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Straight friendly events for queer women & non-binary people.
LADIES LOUNGE CLUB
🪩 Pop-Up Event
A private club hosting parties and social gatherings for lesbians, bisexuals, and non-binary people, with live music and DJs that support women in music.
🎬 MIX COPENHAGEN LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL
October 30 – November 8
Shows a wide selection of international films, documentaries, and shorts that explore queer life and sexual politics. And it’s one of the world's oldest LGBTQ+ film festivals still running.
SABAAH
🪩 Pop-Up Event
An organization working to improve minority ethnic LGBTQIA+ people's living conditions. They also organize exciting queer club events.
FEMØ
THE INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF FEMØ
June 22 – August 16
Want to be a part of history? Femø has been running since 1971. It's a global melting pot for all versions of feminism and being a woman. Offers camping and themed weeks with everything from yoga to art workshops. Welcoming all women, including mothers with boys under 12, it's all about sisterhood and shared experiences.
🇪🇪ESTONIA
RAKVERE
🎬 FESTHEART LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL
2 – 4 October
The first recurring LGBT+ film festival in the Baltics, running since 2017. They screen international features, documentaries, and shorts alongside public debates on queer rights and community activism.
TARTU
🎬 FESTHEART LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL
25 – 27 September
The first recurring LGBT+ film festival in the Baltics, running since 2017. They screen international features, documentaries, and shorts alongside public debates on queer rights and community activism.
🇫🇮FINLAND
HELSINKI
🎬 VINOKINO RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL
16–17 October
Vinokino is Finland’s only film festival dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ+ cinema. It is held annually in Helsinki, showcasing a curated selection of international features, documentaries, and short films highlighting diverse queer stories.
TURKU
🎬 VINOKINO RAINBOW FILM FESTIVAL
18 – 19 September
Vinokino is Finland’s only film festival dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ+ cinema. Held annually in Turku, showcasing a curated selection of international features, documentaries, and short films highlighting diverse queer stories.
🇫🇷FRANCE
COUCOU LES GOUDOUS
Want to keep up with the lesbo-queer scene in France? Check out the Instagram account Coucou Les Goudous. This community-driven agenda lists everything from Paris parties and bar nights to cultural gatherings. Bonus: their name is a playful reclamation of a French slang term for lesbian.
PARIS
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Paris in Six Queer Acts
BAR LES AIMANT.E.S
📍182 Rue Saint-Martin
Once the home of the lesbian bar Bar'ouf, this place was taken over in 2024 by Lucie, who has preserved its spirit. It's the kind of bar you go to after a day at work, enjoy a glass of wine, and chat with your friends before heading home. I had one of my best evenings here, lost in a deep conversation about documentary filmmaking and women's lives in Iran with strangers. The bar is also wheelchair accessible.
BONJOUR MADAME
📍40 Rue de Montreuil
Are you looking for a militant feminist queer cultural bar? This is it!
CABARET DES MERVEILLES
📍25 Rue de l'Hirondelle
Think drag king performances, speed dating, blue hair and dancing in 'the cave.' Whether you're almost naked or expressing yourself artistically through your clothes, you can be the truest version of yourself. The atmosphere is open, warm, and full of queer feminist culture. A shout-out to the sound design: the music is loud enough for dancing in the cave, but kept low in the upstairs bar so you can actually hold a conversation.
LA CHAMPMESLÉ
📍4 Rue Chabanais
Probably one of the oldest lesbian bars in Paris.
🎬CHÉRIES-CHÉRIS, FRANCE
14 – 24 November
An international LGBTQIA+ film festival, held annually in November since 1994. You get independent features, documentaries, and short films, highlighting diverse queer cinema from all around the world.
🎬THE DRAMAGOUINE FESTIVAL
18 – 19 April
A festival celebrating the International Lesbian Day of Visibility, bringing together Sapphic artists and initiatives. The name is a mix of 'drama' and gouine, a reclaimed French slang term for dyke. Registration is free or pay-what-you-want.
ELLES BAR
📍6 Rue de la Tacherie
They describe themselves as a festive and welcoming lesbian LGBTQIA+ inclusive bar.
MERCI-MARSHA
📍8 Rue Richard Lenoir
Named after the iconic gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, this LGBTQI+ bar hosts queer stand-up, drag performances, themed bingo, open mics, and sex-positive Q&As over drinks.
MONTVENUS
📍16 Boulevard Paul Vaillant Couturier
A queer and feminist bar offering exhibitions, Queer Poetry Evenings, and a monthly "DYKE'S CLUB" - a space for encounters and exchanges. During these meetings, guests take the floor to address various topics to reflect upon together, aiming to feel stronger and empowered to act.
📚LES MOTS À LA BOUCHE
📍37 Rue Saint-Ambroise
According to Wikipedia, Les Mots à la Bouche is France's oldest LGBTQI+ bookstore, having opened in Paris in 1980. It’s considered the best place to find works related to gay and lesbian issues. However, my impression was that it was mainly a gay bookstore with lesbian islands. In the basement you find a collection of art books and fashion magazines. I really enjoyed the mix. Even though they were written in French I appreciated the staff's personal notes on some of the books. It gave the place an extra human touch. They also have an English language section and a webshop.
LA MUTINERIE
📍176-178 Rue Saint-Martin
With its Berlin-style attitude and decor, this self-organized bar is home to many in the queer, feminist, trans, and lesbian communities. It’s far more than just a place for drinks, hosting from karaoke and speed dating to tattoo and piercing sessions. What makes the location even better is its next-door neighbor: BAR LES AIMANT.E.S, another fantastic LGBTQIA+-inclusive bar.
🎬 PARIS INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN & FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL
30 October – 2 November 📍 Espace Reuilly
Organised by the Cineffable association, this annual women-only festival focuses entirely on lesbian visibility and self-representation. It showcases a variety of independent films, documentaries, and shorts directed by women, specifically curated for a lesbian audience.
PÈRE LACHAISE CEMETERY
📍16 Rue du Repos
The graves could easily be mistaken for scenes from a gothic, romantic, dark movie. Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin, Edith Piaf, and Marcel Proust are some of the famous figures buried here. On the lesbian side, we have two giants. Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas had perhaps one of the most famous lesbian 39-year love stories of all time. They met in 1907 and remained together until Gertrude Stein's death in July 1946. Her gravestone has her name in gold. When her wife Alice B. Toklas died many years later, she did not want to take any attention away from Gertrude. She considered her a genius who should shine in her own light. (Gertrude herself also thought she was a genius. That's lesbian confidence for you.) At the same time, Alice wanted to rest beside her true love. I have never seen a solution like hers. If you ask me, it's brilliant. She wrote her name in gold on the back of the gravestone. At first, when I read about it, I thought it was just another sad story about the “wife” being made into an appendix to the grand partner. When I actually saw it in person, I changed my mind. In doing what she did, she made sure she too got the spotlight. She did not have to share the cover with Gertrude. In doing so, she wrote a new story that says a lot about what kind of person Alice B. Toklas was. It's a genius move. And they got to rest side by side for all eternity. If you want to pay tribute to them, you will find them at Division 94. My film showing Stein & Toklas grave →
📚SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY
📍37 rue de la Bûcherie
Shakespeare and Company is a legendary institution with a history in two acts. The original shop, a place for writers like Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, André Gide, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, was opened in 1921 at 12 Rue de l’Odéon by Sylvia Beach. Across the street, her partner Adrienne Monnier ran her bookstore, La Maison des Amis des Livres. Together they created an epicenter for the modernist literary scene in Paris. (You can always count on the lesbians.) Beach was a true champion of the arts, acting as James Joyce's patron. She supported him financially and was the first to publish his controversial book, Ulysses, when no one else would. Tragically, when Joyce finally achieved fame and money, he never repaid her. Of course, we never know what would have happened, but it’s tempting to think: without Beach, no Ulysses. Beach's shop was forced to close in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris. The bookstore we know today as Shakespeare and Company was opened in 1951 by an American named George Whitman, originally under the name 'Le Mistral.' In 1964, he renamed it Shakespeare and Company as a tribute to Beach. However, just a warning: the shop today, despite its rich history, has a touristy vibe that feels like a bit of a contradiction. I would still recommend a visit. If Sylvia Beach and her friends are of interest to you, they have a good selection of books about these figures and the lesbian power couples and individuals behind the scenes.
📚VIOLETTES & CO
📍102 rue de Charonne
Here they offer a wide selection of feminist and lesbian works, primarily in French, with a small section of English literature. They host events several times a week on a range of topics relevant to the lesbian, queer, and feminist community. There's also a café, providing a space for working, reading, or chatting with friends. I got the impression that it's a good place to hang out and expand your ideas. The walls display exhibitions by different artists, and the staff spoke English and were very inclusive. It opened in 2004.
NICE
🎬 IN & OUT NICE FILM FESTIVAL
23 April – 4 May
The festival screens contemporary queer cinema through international premieres, dedicated short film competitions, and animated features. The program's focus includes documentaries on LGBTQIA+ migrants, coupled with parallel art exhibitions exploring local queer history and diverse aesthetic activism.
VICQ-SUR-GARTEMPE
LEZART FESTIVAL
21 – 23 August
Discover emerging lesbian, queer, and feminist artists in a supportive, participatory environment in Vicq-sur-Gartempe. Festive cultural weekend by ARTS et PERSPECTIVES. All are welcome!
🇩🇪GERMANY
BERLIN
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Kill Your Darlings In Berlin
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: I've Got the Lesbian Fever
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: The Ultimate Lesbian Berlin Guide
BEGINE - WOMEN’S CULTURAL CENTRE
📍Potsdamer Str. 139
For some, this is the only lesbian bar left in town. A cultural and meeting point for women since 1986. BEGiNE hosts a monthly program of live music, theater, readings, and exhibitions focusing on international and emerging artists. It's also a community space, used by various groups for meetings, workshops, and planning actions.
BERLIN LESBIAN & GAY CITY FESTIVAL
18 – 19 July
Europe's largest Lesbian and Gay Festival.
CAFE LUZIA
📍Oranienstrasse 34
A queer cocktail, bar & cafe.
CURLY BAR
📍Adolfstrasse 17
“Everything but straight.” It offers evenings with queer dating, comedy, and karaoke nights.
DYKE* FESTIVAL BERLIN
22 – 23 August
A multidisciplinary festival celebrating dyke* subculture, for lesbian, bi, queer, trans, and FLINTA people*. The weekend brings dyke* artists, authors, and thinkers from across Europe. It is organized by Allesbien, a lesbian and bisexual collective founded in 2022 whose goal is to create safe, empowering community spaces while celebrating dyke* culture.
LES BIENS
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Flinta, Safe Space Events, check their Insta for updates
MÖBEL OLFE
📍Reichenberger Str. 177
FLINTA nights every Tuesday!
I asked Peaches: Where are the lesbians? She replied: Berlin, Möbel Olfe on a Tuesday. God she was right. This place is as close to paradiso as you can get. While the sheer number of fabulous lesbians was exhilarating, ironically, connecting with individuals proved surprisingly challenging. However, the overall experience was absolutely electric. If I had only one place I could go to for the rest of my life, I would come to Möbel Olfe. My notes on this place →
OYA BAR
📍Mariannenstraße 6
A queer-feminist collective and safe haven for FLINTA individuals, with an explicit and heartfelt welcome to the BIPoC community. Functioning as a relaxed café by day and a cozy bar by night, it hosts a wide range of events, from panel discussions and poetry readings to concerts and community brunches.
OXI CLUB
📍Wiesenweg 1-4
They regularly host FLINTA parties, many of which are lesbian-friendly. They also have a dark room which is open during sex-positive/centered parties.
📚SHE SAID BOOKS
📍Kottbusser Damm 79
I could have spent days browsing the impressive collection at this feminist & queer bookshop. They offer a fantastic selection of books in both German and English. You can even grab coffee and cake while you read. I liked everything from the interior design to the super-friendly staff. My notes on this place →
SCHWULES MUSEUM
📍Lützowstraße 7
One of the world's most important institutions for queer history and culture. Founded in 1985 out of a grassroots movement to preserve the stories of gay men excluded by mainstream museums. It has since grown to document the diverse lives and histories of all queer people (LGBTQIA+). Through its exhibitions, extensive archives, and community events, the museum explores queer history not just as a collection of identities, but as a critical practice that fights against all forms of discrimination. It's an important space for research, activism, and community gathering.
SILVER FUTURE
📍Weserstr. 206
“For Kings and Queens and Criminal Queers” An inspiring place for people-watching, with speed dating events and drag king performances. My notes on this place →
📚SPINNBODEN
📍Anklamer Str. 38
One of the world's largest lesbian archives and libraries. Founded in 1973 out of the lesbian movement, it was created as an 'archive from below' to preserve the stories and histories ignored by the mainstream. The name 'Spinnboden' harks back to old spinning rooms where women would work and share stories—a tradition this space continues by collecting, preserving, and sharing lesbian culture. It serves as a resource and a community space for discussions and events. I highly recommend a visit.
STUECK
📍Schlesische Straße 16
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Cocktail bar with FLINTA events on Thursdays.
SÜDBLOCK
📍Admiralstraße 1-2
Queer bar with Flinta nights. Check their website for updates.
FRANKFURT
LA GATA
📍Seehofstraße 3
I came to Frankfurt for one reason: La Gata, one of the longest-running lesbian bars in the world. Operating since the 1970s, this legendary bar is a true time capsule. When I visited in the summer of 2024, the untouched interior created a special atmosphere, with its walls adorned with a mix of naked ladies, portraits of Jean Seberg, and photos of a favorite football team.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Behind the Red Door: Frankfurt’s Last Lesbian Bar
ZUM SCHWEJK
📍Schäfergasse 20
A renowned gay bar with a tropical beach theme. The pastel colors, diving cyclops, and oversized sunglasses were a bit much, but the most exotic thing about the place was the fact that people were still smoking inside. I ordered a drink and, hoping for a lead, asked the bartender where to find lesbians. He gave me a Mona Lisa smile as I launched into a conversation with an older man in the corner. His recommendation? I should become a gay man, as I'd have more fun.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: The Disappearing Scene in Frankfurt
LSKH QUEERES KULTURHAUS
📍Klingerstraße 6
An inclusive community house dedicated to creating a respectful and safer space for all queer identities. The core principle is open and gentle interaction, with a shared responsibility to be mindful of discrimination and privilege. It's a space focused on learning together and supporting each other's lived experiences.
FREIBURG
🎬 FREIBURG GAY FILM WEEK
29 April – 6 May
This long-running festival showcases international LGBTQ+ features, documentaries, and expanded short film programs. The event includes audience-choice awards, filmmaker Q&As, and cultural partnerships featuring scenic readings and political panel discussions.
KONSTANZ
🎬 QUEERGESTREIFT FILM FESTIVAL
16 – 26 April
One of the oldest queer film festivals in the German-speaking world. The program features contemporary LGBTQAI+ cinema, historical retrospectives, global documentaries, and experimental short films alongside filmmaker panels and local community workshops.
KÖLN
🇩🇪IFFF DORTMUND+KÖLN
22 – 26 April
The International Women’s Film Festival Dortmund+Köln alternates locations between the two cities annually. The festival screens independent cinema directed by women and genderqueer artists, focusing on complex female protagonists, intersectional feminism, and innovative visual narratives.
MUNICH
📚GLITCH
📍Barer Straße 70
This queer-feminist bookshop was reborn from the cherished Lillemor’s, one of Germany's first women's bookstores (est. 1975), after the original owners retired. A new collective of four women saved the space, rebranding it as Glitch but keeping the original sign as a tribute to its legacy. The shop offers a well-curated selection of books, mostly in German with some in English. It continues its predecessor's tradition of being an important community space. As far as I know, it is the only queer bookshop in Munich.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY:A Bookshop Steeped in Feminist History
THE LEZ
📍Müllerstraße 26
This lesbian-queer center provides space for lesbian women and all FLINTA individuals. It's a place to hang out, meet new people, and attend various events and group meetings. Everyone who feels connected to the LGBTIQ community is welcome.
🇬🇷GREECE
ATHENS
ATHENS QUEER NIGHT, ATHENS
Monthly sapphic-centered events are held for the Athens queer community. They host yoga classes, book clubs, parties, and game nights, just to mention a few. Check their social media for location.
🎬 LESBIAN FEMINIST FILMFESTIVAL
7 – 8 September📍 Kypseli Municipal Market
Through documentary screenings, panel discussions, art, and live music, the festival explores the vital role of lesbian and LGBTQI+ spaces and why preserving them is so important.
SKALA ERESSOS (LESBOS)
A small fishing village, legendary as the birthplace of the poet Sappho. For decades, lesbians have followed in her footsteps, creating what may be the only place on earth where lesbians have truly claimed a piece of public space as their own. The international lesbian community runs the majority of the local businesses, from bars and restaurants to shops and meditation centers. The village hosts a major international lesbian festival every year in September. Fun fact: There are no street names, so the best way to get around is simply to ask a local. Here are a few pieces I’ve written about the place:
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Berlin's Secret Twin
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Romeo in the Garden
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: How Lesbians Can Find Love
AMAZONES ECO LAND
The Amazons are reborn on a plot of land. This time around, they have created a women's ecological community and holistic center spanning seven acres near Skala Eressos. It's a space built by and for women, focusing on land care, community, and creative expression. The project offers volunteering opportunities and hosts workshops, retreats, and empowerment events. Contact them through their website or social media for the exact location.
AVATAR
This bar is located at the far end, close to the harbour. It's one of my favourites, perhaps because they feed the stray cats and serve excellent breakfasts and lunches. During the Skala Eressos festival, the small village can sometimes feel crowded. Then, it's nice to get away from it all. This place just gives you that extra space.
FLAMINGO
Run by an English couple, it's a centre for the lesbian community. My favourite evening here was seeing a woman in the crowd sitting with her parrot, which wasn't on a leash. It was just hanging out with friends. You never know who you will meet. Everyone is included.
HARA BEACH BAR
It's one of the popular beach bars/restaurants right on the waterfront.
THE INTERNATIONAL ERESSOS WOMEN’S FESTIVAL
9 – 19 September
Hosted by Sappho Women in Skala Eressos, this celebration founded in 2000 offers friendship, connection and empowerment. With live music, dance, art, trips, workshops, and more!
OHANA SALOON
A queer bar right in the heart of the village. The name 'Ohana,' meaning family (often chosen family), signals its role as a central meeting spot next to the Aegean Sea. They have excellent omelets.
🎬 MAGIC NIGHTS QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
25 –28 May
The Festival is held under the stars in an open-air cinema.
PASSIONI
Italian restaurant run by a lesbian lady. It has a beautiful garden and often hosts performances featuring poetry or music. Here I have heard readings of Sappho and Greek folk music. They have excellent wine and provide a cosy atmosphere.
QUEER RANCH FESTIVAL
18 – 23 May
Enjoy top international electronic DJs, live music, and workshops while celebrating in a safe space centered on the queer lesbian community. All proceeds support an animal sanctuary, LGBTQ+ refugee solidarity, and other animal welfare charities on Lesbos.
🇭🇺HUNGARY
BUDAPEST
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: 5 Queer Monologues on Being Scapegoated
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: When Deep Love Takes Action
AURORA MODULARIS
📍Auróra utca 11
A great place to relax. A small courtyard, live music, and a bar serving cocktails. It's also a key venue for Budapest Pride and a center for activism, founded on democratic principles. The courtyard was one of the few public places in the entire city where I could see a Pride flag.
DYKES ON HIKES
LGBTQ hiking around Budapest? This group might be for you.
GABY’S BUDAPEST
📍Katona József 41
A dog-friendly American restaurant that's a go-to spot for the LGBTQ+ community. Open all day and into the night.
📚ISBN+
📍Baross utca 42
Independent art bookshop and cultural center. An extensive selection of English and queer books.
LABRISZ LESBIAN ASSOCIATION
Active since 1996, it's one of Hungary's oldest and most important LGBTQ+ organizations. They are known for their groundbreaking school program that combats prejudice, co-organizing Budapest Pride, running a significant publishing program that gives voice to lesbian and bisexual women, and hosting cultural events like a long-running film club.
📚MASSOLIT BOOKS & CAFÉ
📍Nagy Diófa utca 30
English-language queer friendly bookstore and café.
TURBINA
📍Vajdahunyad Street 4
By day, its 1,300 square meters host everything from art exhibitions and workshops to craft fairs, with a bistro perfect for work or a chat. By night, it becomes a powerhouse of the city's techno and house music scene, hosting top-tier local and international DJs.
WHY NOT
📍Belgrád rakpart 3-4
A café by day and a bar by night, hosting events like karaoke and bingo.
🇮🇪IRELAND
CORK
LESBIAN LIVES CONFERENCE
15 – 17 May
Focusing on lesbian studies, creativity, and activism, it draws scholars, artists, and activists from around the world. Alongside academic panels and workshops, it features dedicated queer film screenings and community-led social activities across Cork City.
🎬 PRIOSMA QUEER FILM FESTIVAL CORK
10 – 13 September
It hosts a selection of international feature and short film screenings, industry talks, and collaborations with local community projects focusing on LGBTQ+ representation.
DUBLIN
DYKONIC: QUEER WOMEN + MUSIC FESTIVAL
Something's coming June 27th
An independent festival dedicated to queer voices and underrepresented artists through music and community.
🎬 GAZE INTERNATIONAL LGBTQIA FILM FESTIVAL
28 July – 3 August
Founded in 1992, it screens more than 100 Irish and international features, documentaries, and short films. The event includes industry panels, filmmaker workshops, and networking events.
STREET 66
📍33-34 Parliament Street
An LGBTQIA+ bar with events including regular drag shows, live music, and DJ nights. Famous for their dog-friendly policy.
🇮🇹ITALY
BOLOGNA
🎬 SOME PREFER CAKE
18 – 20 September
An international lesbian and feminist film festival. It showcases a program of independent features, documentaries, and short films from around the world, while also creating a space with director Q&As, debates, book presentations, art exhibits, and DJ sets.
MILAN
📚ANTIGONE
📍Via Antonio Kramer 20
A queer bookstore specializing in gender studies, feminism, and queer theory.
BUTTERFLY MILANO
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Exclusive women-only events in Milan. Check out their social media for updates.
🎬 MIX INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LGBTQ+ CINEMA
17 – 20 September
Italy's leading LGBTQ+ film festival running since 1986. It screens independent queer features, documentaries, and short films, combining political engagement with a multidisciplinary approach that explores all aspects of queer culture.
POP MILANO
📍Via Alessandro Tadino, 5
Transfeminist cocktail bar hosting networking events.
OSTUNI
SHEROCCO FESTIVAL
1 – 5 July
It promotes queer culture, fights prejudice, and engages young people through shows, talks, and workshops to combat discrimination.
PALERMO
🎬 SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST
25 – 31 May
Promoting cinematographic culture and combating social discrimination. Focuses on emerging talent, independent cinema, and unconventional or experimental films that explore new visual languages.
ROME
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Rome Killed My Curiosity
📚ANTIGONE
📍Via dei Piceni 1
A queer bookstore specializing in gender studies, feminism, and queer theory.
CASA INTERNAZIONALE DELLE DONNE
📍Via della Lungara, 19
Established in 1992 after a feminist occupation, it's an autonomous center promoting women's policy. It houses a restaurant, guesthouse, and conference center, serving as a space for women's rights, knowledge sharing, and support.
Fun Fact: It's located in a former women's prison.
COMING OUT
📍Via S. Giovanni i Laterano, 8
Talk about a street with a view. This restaurant has been a cornerstone in Rome's Gay Street LGBTQ+ scene since 2001. At the end of the street: the Colosseum!
GAY CENTER
📍Via Nicola Zabaglia 14
The Center actively works against discrimination, running a help desk that offers advice, services and support to LGBT+ individuals. It’s also an important gathering space for numerous community groups.
🎬 IMMAGINARIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
8 – 10 May
Italy's first independent film festival dedicated to lesbian and feminist themes. It screens international films by female directors about the lives, culture, and history of the community. The festival was founded in Bologna in 1993 by the Visibilia association.
MY BAR
📍Via S. Giovanni i Laterano, 12
An LGBTQ+ friendly cocktail cafe with a street terrace overlooking the Colosseum.
MUCCASSASSINA
📍Viale Marcello Boldrini 7
Since the early '90s, this legendary club has been in action. It started as a fundraiser for the Mario Mieli LGBTQ+ rights association. It's known worldwide for its music, technology, and its queer nights.
SAFFFO FESTIVAL, ITALY
2026 Edition COMING SOON!
Founded in Rome in 2022 by Marta Massarelli and Lucy Bellotti, the artistic collective Safffo (with three f’s) creates independent queer and dyke* spaces. They offer an alternative to mainstream LGBTQIA+ nightlife, focusing on consent, freedom of expression, and art. The collective also collaborates internationally, including with Berlin-based Magic Dyke*.
📚TUBA
📍Via del Pigneto 39/a
Open since 2007, this feminist and lesbian-run bookstore, cafe, and bar is located in Rome's Pigneto district. It’s a space dedicated to women's creativity and art, offering books, events, and a safe, inclusive community. Tuba also collaborates with local groups to fight discrimination.
TURIN
🎬 LOVERS FILM FESTIVAL
16 – 21 April
Lovers is Europe's oldest and most important LGBTQ+ film festival, featuring a screening program open to everyone. During the festival, it also hosts a two-day networking forum for professionals in the queer film industry.
📚NORA BOOK & COFFEE
📍Via delle Orfane 24d
A café and bookstore specialising in gender themes, feminisms, and LGBTQIAP+ culture.
🇳🇱NETHERLANDS
AMSTERDAM
BAR BUKA
📍Albert Cuypstraat 124
Located in Amsterdam's De Pijp area, this queer bar is popular among women. They host a variety of events each month, from pub quizzes and open mics to speed dating and DJ nights. Check their Instagram or Facebook to see what's coming up. Wheelchair accessible.
CAFÉ SAAREIN
📍Elandsstraat 119
It was started by a women's collective in 1978, including pioneers from Dolle Minas, Paarse September, Lesbian Nation, as a much-needed women-only café. It became a feminist stronghold and legendary queer space. Today it is one of Amsterdam's oldest and most famous feminist/queer bars. A piece of Dutch women's and queer cultural heritage. Check out their Instagram for upcoming events.
🎬 FEMMAZING FESTIVAL
24 May
This large-scale women+ only festival creates a safe and inclusive space for connection and celebrating femininity. It features three stages with over 22 female artists and DJs, alongside activities, workshops, lounge areas, food, and cocktails.
THE MINA COLLECTIVE
A queer FLINTA collective based in Amsterdam and Barcelona. They organise regular social events, speed networking, and gatherings. Check their Instagram for upcoming dates.
🎬 ROZE FILMDAGEN: AMSTERDAM QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
10 – 21 March 2027
It started as a small underground event but now draws over 10,000 visitors annually. It screens international cinema and curates LGBTQ+ programs for other festivals.
UTRECHT
🎬 QUEER FILM FESTIVAL UTRECHT (QFFU)
29 August – 5 September
A volunteer-run festival dedicated to queer cinema. The program includes local and international film screenings, director Q&As, panel discussions, and workshops. Under the theme "Here, we are," this edition focuses on films that break traditional boundaries and show new perspectives. The festival also supports emerging talent through its "10-Minute Challenge" filmmaking competition.
🇳🇴NORWAY
OSLO
🎬 OSLO/FUSION FILM FESTIVAL
18 – 23 September
Founded in 1990, this is Norway's only film festival dedicated to the LGBTQIA2S+ and QTBIPOC communities. Features international screenings, panel discussions, and events that focus on identity, gender, personal expression, and human rights activism.
🇵🇱POLEN
WARSZAWA
🎬 17th LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL POLAND 2026
📍 Warszawa 🗓️ 10 – 18 April
📍 Wroclaw 🗓️ 17 – 23 April
📍 Cracow 🗓️ 17 – 23 April
📍 Poznan 🗓️ 17 – 23 April
📍 Online 🗓️ 18 April – May 3
🎬 POST PORN ARTS FEST (PPAF)
May
Focusing on post-pornography, feminist art, queer theory, and body politics. The event features independent film screenings, contemporary art exhibitions, performative activities, educational workshops, and panels that explore sexuality, desire, and resistance outside of mainstream media.
🇵🇹PORTUGAL
LISBON
CLUBE SAFO
An association focused on advocating for lesbian rights, promoting visibility, and hosting cultural and community events in Porto and Lisbon. Running events like "The King Thang" drag king shows in Porto and Lisbon, bringing in international and local performers. They also collaborate with other queer organizations, like Haus of Kiteria and Queer Porto Tour. For more information check out their website.
🎬 QUEER LISBOA
18 – 26 September
Portugal’s longest-running film festival, established in 1997. It programs international and Portuguese queer cinema, featuring competitions for best feature film, documentary, short film, and queer art. The event includes retrospectives, director Q&As, debates, exhibitions, and performances.
PORTO
🎬 PORTO FEMME
20 – 26 April
This festival aims to give visibility to women and non-binary people. They have a special focus on lesbian and queer cinema, with dedicated screenings and programs. Since 2017, they also host the PORTO FEMME SESSIONS on the last Wednesday of each month, creating a space for debate and reflection on a wide range of topics. Check their social media for location.
🎬 QUEER PORTO
3 – 7 November
It features multidisciplinary programming tailored to the northern city, combining Portuguese premieres with fictional, documentary, and short film competitions alongside educational activities.
QUEER PORTO TOUR
A queer tourist guide in Porto, tired of repetitive mainstream narratives, created this tour to give voice to the forgotten and silenced stories of women and dissident bodies. For more information about the citywalks, check out their website.For more information about the citywalks, check out their website.
🇷🇴ROMANIA
BUCHAREST
🎬 ART200: INTERNATIONAL QUEER CULTURE FESTIVAL
October, Dates TBA
Promoting queer art and cinema in Romania. The program features international and local film screenings, poetry readings, workshops, and concerts, focusing on intersectional identities and challenging stereotypes.
🇷🇸SERBIA
BELGRADE
🎬 MERLINKA FESTIVAL
3 – 6 December, Dates TBA
This festival is held annually at the Belgrade Youth Center. Named in honor of murdered trans activist Vjeran Miladinović Merlinka, the event screens international features, documentaries, and short films to promote LGBTQ+ visibility in the Balkan region.
🇸🇮SLOVENIA
LJUBLJANA
🎬 SLOVENIAN LGBT FILM FESTIVAL
7 – 14 December
Founded in 1984, this is Europe's oldest LGBT film festival and Slovenia's oldest international film festival. The event screens international independent features, documentaries, and shorts alongside public debates on queer rights and history.
🇪🇸SPAIN
BARCELONA
BBK+
🪩 Pop-Up Event
A network that organises pop-up events and temporary gatherings for a community of women, lesbians, trans, queer, pansexual, and non-binary people. Since their locations vary, the best way to find out about upcoming events is to follow them on social media.
BONITA WOMAN FESTIVAL
26 – 28 June📍 Plaça Major de Nou Barris
Launched in 2023, Barcelona's Women's Festival is created by and for women, to create a space where women were free to be themselves and express their identities. The festival features national and international artists from different musical genres, alongside sports, food, art, and community gatherings.
CARITA BONITA
📍Carrer de Balmes, 69
Looking for the classic lesbian bar in Barcelona? Carita Bonita is it.
CANDY DARLING
📍Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 586
Just a stone's throw from Carita Bonita, Candy Darling is a queer bar. Check out their Monday night lesbian party.
🎬 MOSTRA FIRE!!
4 – 14 June
Founded in 1995 by Casal Lambda, this is the first LGTBI film festival in Spain. Focusing on affective diversity through a selection of international feature films, documentaries, and short films, with a strong emphasis on art-house cinema and human rights.
📚LA RAPOSA
📍Tapioles, 47 bajos
A feminist cooperative in Barcelona's Poble Sec neighbourhood, housing both a vegan bar and a feminist bookstore. The cooperative is also a community space, organising regular cultural and recreational activities for all ages.
NENIS LESBIAN PARTIES
Carrer de Casanova, 171
They throw huge lesbian parties around Barcelona on a roughly monthly basis. Check their social media for dates and locations.
THE MINA COLLECTIVE
A queer FLINTA collective based in Barcelona and Amsterdam. They organise regular social events, speed networking, and gatherings. Check their Instagram for upcoming dates.
FUENGIROLA
FULANITA FESTIVAL
28 – 31 May📍Fuengirola, Málaga
A music, art, and community festival on the Mediterranean coast.
IBIZA
VELVET IBIZA FESTIVAL
21 – 25 May📍Palm Star hotel in San Antonio
Since 2015, Velvet Ibiza has been Europe's largest queer women's festival, with five days of music, parties, and community on the beach.
MADRID
FULANITA DE TAL
📍Calle Regueros, 9
Opened around 2002, a classic bar for lesbian, bi, and queer women in Madrid's Chueca neighbourhood. Check their social media for current hours.
📚LIBRERIA BERKANA
📍Calle Hortaleza, 62
Founded in 1993, Berkana is the first LGBTQ+ bookstore in Spain and Latin America.
📚MARY READ
📍Marqués de Toca 3
A transfeminist and anarchist bookstore and social centre in Madrid, named after the rebellious female pirate. This non-profit, community-run space hosts workshops, talks, and reading groups, and specialises in radical transfeminist literature.
📚MUJERES & COMPAÑÍA
📍C/ Ercilla 32
A feminist bookstore and cultural meeting place in Madrid, specialising in literature by and about women. They regularly host author talks, writing workshops, reading groups, and cultural events.
📚TRAFICANTES DE SUEÑOS
📍C. del Duque de Alba, 13
One of Madrid's leftist bookstores and social centres, located in the Lavapiés neighbourhood. They have books on critical theory, feminism, and ecology, and serve as a meeting point for activists and intellectuals.
🎬 QUEERCINEMAD: MADRID LGBTIAQ+ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
10 – 26 November
QueerCineMad is an international LGBTQIA+ film festival in Madrid, featuring films, panels, labs, and industry events. It is one of the most important festivals for Spanish-speaking queer cinema.
MAJORCA
ELLA INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN FESTIVAL
27 august – 4 september
A festival that promotes the visibility and empowerment of queer women and non-binary people through art, music, culture, talks, and workshops.
SITGES
Located 40 minutes by train from Barcelona, Sitges is to gay men what Skala Eressos is to lesbians. The coastal town is packed with gay bars, clubs, and restaurants. While predominantly for gay men, all are welcome—though it is likely not your lesbian paradise.
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Under the rader in Sitges
🎬 ENDIMARIS SITGES
19 – 29 November
An annual LGTBIQ+ film festival.
🇸🇪SWEDEN
MALMÖ
QUEER GIRLS MALMÖ
🪩 Pop-Up Event
A community for queer women and non-binary people with a focus on expats. They organize in-person meetups and communicate in English.
HÄNGET
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Hänget is a monthly after-work with local DJs, made for everyone who identifies as lesbian, non-binary, or trans.
MALMÖ ROLLER DERBY - CRIME CITY ROLLERS
📍Kopparbergsgatan 8
Crime City Rollers is Malmö’s top-ranked roller derby league. They are in my guide because they have an inclusive space for women, trans, and non-binary athletes. Check their website for game schedules and tickets.
🎬 MALMÖ QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
17 – 19 APRIL 2026
A safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to meet, discuss, and show solidarity. They show international queer cinema, independent films, and documentaries from underrepresented regions, alongside the "Local Heroes" short film section.
📚PAGE 28
📍Claesgatan 8
Sweden's only LGBTQ bookstore is a non-profit association that serves as a queer cultural meeting place. It promotes LGBTQ+ culture through author talks, readings, and exhibitions. Its mission is to be a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community in Malmö and beyond.
RIBERSBORGS KALLBADHUS
📍Brygga 1
This historic cold bath house has been around since 1898. It has separate sections for men and women, but on certain dates, it’s a 'Mix Kallis' event, welcoming everyone regardless of gender or identity. It’s a popular space for Malmö's queer community. My notes on this place →
STOCKHOLM
🎬 CINEMA QUEER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
28 September – 4 October
It showcases queer films that challenge heteronormative norms. They offer year-round events like school screenings and Pride showings.
DEMI MATBAR
📍Katarina Bangata 21
Demi Matbar is a lesbian-owned restaurant designed to feel like a welcoming living room. It has become a cherished favorite within the community, known for its great atmosphere and occasional events. Follow their Instagram for news and updates.
GUNN LUNDEMO
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Don't look for a venue named Gunn, it's a person. She's a celebrated DJ known for organising fabulous queer parties. Make sure to follow her online for the latest announcements.
HERA
🪩 Pop-Up Event
They organise sapphic events. Check their Instagram for information.
HOTELLHÄNGET
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Hotellhänget ('The Hotel Hangout') combines two great interests: women who like women and relaxing in hotel bars. Every fifth Friday, they gather at Scandic Malmen, Lilla Hotellbaren. Join their group for details! My notes on this place →
LILITH CLUB
🪩 Pop-Up Event
A club that "aims to provide an alternative, working-class, edgy and anti-terf nightlife for all women and non-binary people who love women."
LLIPS
🪩 Pop-Up Event
It's a treat for electronic music lovers. This event welcomes lesbians and the entire LGBTQIA+ community.
MOXY
🪩 Pop-Up Event
It's the largest lesbian club in Sweden, known for its rotating pop-up parties. Check their social media for the latest news.
MÄLARPAVILJONGEN
A gay-friendly café, bar, and restaurant with a scenic view over Lake Mälaren. It's a top choice for a relaxing summer evening.
WISH STOCKHOLM
It's a separatist association that welcomes women, transgender people, non-binary and/or intersexual persons who have an interest in BDSM and fetishism. Check their website for details.
UMEÅ
CLUB BISOUS
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Umeå’s only queer nightclub features drag, burlesque, live shows, and DJ sets. The space includes a runway, photo booth, and full bar. Check their social media for the current address and dates.
🇨🇭SWITZERLAND
BASEL
🎬 LUST*STREIFEN FILM FESTIVAL
8 – 11 October
The festival focuses on queerness, gender, sexuality, and body politics. Along with films, the program includes artist talks, workshops, concerts, performances, and panel discussions.
BERN
🎬 QUEERSICHT LGBTIAQ-FILMFESTIVAL*
5 – 11 November
An international queer film festival presenting independent films, documentaries, and shorts that challenge traditional gender and sexual norms.
FRAUENFELD
🎬 PINK APPLE FILM FESTIVAL
7 – 9 May 2027
A regional edition held right after the Zürich event, bringing a curated selection of international queer films and documentaries to Frauenfeld.
LUZERN
🎬 PINK PANORAMA FILMFESTIVAL
18 – 21 November
Established in 2002, this queer film festival screens features, documentaries, and shorts.
ZÜRICH
🎬 PINK APPLE FILM FESTIVAL
27 April – 6 May 2027
Switzerland's largest LGBTQ+ film festival. The main edition screens international features, documentaries, and shorts, alongside talks, a competition, and an annual award ceremony.
🇹🇷 TURKEY
ISTANBUL
ANKARA
🎬 PINK LIFE QUEERFEST, TURKEY
January, Annual
Turkey's first queer festival, founded in 2011 by the Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association. It screens international and Turkish LGBTQI+ films alongside discussions, literature, music, video art, and theater.
🇺🇦UKRAINE
KYIV
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Kyiv Pride: An Unexpected Sign of Hope
In May 2024, I learned the extraordinary news that Kyiv Pride was arranging a Pride March in June. I lacked the imagination to grasp that the fight continues even when a country is subjected to a full-scale Russian invasion. I wanted to know more, so I interviewed Kyiv Pride's Program Manager, Yuliia Shypitko. Before we ended our conversation, she told me about how people meet up. She described various clubs, most of them large factory halls filled with techno music. The following names were given to me by Yuliia. Life never ceases to amaze me. I know this says more about me than about Kyiv's nightlife. I wish for peace in Ukraine.
CLOSER
📍31 Nyzhnoiurkivska Street
An inclusive, queer-friendly space in Kyiv's underground scene that hosts art exhibitions, lectures, and techno parties. Its progressive ethos makes it welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community.
COLLIDER
📍Kyrylivska 60
A rave club and cultural space for underground art, music, and workshops. Since the full-scale invasion, it has also supported the war effort by organising volunteer networks and logistical help. The space includes music studios, an exhibition area, and co-working facilities.
INSIGHT
A Ukrainian public organisation in Kyiv providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Committed to feminism and inclusivity, Insight offers lectures, discussions, workshops, and poetry evenings, alongside psychological support. Check their social media for upcoming events.
KELLER
📍Kyrylivska 71
Located in Kyiv's Podil industrial district, Keller is a queer-friendly bar and nightclub housed in a former foundry. Known for its electronic music scene, it has an indoor bar and a large outdoor terrace for DJ sets ranging from house to techno.
KYRYLIBSK41 (OR MORE KNOWN AS) K41
📍Kyrylivska 41
∄ (pronounced "Kyrylivska 41"), located in a former brewery in Podil, is Kyiv's only dedicated queer club. Renowned for its techno scene and activism, it enforces a strict no-photo policy. The name—a mathematical symbol meaning "does not exist"—reflects its focus on in-person experiences. Since the full-scale invasion, the venue has run the K41 Community Fund to provide financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine's cultural sector. It also serves as a space for LGBTQ+ military members and veterans, hosting queer events during the ongoing conflict.
REYVAKH COLLECTIVE
🪩 Pop-Up Event
A queer/FLINTA rave and performance series that originated in Kyiv. The events blend techno music with performance art to support the community. Reyvakh also hosts events in other cities, including London, connecting the Ukrainian queer scene internationally. Check their social media for updates and locations.
🎬 SUNNY BUNNY: UKRAINIAN LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL
17 – 24 April
Ukraine's first LGBTQIA+ film festival. It screens international features, documentaries, shorts, and queer classics, focusing on both global and Ukrainian queer cinema.
🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM
BELFAST
🎬OUTBURST QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL, NORTHERN IRELAND
13 – 21 November
A curated week of new queer art. You get days of film, music, debate, literature, visual art, and theatre. The focus is on disruptive imagination, tackling today’s urgent conversations about sexuality and gender—personally, politically, and collectively.
BRISTOL
🎬 QUEER VISION FILM FESTIVAL
27 June – 12 July
An annual festival held during Bristol Pride that screens LGBTQ+ cinema. The festival shows international features, shorts, and performance events, and is an official partner for the Iris Prize Best British Short competition through its South West Shorts program.
CARDIFF (WALES)
🎬 IRIS PRIZE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL
12 – 18 October
A celebration of LGBTQ+ storytelling with short and feature films, talks, and events. At the heart of the festival is the £40,000 Iris Prize—the largest short film prize in the world—where the winner gets to create their next short film in Cardiff.
DEVON
THE OUT & WILD FESTIVAL
3 – 6 July
The UK's biggest wellness and experience festival for queer women and non-binary people. Offers dozens of live music acts, comedy, spoken word, and workshops focused on wellness and sport. Ticketed event with options for day passes, weekend tickets, and camping/glamping.
GLASGOW (SCOTLAND)
🎬 SCOTTISH QUEER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
19th – 24th October
Scotland's only dedicated queer film festival and a BAFTA-qualifying event. Focusing on diverse international cinema alongside year-round pop-up events and workshops to lift queer voices. Accessibility is a big focus, with BSL interpretation, audio description, and sliding-scale tickets.
HEBDEN BRIDGE
🦩 THE PINK ROAD STORY: Not a Big Thing in Hebden Bridge
LEEDS
🎬 LEEDS QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
A non-profit, volunteer-run DIY festival by and for the LGBTQ+ community. The event screens independent queer cinema with a focus on underground and underrepresented voices. Note: The festival is currently on a hiatus and plans to return in 2027 or 2028.
LIVERPOOL
HOMOTOPIA FESTIVAL
Check their social media for dates
The UK’s longest-running queer arts and culture festival, combining art and activism. Based in Liverpool, it brings together LGBTQIA+ cinema, theatre, performance, and public art, sharing powerful stories from queer artists from all over the world.
LONDON
🎬BFI FLARE: LONDON LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL, UK
18 – 29 March
Formerly the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, this is Europe's largest LGBTQ+ film festival. Held every spring, it began in 1986 showing LGBTQ+ films as "Gay's Own Pictures" before being renamed in 1988. It has a selection of lesbian features, documentaries, and shorts.
🎬 FRINGE! QUEER FILM & ARTS FEST
12 – 20 September
A volunteer-run festival rooted in London's queer creative scene. The event shows a mix of international feature films, DIY and experimental work, art installations, workshops, and debates across East London.
OBAN (SCOTLAND)
OBAN LESBIAN+ WEEKEND
3 – 7 September
Ninety miles west of Glasgow, think a marriage between a coastal holiday and a queer mini-festival. The program promises wild swimming, paddleboarding, and island cruises alongside workshops on topics like ADHD and vanlife. The entertainment consists of live music, comedy, and a traditional Scottish ceilidh dance exclusively for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people.
MANCHESTER
FEEL GOOD CLUB
📍5 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter
Mental health café and community space run by married lesbian couple Aimie and Kiera. While open to everyone, they regularly host queer events and social meetups.
QUEER MANCHESTER
🪩 Pop-Up Event
Community organisation hosting inclusive social events across Manchester for queer women and non-binary people. Founded by friends Hol and Morgs, the initiative focuses on building connections through events ranging from singles and dating nights to club nights and social gatherings.
📚 QUEER LIT
📍27 Great Ancoats Street
Independent bookstore in Manchester hosting the largest selection of LGBTQ+ titles in Europe, alongside a community cafe area, pride accessories, and merchandise.
VANILLA
📍50 Sackville Street
Since 1998, Vanilla has been the heart of Manchester's lesbian and queer FLINTA scene. This award-winning club & bar has spent over two decades delivering a safe, loud, and welcoming sanctuary.
