Madrid Pride (MADO) is the largest Pride festival in Spain. It opens every year at the end of June and, for a whole week, it offers an extensive and lively programme of events that reaches its peak with the demonstration on the first Saturday of July.The official dates announced for 2024 are from 28 June to 7 July and, like every year, the programme may include new additions, but the following leisure, sports, cultural events, and their notable spirit of protest, are regular presences.
One of the most important pride parades in Europe is held in Madrid
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International Pride Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, with streets full of colour, party and calls for the rights of the community. Some of these cities are in Spain (Sitges, Ibiza, Benidorm…). What's more, the capital receives thousands of people every year, who come to celebrate Pride in style: Madrid has become one of the best destinations for the LGBTQI+ community (lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, intersex, and queer people and other gender identities and sexual orientations).
MADO usually begins with a proclamation in Pedro Zerolo square, a symbolic place during this event. From the stage, a person linked to the community announces the start of the celebration. From then on, the Chueca neighbourhood and its iconic bars celebrate the week with sports events, cultural workshops, concerts and other shows. Although much of the party happens there, events are organised throughout Madrid to celebrate Pride, for example, in tourist sites like the Puerta de Alcala and the Puerta del Sol square.During the first days, it is common for the classic “Carrera de Tacones” to take place on Pelayo street. A race where you have to leave your trainers at home, because you have to run in heels! Will you go for the tallest option?
Pride week also gives special importance to the LGBTQI+ Human Rights Conference Madrid Summit. An opportunity to talk and discuss the rights of the group, where professionals and personalities linked to the subject matter focus on the problems faced by the community on a daily basis just for being part of it.Mr Gay Pride Spain is a beauty contest with participants from all over Spain. Mr Gay Pride Spain will be held on 5 July during the 2024 Pride week, during which the person who will represent Spain in the international ceremony will be chosen.
And, on the first Saturday of July, it's time for the long-awaited Pride demonstration: buses and floats of all colours parade along Paseo del Prado (specifically, from Atocha to Plaza de Colón), to fight for the rights of the community.The cosmopolitan and open personality of Madrid means it is a good destination for LGBTQI+ tourism. A city with an attractive air of freedom, which advocates equality and love without barriers.
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