Benidorm Pride

The eyes of the continent will focus on Benidorm next week, when the annual Gay Pride Festival kicks off, with a whole week of spectacular parties, parades and wall to wall entertainment around the quaint streets of the resort’s picturesque old town.

Recognised as the European Closing Summer Pride, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a record number of locals and visitors from around the world expected to flock to the various scheduled parties.

Now in its ninth year, the festival, which runs from Monday September 2nd to Sunday September 8th, has grown year on year, with more than 20,000 partygoers attending last year.

The official Pride entertainment begins on Wednesday September 4th at 20.00h with the Showtime Opening Party at the Oscar Esplai Auditorium, adjacent to the Benidorm Town Hall.

A host of top local talent, including drag acts, tribute artists, dj’s and go-go boys, will be performing on stage.

Thursday kicks off at 18.00h with a hilarious high heels race in the pedestrianised Calle Alameda, followed at 20.00h, by the fabulous White Party, in its new home, back at the Oscar Esplai Auditorium, with entertainment from top dj’s, live acts and go go dancers.

Friday’s daytime activity is a pool party, starting at 12.00h, on the rooftop terrace of the centrally situated Hotel Vorarmar, followed by the infamous Black Party, hosted by the fantastic Barcelona based clubbers Supermartxe, which takes place in the open air Julio Iglesias Auditorium.

Saturday September 7th is undoubtedly the highlight of the week, beginning at 17.00h, with the famous parade, featuring colourful floats and outrageous costumes, which takes a route from the Rincon de Loix end of levante Beach to the Julio Iglesias Auditorium.

Following the parade, the entertainment begins with a T Dance, Mariquita Pop and a Main Stage concert featuring Stevie Spit and his New Jersey Boys and tribute shows from artists including Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna and Little Mix.

The final Pride event is on Sunday at 20.00h, back in the Oscar Esplai Auditorium, with the Superman v Supermartxe Closing Party.