It’s that time of the year again: Antwerp Pride and Antwerp Queer Arts Festival. Pride focuses on the second weekend of August: from Wednesday 10 to Sunday 14. AQAF runs from 5 to 28 August. In 2022, Antwerp Pride turns 15 and looks 15 years into the future under the banner of ‘Queertopia‘. AQAF hasn’t communicated a specific theme.

Yes, there’s the official Antwerp Pride Opening Night at OLT Rivierenhof in Deurne. But as popular, if not more popular, is the Midsummer Party organised by Café Den Draak. 

Café Den Draak is the very straight-friendly LGBTQIA+ bar in Het Roze Huis (The Pink House). For years now, it hosts the Midsummer Party on the Thursday of the Antwerp Pride weekend.

This year, that is Thursday 10 August. The location. Under the railwaybridge of the Draakplaats in the Zurenborg neighbourhood. 

“Your favourite summer party is back where it all started. This year’s Midsummer Party we dance once again under the bridges in front of Café den Draak. Be there.”

Under the bridge

Parties under that bridge are popular. Nowadays, Het Roze Huis has moved its New Year’s Drink to De Roma, but it used to be a main social event of Queer Antwerp. An event where all types and groups within the rainbow came together. Midsummer has a similar effect. 

Antwerp Pride 2022 & Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2022

• Antwerp Pride 2022 theme, programme and schedule.
• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2022 programme and schedule.
• Antwerp Pride Parade 2022 route & map.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | ‘Trail of Stories’ from 1 to 31 August.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Opening concert night at OLT Rivierenhof.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Antwerp Pride Parade on Saturday 13 August 2022.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Love United Festival after the parade, at Cockerillkaai.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Eurovision Song Contest royalty Johnny Logan at Antwerp Pride Closing Festival.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Pride Village at Cockerillkaai.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | The 11 locations of the Trail of Stories.
• ANTWERP PRIDE 2022 | Pride Information Center at Stadsfeestzaal.
• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2022 from 5 to 28 August.
• Full edition ft. parade and festival days for Antwerp Pride 2022.
• Antwerp Pride 2022 from 10 to 14 August for a 15th edition.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | De Gerlachekaai at the Scheldt.
• AREAS OF ANTWERP | Sint-Andriesplein.
• Antwerp Pride 2021: “Long time, no see”.

Queer Antwerp

• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen needs new location by September 2022.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’ exhibition at FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum.
• ANTWERP | LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen looking for new manager or takeover.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI bookshop Kartonnen Dozen looking for a new home.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen wins Çavaria Media Award.
• PHOTOS | Rainbows lit Antwerp.
• Flemish LGBTQI+ press support rainbow community in Ukraine.
• ALLEMAAL ANTWERPENAAR | Antwerp launches campaign to motivate citizens to stand up against discrimination and intimidation.

Darklands 2022-2023

• DARKLANDS 2023 | A-Stay to become official Darklands: The Hotel.
• Darklands 2023 from Tuesday 7 to Tuesday 14 March in Antwerp.
• MONKEYPOX IN BELGIUM | Darklands warns visitors, as gay men are more at risk.
• Darklands 2023 to and from Deep Space.
• Darklands 2022 programme, schedule, gym and concert – 4 to 9 May in Antwerp.
• ANTWERP | Darklands 2022 set to go ahead as scheduled on 4 to 9 May.
• Darklands 2022 hints at postponement.
• Darklands 2022 introduces Puppy Walk through streets of Antwerp.
• Darklands 2022: 4 to 9 May at Waagnatie, Antwerp.
• Darklands 2020 was the last dance before COVID-19.