Belgium has been ranked among the most LGBTQIA+-friendly destinations in the world in the Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2026, the annual global ranking published by Spartacus International Gay Guide. The country shares fourth place globally with Canada, Germany, and Portugal, confirming its status as one of the safest and most welcoming places for queer travellers.
Tag: Queer
Thailand happy with Belgian visitor numbers and welcomes Tomorrowland
Belgium continues to strengthen its position as a key European source market for Thailand, TravMagazine reports. In 2025, no fewer than 122,347 Belgian travellers visited Thailand, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.24%.
BELGIUM | Safer in theory, harsher in reality: polarisation and violence mark 2025 for LGBTQIA+ people
Belgium remains one of Europe’s front-runners when it comes to legal protection for LGBTQIA+ people. Yet 2025 exposed a widening gap between progressive legislation and everyday reality, one can read in ILGA-Europe‘s Annual Review. Civil society organisations report a continued rise in homophobic and transphobic violence, declining acceptance among young people, and growing polarisation in…
Queer March Ghent returns in March 2026 with month-long programme
Ghent in East Flanders will once again host a month of queer-focused activities in March 2026 as Queer March Ghent rolls out a city-wide programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions, performances and community gatherings. The grassroots initiative, run by a collective of queer-identifying volunteers, positions itself as an independent platform without political or institutional affiliations, aiming…
ILGA-EUROPE | Europe reaches new low as LGBTQIA+ people face renewed criminalisation
From Pride bans in the European Union to prosecutions under ‘propaganda’ and ‘extremism’ laws, a new report from ILGA-Europe shows that attacks on LGBTQIA+ communities have evolved into systemic suppression of dissent and individual freedoms.
GAY TOKYO | 24 Kaikan in Asakusa (+ Ueno and Shinjuku)
Autumn 2025. We – Sam and Danny, Michel and Wille, and Timothy – are travelling to Japan for a quite classic tour of the Land of the Rising Sun. We are flying separately as we used miles. On the planning: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Osaka, and Expo 2025, Hiroshima, Himeji, Miyajima, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Hakone, and…
28 FEBRUARY | Brussels Pride 2026 looking for input from LGBTQIA+ community
Brussels Pride – In the Capital of Europe. That is the official name of Brussels Pride. The rebrand from Belgian Pride happened for the 2023 edition, as it is now organised by visit.brussels, the tourism board of the Brussels-Capital Region. This year, the pride parade will be held on Saturday 16 May. It will celebrate…
TUI’s Mein Schiff launches ‘Rainbow Cruise: The Next Chapter – A Future of Unity’ for 2027
TUI‘s Mein Schiff has announced a new edition of its popular LGBTQIA+ themed voyage, ‘Rainbow Cruise: The Next Chapter – A Future of Unity‘, set to take place from 28 September to 3 October 2027 aboard Mein Schiff 2.
ANTWERP | Queer spring season announced at Arenberg
The Arenberg theatre venue in Antwerp is gearing up for a vibrant spring packed with queer performances, talks and parties, inviting audiences to celebrate creativity, diversity and unapologetic self-expression. From internationally acclaimed drag to intimate talks and large-scale queer nights, the coming months promise a strong and varied programme.
FINLAND | Enjoying the white nights of Helsinki
In the summer of 2025 I went to Helsinki in Finland when Midsummer was celebrated. On this longest day of the year Finnish people head into nature and celebrate what it means to be a Finn. I decided to stay in the capital for one and a half week to get a real first impression…