Maspalomas Gay Pride 2026: dates, parade, parties

The main event of Maspalomas Pride by Freedom 2026 is the Grand Float Parade, scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM. This procession is the highlight of the 7-day festival, featuring over 20 floats and thousands of participants.

The parade route begins at Avenida de Tirajana, proceeds along Avenida de Gran Canaria, and concludes at the Yumbo Centre, the heart of the LGBTQ+ scene in Maspalomas. The Yumbo Centre hosts the official after-party, transforming into a massive open-air dance floor with live performances, DJs, and entertainment that continues into the early hours.

What to Expect at Maspalomas Gay Pride?

The Maspalomas Gay Pride festival gets bigger and better every year, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from across Europe and beyond to celebrate with the LGBT community in Playa del Ingles on Gran Canaria island.

The 2026 edition is the special 25th anniversary of the event, and while it's supposed to be bigger than ever, the organizers have chosen to scale the usual 11-day event down to a 7-day revelry due to funding issues.

Do not fret, though! Despite the shorter schedule, Maspalomas Pride 2026 will be jam-packed with exciting events, including pool parties, foam parties, and dance parties.

Check out this schedule of events:

Monday, May 4, gets the week started with “Olé The Spanish Pool Party” in the afternoon. That evening, Yumbo Square transforms for the POPera Party: Back to the Future Part I, followed by a late-night Guest Party to keep the fun going.

On Tuesday, May 5, the festivities continue with a sun-soaked Pool Party during the day and Tuesday Pride Night Live at Yumbo Square in the evening. The party doesn’t stop there, with another Guest Party taking over the square just before midnight.

Wednesday, May 6, features the Pink Pool & Foam Party, inviting everyone to let loose in the afternoon. As the sun sets, Yumbo Square fills up again for Wednesday Pride Night Live, followed by another Guest Party into the early hours.

Thursday, May 7, is packed with options, starting with the Wet & Hairy Official Bear Party at AxelBeach Maspalomas Hotel, and the FREEDOM Pool Party Dirty West at Sala Oasis Gran Canaria. The action shifts back to Yumbo Square for Thursday Pride Night Live and a late Guest Party.

On Friday, May 8, the celebrations begin early with the presentation of the Diverse Literature Award, then shift to Ocean Club Maspalomas for the all-day Sundance The Next Level Pool Party. There’s also a Lady’s Pool Party and, by evening, Friday Pride Night Live lights up Yumbo Square with the Freedom Awards and performances. The FREEDOM Party keeps the energy high late into the night.

Saturday, May 9, is parade day, as the Pride Parade and demonstration wind through the city, ending at Yumbo Square for the FREEDOM PRIDE Party with live DJs and artists.

Finally, Sunday, May 10, closes the week with the FREEDOM Ice Cream Pool Party, the Sunday Night Pride Closing Show at Yumbo Square, and the grand finale: the FREEDOM Closing Party Beyond the Stars.

Where to Stay for Maspalomas Gay Pride?

Planning to visit Gran Canaria for Pride 2026? Check our list of top gay hotels in Maspalomas for gay travelers. Accommodation during Maspalomas Pride requires advance planning, with many attendees booking a year in advance. The most popular options are apartment complexes and bungalows in Playa del Inglés, particularly those nearest to the Yumbo Center. Adults-only and explicitly gay-friendly resorts like Axel Beach, Seven Hotel, and Pasión Tropical typically sell out first.

What Makes Maspalomas Pride Unique

Unlike many urban Pride events, Maspalomas offers a distinctive "Pride holiday" experience. Most attendees stay for the full week or longer, creating a sustained celebration rather than a single-day event.

The demographic tends to skew somewhat older than some European Pride events, with a significant representation of 30-50+ year-old attendees.
Maspalomas Pride also benefits from Gran Canaria's established reputation as a year-round LGBTQ+ party destination. The island's existing gay infrastructure is more than capable of servicing all the drunk people. This is very much a party event - don’t expect low-key vibes in Maspalomas.