Six winter escapes to chase away the winter blues this January and February
Start planning these queer winter escapes now.
Mark
If you live in the northern hemisphere, chances are you’ve noticed the temperature sinking a few degrees. Winter is very much on the horizon. If the thought of darker evenings and chilly days fills you with dread, now is the time to start thinking about kicking off the new year with a vacation. Check out some recommendations for queer-flavored parties or gay-friendly festivals to chase away those winter blues.
White Party, Bangkok – December 27-31, 2025
Tired of spending New Year’s Eve at home? Why not sample Asia’s biggest gay dance festival instead? White Party Bangkok is an enormous event set to take over the Paragon Club and Tribe Sky Beach Club. The video below captures last year’s ‘Techtopia’ themed party and offers a taste of what to expect.
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
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This year’s theme is ‘Ken-Land’, so expect a Barbie-influenced, pink paradise of sweaty bodies. Expect hot weather and plenty of opportunities for beach fun, besides the late-night revelry. Check the official website for details about host hotels, parties and ticket prices.
Arena Festival, Playa del Carmen, Mexico – January 29-February 2, 2026
Pining for more beach days and circuit-style partying? Book now to attend the 2026 Arena Festival in Playa del Carmen. It’s in the state of Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean side of Mexico. Organizers are promising “five days of world-class DJs, epic pool parties, beach parties, and an unforgettable experience in paradise!” Besides the dates, no firm details have yet been announced about this year’s festival, so it might be best to hold off booking flights or a hotel until tickets go on sale.
Cologne Carnival, Germany – February 12-18, 2026
Like many countries around the world, Cologne in Germany marks the Mardi Gras season. The city’s carnival is not a gay event, but everyone is welcome, and the local gay bars and businesses get in on the act with special parties. The carnival attracts some 1.5 million visitors and consists of street parties and lots of drinking – even if the costumes are a little more weather-appropriate than those you’ll encounter somewhere such as Brazil.
Gay highlights include the Rosa Sitzung party on Carnival Saturday (February 14), with an array of drag performances and other entertainment. There’s also the Sexy Cologne Carnival Circuit Weekend (February 13-15): A three-day, five-party event featuring 25 different DJs.
Beef Dip, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – January 24-February 1, 2026
After the bear weeks in Sitges and Provincetown, Beef Dip in Puerto Vallarta is one of the biggest such gatherings in the gay calendar. Hairy hunks and chubs head down to Mexico for the week-long, balmy festivities. This year, the event will feature a new host hotel: the recently opened Tryst boutique hotel.
It will host some of the events, along with the likes of the Bluechairs Resort and the Delfin Puerto Vallarta Beach Resort. Planned events include the annual foam party, bearaoke, a ‘Hellfire Red Ball’ at CC Slaughters, a Canopy River Zipline outing, and the popular bears boat trip. If you want to enjoy some of Puerto Vallarta’s wider delights, it’s also peak whale watching season.
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, Australia
The annual Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the biggest queer gatherings in the world. It makes for a bucket-list dream vacation. The 2026 festival runs from February 13 to March 1, with the ‘Ecstatica’-themed parade on Saturday, 28 February. The 2026 Fair Day takes place Sunday, 15 February in Sydney’s Victoria Park. You can also expect many cultural events and parties across the two-week event, including the post-parade Mardi Gras party that always has a big-name headliner.
Winter Party Festival, Miami, US – February 26-March 3, 2026
Winter Party Miami returns for its 33rd annual outing, with the action based in or near the host hotel, the National Hotel Miami Beach. The festival will feature nine different events, ranging from the sands of Miami Beach to local nightclubs, with a portion of the proceeds, as always, going to the National LGBT Task Force. Expect daytime pool parties and evening extravaganzas for a predominantly circuit-style crowd.
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