These are the safest countries for LGBTQ+ visitors — and it’s bad news for the US
Many countries have made progress, but others have slid backwards in terms of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
Mark
A new survey reveals the countries perceived to be the safest for LGBTQ+ travelers.
In August last year, we carried information on an inaugural listing drawn up by A3M Global Monitoring for the ITB Berlin travel trade show.
It prepared a ‘risk map’. The map goes beyond just laws on the books — it draws on conversations with local LGBTQ+ organisations and travel experts who know what life is actually like on the ground.
In other words, where do queer travelers feel safe?
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For this year’s ITB Berlin show, A3M has updated the map and conducted a fresh round of interviews. It spoke with fewer travel experts this year, but it includes many of the world’s major tourist destinations.
The survey included statements that respondents had to agree or disagree with.
For example, they were asked whether queer couples feel comfortable showing affection in public, whether they feel safe reporting hate crimes, and whether they’re treated respectfully by police and wider society.
As you may imagine, the map is not greatly different to last year’s. Like 2025, Malta, Iceland, Netherlands, Canada and Spain made up the top five.
Several countries also showed positive improvements. For example, over the last 12 months, Botswana completely removed the provisions criminalizing same-sex acts from its criminal code.
In May 2026, China’s Supreme Court ruled that discrimination on the grounds of orientation, gender identity or gender expression is unlawful.
In July 2025, St Lucia’s High Court decriminalised consensual same-sex acts between adults. Austria also strengthened legislation around recognizing trans and non-binary individuals.
The countries performing less well
On the flipside, some countries went in the other direction. The situation has worsened in countries such as Turkey, Uganda, Kazakhstan and Belarus. The election of right-wing populists tends to bring with it a reversal on queer rights. It also encourages the expression of anti-gay and trans views, both by mainstream figures and members of the public.
Which brings us to the United States. The researchers say the most significant shift compared with 2025 was in the U.S.
Last year, Donald Tr*mp’s return to the White House brought with it new uncertainties regarding LGBTQ+ rights. A year later, the fears of many queer advocates have been realized. This is especially true for trans people.
Of course, compared to many countries around the world, the United States is regarded as liberal. However, the experts questioned for this survey pointed to “restrictions faced by transgender people, which can arise … when entering the country, dealing with official documents or using public toilets.”
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“We shouldn’t have to make these considerations, but they are important steps to take for our safety and wellbeing.”
Also, “the tone of public discourse towards LGBTQ+ people had become harsher, resulting in a generally less accepting atmosphere.”
The percentage of respondents who felt that ‘LGBTQ+ individuals and couples are treated respectfully in society’ fell from 35% to 17% in the U.S. On a similar downward trajectory, the number who felt ‘It is safe for LGBTQ+ individuals to report (hate) crimes’ in the U.S. fell from 52% to 33%.
It wasn’t all bad news for the States. The percentage of people who agreed with the statement ‘There is an active LGBTQ+ scene, which is accessible for tourists’ rose from 61% to 83%. In addition, 100% of those surveyed said the country has popular LGBTQ+ neighborhoods.
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The U.S. was not alone in offering a mixed bag of results. Germany was one example that boasts queer-friendly cities, such as Berlin, but also has more homophobic and transphobic rural areas. In fact, in every country there are no-go areas for queer people, which only highlights the importance of knowledgeable travel experts and research in advance of any trip.
Some experts pushed back against the idea of boycotting less progressive destinations entirely, arguing that queer tourism dollars can make a real difference to local LGBTQ+ communities who need solidarity, not isolation.
Check out the 2026 risk map below.
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