This Scandinavian city has a thriving gay party scene where the summer sun never sets

From dancing to dungeons, check out these queer parties in Stockholm...

Mark

Sep 1, 2023 - 20:01

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This Scandinavian city has a thriving gay party scene where the summer sun never sets

A person with a shaved head, facial piercings, and hazel eyes peers at the camera at Under Bron in Stockholm. — Credit: Under Bron

Whether you visit Stockholm in the darkest months of winter or during Midsommar when the sun barely sets, you’ll find a diverse queer population dancing to dungeon techno and frilly housey beats around the fourteen islands that compose this city.

Nevertheless, the archipelago truly comes alive during summer when rooftop clubs erupt throughout the city to aid the country’s sun-deprived residents. Although there aren’t many dedicated queer spaces, parties rotate through many interesting venues around the city…

IBNE Collective

Drag queen with a pink face, a crown of pearls, and winged eyeliner. — Credit: IBNE Collective

Named after a derogatory word for gay men in Turkish, IBNE Collective aims to take back the word by indulging in sweaty raves throughout clubs and underground DIY spaces in the city including Slakthuset.

Located in an old slaughterhouse in Stockholm’s meatpacking district, the venue is known for its queer warehouse parties and downtempo Midsommar outdoor rooftop events in the adjoined Tak rooftop club.

Aryan- Batti, who is part of the IBNE collective says “The main goal is to create a meeting spot for like-minded queer people (we are “straight-friendly” of course), around the rhythmic energetic electronic music. We don’t care about what you define yourself as or who you’re trying to get with, just come and sweat with us.”

FIST(Fags in Stockholm Together)

Revelers dance at Club Backdoor in a room that resembles a walk-in freezer. — Credit: Backdoor

Self-proclaimed sissies, FIST is rooted in DIY culture and sex-positivity. Catch events at the infamous Backdoor or on the floating love boat Patricia, and often partnering with other like-minded collectives such as femme-focused Raider Room.

Tucked under Stockholm’s Tele2 sports arena, going to Club Backdoor can be triggering or arousing depending on your experience with sports. The subterranean club hosts many queer k*inky and fetish parties where you’ll find a host of Stockholm’s hunks and club kids. The space still has remnants of its unique past in the form of a dance room that resembles a giant walk-in freezer. This club hosts a number of queer techno parties such as the leather-forward dungeon banger KINK.

All aboard the Patricia, Stockholm’s floating gay bar located on a restored Navy ship. By day, the vessel is an upscale eatery serving refined meals such as steak and lobster, but on Sundays, the bar becomes a wild nautical paradise where drag queens and gays twirl until 5 a.m. The club hosts more queer events throughout the year, especially during Pride, but check their social media for all the updates.

More than just a femme-focused party collective, Raideroom organizes free house & techno parties, community workshops, and open decks for aspiring DJs at venues such as Tak Stockholm.

Under Bron and Trädgården

A handsome man in blue eyeshadow, a mesh blouse, and a curly long mane sticks his tongue out at the camera while dancing at Trädgården. — (Credit: Trädgården)

Located in a tattered building underneath the Skanson Bridge, Under Bron (under the bridge) is a maze of bright neon art, wooden furniture straight out of a Scandinavian design magazine, and a raw industrial feeling reminiscent of Berlin. Summer nights in the attached rooftop club Trädgården are the best way to soak up the abundant summer rays while the attached restaurant and art gallery Växthuset focuses on biodynamic wines and vegan food.

Stadsgårdsterminalen (Stadsgård Terminal)

Stadsgårdsterminalen hosts a variety of straight and queer parties such as the fetish and gay member’s only Club FOMO which consistently books heavy-hitting techno DJs from Scandinavia and beyond. Along with queer art installations and captivating visuals, this party aims to unite k*nk and dark techno. Kobox Club is a lighter gay acid disco party at the same venue. Make sure to look out for other queer events on Stadsgårdsterminalen’s calendar!

Stockholm Opera House

Inside the Stockholm Opera House, Cafe Opera is a nightclub dripping with crystal chandeliers and antiquities. Not necessarily known as a queer nightclub, though the space hosts one-off gay parties that are simply divine.

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