Winter could appear a distant reminiscence for us summer time youngsters, however there’s nothing mistaken with a bit of pre-planning. Winter brings with it its personal host of homosexual annual occasions—particularly a world array of homosexual ski weeks—and reserving one now takes the sting off when the solar units over our summer time celebrations. Whether or not you are a virgin skier, slope grasp, and even simply there for the events, homosexual ski weeks have one thing contemporary and enjoyable to supply. So, pack your skis, snowboards, and wool mittens as we take a look at ten of the most effective LGBTQ+ mountainside occasions world wide to see you thru the darkish, chilly months of winter.
What is a Homosexual Ski Week?
An LGBTQ+ ski occasion, also known as a homosexual ski week, is an organized occasion at a ski resort particularly for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. These occasions began within the ’90s, and there at the moment are plenty of occasions to select from, principally throughout North America and Europe. Homosexual ski weeks can appeal to a whole bunch and even 1000’s of attendees, and the organizers placed on a wide range of reveals, events, and gatherings all through the occasion. Even in the event you’re not a ski or snowboard fan, most of those occasions have sufficient occurring to maintain you entertained. For those who’re a reader of our weblog, then you recognize we love homosexual prides, LGBTQ+ events & occasions , and winter sports activities. So, what higher option to rejoice than to attend a homosexual ski week – our absolute favourite winter exercise!
Packing Ideas for a Homosexual Ski Week
Packing for a homosexual ski week won’t solely contain typical heat winter gear, however you may additionally be inspired to pack costumes for themed occasions. For those who’re an avid skier or snowboarder, then be sure you embody all of your customary journey gear, from goggles and jackets to gloves and neck heaters. For the most effective gear to remain heat and look cool, take a look at Hoo-Rag, which gives bandanas, hats, neck gaiters, and headbands, simply to call a number of. For those who personal your individual gear, then you definately’re welcome to deliver all of it with you; in any other case, you may lease nearly all the things from the ski resort. All homosexual ski occasions host a wide range of actions and occasions, so be sure you verify the schedule to see if you must pack any particular outfits, gear, or costumes.
European Homosexual Ski Week (France)
European Homosexual Ski Week is in its seventeenth 12 months and takes place within the French Alps, bringing crowds from throughout Europe. Situated in Les Menuires, the occasion in March usually attracts greater than 1,000 individuals through the week. The organizers have a ton of expertise with these occasions and a big finances to offer enjoyable and interesting actions. Along with hitting the slopes through the day and dancing it up at night time, you’ll discover different actions like pool events, non-public mountain excursions, and cabaret reveals. Through the daytime, there’s an unique European Homosexual Ski Week ski college and likewise guided teams that you may be a part of. Then, for lunch, you may meet different European Homosexual Ski Week company at their designated lunchtime eating places. Dates: 21 – 28 March, 2026.
Maricongelado (Spain)
What’s a maricongelado, you ask? Nicely, it very loosely interprets as a homosexual who loves each partying and snowboarding… kind of. Spain’s model new Maricongelado ski weekend in late February is the right combo of each. Situated up within the Alps simply shy of Andorra within the Lodge & Spa La Collada, reserved only for its LGBTQ+ attendees. By day, you may be hitting the encompassing space’s 145 km of slopes snowboarding, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. Then through the night time, having fun with the corporate of your fellow skiers at huge events with DJs, pool events, spectacular drag queen reveals, bingo, contests, and even—in the event you’re feeling lonely—velocity relationship. You additionally get entry to all of the resort’s saunas and spas to ease these muscle groups and/or soothe these hangovers. Costs for tickets are very affordable contemplating it contains breakfast, dinner, ski passes, and even courses. Dates: 21 – 23 February, 2026.
Jasper Satisfaction Pageant (Canada)
Canada is called a really gay-friendly vacation spot. It was the third nation on the planet to legalize same-sex marriage, making it a welcoming vacation spot for LGBTQ+ guests. Jasper hosts probably the most distinctive Satisfaction celebrations in Canada each April and combines the celebration with an LGBTQ+ ski occasion. The whole neighborhood comes collectively to rejoice Satisfaction, proudly displaying flags and banners all alongside the city’s Foremost Avenue. There’s an power at Jasper Satisfaction Pageant that you simply gained’t really feel anyplace else, being surrounded by pure magnificence in a city that brazenly and proudly helps the LGBTQ+ neighborhood year-round. You’ll be able to’t assist however really feel such as you’re part of one thing particular. The Jasper Satisfaction Pageant Society strives to create a secure and inclusive ambiance of equality, acceptance, and assist for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Dates: 2026 to be introduced.
Homosexual Ski Weekend Queenstown (New Zealand)
Queenstown Winter Satisfaction is the most important and maybe the one main homosexual ski occasion south of the equator. This occasion takes place on the finish of New Zealand’s winter, between the months of August and September. For those who make the trek to New Zealand, you’ll get pleasure from nice occasions together with drag reveals, a foam social gathering, a queer quiz night time, and extra. This LGBTQ+ occasion has been going robust for years. Held yearly, Queenstown is likely one of the finest locations on the planet to host such a pageant. In addition to being the journey capital of the world, it’s additionally a prime vacationer vacation spot and is filled with supportive native companies and individuals who welcome the neighborhood as their very own. Attendees are sometimes 45% Australian, 45% New Zealander, with the remaining coming from different locations world wide. Dates: 15 – 24 August, 2025.
Arosa Homosexual Ski Week (Switzerland)
Over the past week in January, the Swiss Alps will warmth up as LGBTQ+ individuals from throughout Europe come collectively to rejoice Arosa Homosexual Ski Week. The occasion creates a welcoming ambiance for all LGBTQ+ individuals and allies within the gay-friendly village of Arosa, Switzerland. From the White Celebration on the prime of the mountain to night classical music live shows, the week-long occasion has one thing for nearly everybody and each style. If there’s one factor Arosa Homosexual Ski Week does properly, it’s leisure. They organize for numerous drag queens and dancers from throughout Europe to affix the occasion and entertain the crowds by each day and night time. Maybe the one factor we like greater than snowboarding is becoming a member of the après-ski within the afternoon after a protracted day on the mountain. Every day, attendees can be a part of the official après-ski held at varied areas all through the week in Arosa. Dates: 17 – 24 January, 2026.
Stowe Vermont Winter Rendezvous (USA)
Happening below Stowe Mountain in Vermont each January, Winter Rendeszvous is a five-day winter-themed social gathering—with some snowboarding and snowboarding thrown in there someplace. Critically although, snowboarding and boarding are nonetheless the main target—with the mountainous terrain referred to as “the ski capital of the east”—however there are additionally pool events, dance events, a bowling “kick-off” social gathering, a wine and cheese social gathering, cocktail events… properly, you get the concept. There’s additionally a variety of enjoyable silliness thrown into the combination, like drag bingo and costume competitions. The official lodging is within the aptly named ‘Topnotch Resort’—an expensive resort with a spa, rugs, crackling fireplaces, and massages on supply. Dates: 21 – 25 January, 2026.
Whistler Satisfaction & Ski Pageant (Canada)
Whistler Satisfaction and Ski Pageant is one other huge homosexual ski week within the LGBTQ+ pleasant nation of Canada, this time happening in late January within the scenic lakeside village of Whistler, surrounded by a surprising arctic wonderland. In 2010, it hosted the Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Video games as a result of being a major location for winter sports activities with diversified mountainous slopes. At Whistler Satisfaction and Ski Pageant, there’s snowboarding and snowboarding all week—after all—but additionally a pool social gathering, snowball combat, axe-throwing contests, drag reveals, and different social and cultural actions. All topped off by an extravagant Satisfaction parade, the place skiers swoop down the slopes in a myriad of colourful garments whereas brandishing rainbow flags and an enormous Satisfaction flag. Dates: 25 January – 1 February, 2026.
Aspen Homosexual Ski Week (USA)
Aspen Homosexual Ski Week is a ski week held in January for a superb trigger: elevating cash for AspenOUT—a non-profit group looking for to advertise anti-bullying coverage and tolerance all through the USA. It is also set in an epic location between 4 mountains bearing slopes of various difficulties for skiers and snowboarders to decide on between. In addition to the standard out of doors actions, the week’s enjoyable is supplemented by an thrilling mixture of distinctive occasions, equivalent to late-night comedy reveals, a mountaintop social gathering, drag bingo, and a vogue boutique and gallery stroll. Aspen Homosexual Ski Week is the oldest annual week-long homosexual ski occasion within the USA—so you recognize you may be in good fingers all through. Dates: 11 – 18 January, 2026.
European Snow Satisfaction (France)
Come March, the most important homosexual ski weekend in all of Europe takes place. European Snow Satisfaction is sponsored by Scruff and held in a world-renowned—and brazenly gay-friendly—ski resort within the French aspect of the Alps, Tignes. The Tignes Val Claret transforms itself right into a thriving homosexual village for the week, and it sits a handy jiffy’ stroll from an unlimited lagoon—preferrred to swim in and, in reality, the location of the week’s crowning jewel occasion: an enormous pool social gathering. The resort is likely one of the highest on the planet, with 156 slopes to strive your abilities on. Whether or not your focus is health, enjoyable, or each, European Snow Satisfaction has all bases coated with an enormous sports activities complicated, Turkish baths, a number of swimming swimming pools—together with 30-meter-long slides—and a 3,000-capacity auditorium for events, to call a number of choices. The occasion is nearly utterly unequalled for its events to get pleasure from between bouts on the slopes. They invite a few of the greatest internationally well-known LGBTQ+ DJs and maintain innovatively enjoyable themed events, like Brit Pop, ’80s, Lethal Sins, and Superheroes. Dates: 21 – 28 March, 2026.
Soelden Winter Satisfaction (Austria)
Austria has quickly change into an especially liberal nation, with homosexual marriage being legalized in 2019 and the election of their first brazenly lesbian minister into authorities. In celebration of this, maybe, Homosexual Snow Occurring is rebranding as Soelden Winter Satisfaction and describes itself as “the height of range”—get it?! Inclusion is certainly very a lot the secret, with a spread of thrilling occasions—each on and off the slopes—the place drag queens take middle stage. Highlights embody night time tobogganing, ski excursions, journeys to the close by therapeutic thermal springs, and an enormous cabaret present accompanied by free prosecco and a three-course meal. Culinary delights are a key focus of the occasion, and there is nothing fairly like a superb Austrian meal after a tough day’s snowboarding up on the slopes. Dates: 21 – 28 March, 2026.
Elevation Mammoth Homosexual Ski Week (USA)
Each March, the gays descend upon the city of Mammoth Lakes up within the Sierra Mountains in California for the Elevation Mammoth Homosexual Ski Week —a five-day high-class snowboarding occasion. The objective: to beat Mammoth Mountain for the gays! The occasion is a part of the most important collection of homosexual ski weeks on the planet—the others being in Utah and Tremblant—and attracts over 2,500 individuals yearly. Mammoth Lakes itself is a surprising location with choices to remain in its quaint condos or villas for these with the finances. The aspect occasions supply otherworldly choices, equivalent to a snowcat sleigh experience up the mountain that features a connoisseur meal in a restaurant midway up, a nighttime mountaintop tea dance social gathering, and even a comfortable onesie disco. There are the massive events on their roster, a few of which run all by way of the night time, but additionally the choice of small bar occasions for chilling—actually—and forging friendships—or extra—with like-minded LGBTQ+ folks. Dates: 2026 to be introduced.