It is at all times bear season someplace! However similar to their precise animal counterparts, bears—as within the hirsute homosexual man sort—are likely to get extra lively—or passive—in the summertime, by way of the worldwide occasions generally known as “bear weeks”.
Bear weeks supply a welcoming area the place bears, otters, chubs, and their admirers can socialize, occasion, and have fun one of many largest homosexual subcultures there’s. Originating within the Nineteen Eighties in San Francisco, the bear motion emerged as a counterpoint to the extra mainstream, usually stereotypical picture of homosexual males and their our bodies. Within the bear group, this stereotype is subverted with larger and hairier our bodies celebrated inside inclusive and welcoming areas. These days, the scene has grown a lot that they’re maybe probably the most seen of all of the homosexual subcultures—anyplace you’ll find homosexual bars, you may in all probability discover bear bars too. Bear weeks deliver bears and their admirers from everywhere in the world collectively, like one huge metaphorical bear hug.
From the sunny seashores of Puerto Vallarta to the icy landscapes of Reykjavik, bear weeks can supply a various array of experiences. So, with prime bear season upon us, we check out twelve of one of the best bear weeks throughout the globe, whereas not lacking the chance to dip into the huge pool of bear puns.
Lazy Bear (US – California)
Deep within the redwoods of Northern California, Guerneville, Lazy Bear Week is a laid-back celebration that lives as much as its identify. The occasion gives extra than simply the bear requirements by mixing membership and pool events with reside leisure, outside actions, sport nights, film nights, trivia nights, and a spread of different enjoyable actions throughout the week.
Subsequent occasion: July 28 – August 4, 2025.
Mad Bear (Spain – Torremolinos)
Held in late July/early August yearly, Mad Bear in Torremolinos is a beachside celebration of all issues hirsute. Nearly all of the motion revolves round Eden Seashore Membership by day and the homosexual zone, La Nogalera, by evening with events and membership occasions throughout the week. In addition they have a December occasion alongside the identical traces, making for a beary merry solution to finish the 12 months.
Subsequent occasion: August 8-18, 2025.
Bear Sitges (Spain – Sitges)
Sitges is a picturesque coastal city not removed from Barcelona, which is extraordinarily in style with the homosexual group as an entire. The individuals of Sitges by no means want an excuse for a superb occasion, however each September the streets hum with the growls of bears from the world over—often attracting over 8,000 individuals! Throughout Bear Sitges, a bit generally known as the “Bear-Village” is put aside with its personal bars and area for socializing, in addition to internet hosting leisure and cultural actions. Though in reality, the entire city transforms, and down within the homosexual zone by the ocean, there are road and seaside events continually popping up over the ten-day occasion.
Subsequent occasion: September 5 – 14, 2025.
Bear Summer season (Germany – Berlin)
Berlin’s Bear Summer season is a particular spotlight of the European bear calendar. Held in June/July, this occasion options barbecues, boat journeys, beer backyard events, and membership nights, such because the sexily named ‘Unshaved Social gathering.’ Berlin is the kink capital of the world and—as leather-based and bears go collectively like German wurst and mustard—the occasion contains nights like ‘WOOF Berlin’ made for leather-based lovers and different fetish fiends.
Subsequent occasion: 2026 to be introduced.
Worldwide Prague Bear Summer season (Czech Republic – Prague)
Prague is certainly one of Europe’s most impressive-looking cities and Worldwide Prague Bear Summer season combines the expertise of one of the best the town has to supply, Pleasure festivities—because it takes place in the course of the week—and the raunchy enjoyable of a bear pageant. Attendees can discover the “Mom of All Cities” on an LGBTQ+ metropolis tour run by the occasion earlier than diving into the festivities, which embrace membership events, gatherings, naturist swimming/sunbathing at a beautiful lake on the outskirts of Prague, sauna events, attending the Pleasure parade collectively, and extra. Their very personal Bear Village created for the occasion hosts a BBQ and has a whirlpool, play rooms, their very own DJs, and extra.
Subsequent occasion: July 27 – August 4, 2025.
RVKBear (Iceland – Reykjavik)
For an expertise that breaks by way of the barrier of what a bear week will be, head to Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik Bear Week combines seeing the pure great thing about Iceland with the approaching collectively of the comfortable, pleasant bear group from the island. Passes for the occasion embrace nature excursions, visits to the Golden Circle, and journeys to Iceland’s well-known geothermal swimming pools with fellow bear attendees. Then in fact there’s the standard array of events throughout the world’s northernmost capital. It is certain to be an ice addition to any bear occasion calendar.
Subsequent occasion: August 28 – 31, 2025.
Beef Dip (Mexico – Puerto Vallarta)
Not all bears hibernate within the winter and the perpetually sunny homosexual paradise that’s Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta is a paw-sitively excellent place for the bear group to thaw out their winter blues at Beef Dip each January/February. This week-long occasion is likely one of the hottest and longest operating bear weeks—boasting pool events, seaside outings, boat events, foam events, and wild nightly dance events. A “BeefDip Canine Tag” will get you entrance to the entire predominant occasions and reductions on a resort.
Subsequent occasion: January 25 – February 1, 2026.
Woof Week Rio (Brazil – Rio)
The brand new cub on the block, Rio de Janeiro’s Woof Week is a carnival inside a carnival. The Latin American bear week is a 10-day bearnanza held on the planet’s occasion capital to coincide with Rio’s epic Carnival celebrations. There are pool events, seaside events, circuit nights sporting worldwide DJs, a tour of Rio, and a bear boat cruise all a part of the festivities. Their road occasion is the true spotlight of the occasion because it mixes bears into Brazilian tradition by way of Samba performances and different Brazilian-themed occasions.
Subsequent occasion: March 1 – March 8, 2026.
Bear Necessities (Australia – Sydney)
Heading down beneath for February/March, Bear Necessities in Sydney, Australia is timed to run alongside Mardi Gras. Bear Necessities gives far more than the fundamentals with social gatherings, events, outside actions plus occasions distinctive to Sydney various from seaside days and brunches to a “huge and burly” cabaret and a retro arcade evening.
Subsequent occasion: 2026 to be introduced.
Worldwide Bear Convergence (US – Palm Springs)
Palm Springs, California, hosts the Worldwide Bear Convergence each February, which is simply as epic because it sounds with 1000’s of bears in attendance for the five-day occasion. The desert oasis simply reached from San Francisco turns into a hotspot for bears trying to escape the winter, with large pool events, dance occasions, a comedy evening, drag brunch, the well-known Mr. Worldwide Bear contest and extra.
Subsequent occasion: February 19-23, 2026.
Bangkok Songkran Bear Week (Thailand – Bangkok)
Asia has its fair proportion of bears too, particularly in Bangkok. The most important bear week occasion in Asia celebrates the Thai New Yr with Bangkok Songkran Bear. This April occasion contains pool events, membership nights, foam events, the Mister Bear Bangkok competitions, and the standard Songkran water fights to chill down within the metropolis’s typically insufferable warmth.
Subsequent occasion: April 10-16, 2026.
Bear Carnival (Spain – Maspalomas)
Spain makes one other look on our listing—what can we are saying? Spain has a whole lot of bears! Within the coronary heart of the Canary Islands, Maspalomas’ Bear Carnival is a fiesta of fur-filled enjoyable. This springtime occasion has a carnival-inspired theme thrown into the combo with over sixty occasions over the course of 15 days—so, it’s truly extra like a bear month. There’s a colourful parade, seaside events, drag reveals, a waterpark occasion, meals occasions, bowling, a bear-themed boat cruise, and extra. What’s extra, the bars, golf equipment, and cruising bars of the world’s solely homosexual industrial heart, the Yumbo heart, come alive and the notorious cruising sand dunes fill with bears on the prowl.
Subsequent occasion: March 19-29, 2026.
These occasions are our prime picks, however simply scratching the floor of the bear weeks obtainable on the market. So elevate your paws for the trigger and get on the market to fulfill different lovers of all issues larger and hirsute. Comfortable searching!
Featured picture by Madbear