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Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions—please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips. All information is current to the best of our ability as of date of publication.

We’re crazy about April. It’s the month where showers bring flowers, when we neatly stack our sweaters in the back of our drawers and move our swimsuits a little closer to the front, and it’s the month where half the country is already basking in sunshine. In short, it’s a great month to celebrate. True, some of our favorite annual events may look a little different this year or may even take place virtually, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering (or at least bookmarking for 2022). Here is a list of the best April LGBTQ events.

RELATED: Visit our LGBTQIA travel hub for welcoming hotels, the ultimate queer events calendar, inspiration, and more!

The Black Party: New York City

NYC is still quite chilly in April, but you wouldn’t know it by the sight of thousands of sweaty guys dressed in barely legal costumes and grooving body-to-body at the New York Expo Center. The Black Party (organized by Saint at Large) claims it’s the longest running gay men’s circuit party worldwide, and we promise it delivers the heat. As expected, 2021’s party is on ice, but be on the lookout for it to return either later this year or in spring 2022.

Broadway bound? Book an NYC hotel here.

ClexaCon: Las Vegas

We love geek-tastic ClexaCon, the first and largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ+ women, trans and non-binary fans and creators (though everyone is welcome). This is the place where you come if you want an autograph from Amber Benson (lesbian witch Tara on Buffy The Vampire Slayer) or listen to a panel on trans representation in cinema. This year’s three day event happens virtually April 16-18, with plans for an in-person gathering in October.

Making a trip to the Strip? Book a Las Vegas hotel here.

The Dinah: Palm Springs

It’s a good omen that instead of events being cancelled this year, they’re merely being pushed back, but that means that this annual gathering of women (the largest lesbian event in the world), won’t be scorching the already hot desert this spring, but instead happening September 29-October 3. If you’ve never been, picture a weekend packed with pool bashes, live concerts, meet and greets, sweaty club nights and more. Past headliners include Pussycat Dolls, Jane Lynch, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, India.Arie, Salt-N-Pepa and others.

It’s a dry hot, hot heat. Book your Palm Springs hotel here.

Easter Berlin

We’ve heard the term leather daddy, but never leather bunny! It might just be a thing (anything goes in Berlin) at this annual fetish fest which was postponed in 2020 and is once again on hold thanks to Covid-19. Highlights include the Fetish Flea Market, Fetish Easter Dinner (OMG, what to wear?), and other sub-culture events like the Sneaker Lust party, Doggy Party and famed party boat. Got a kink you’re dying to explore? Mark your calendars for spring 2022.

Ich bin ein Berliner! Um, sure. Book a Berlin hotel here.

Miami Beach Gay Pride

Flickr CC: Phillip Pessar

Florida in April is paradise perfected, but less so a place for glitter-filled good times thanks to Covid. Instead, both festival  and parade have been pushed to September. 10-19. That gives us more time to perfect our tans before hitting up this sizzler of a Pride, which includes a parade down Ocean Drive (the hub of Art Deco architecture), a multi-day festival at Lummus Park, world-class headliners (Pose‘s Jason Rodriguez was on tap to headline 2020’s voguing ball), an art popup, and an in-tandem Pride celebration in Miami’s famous Wynwood neighborhood.

The heat is on! Book your Miami Beach hotel here.

Phoenix Pride

Flickr CC: Kevin Dooley

Buckets of sunshine! Amazing temps! Poolside piña coladas! In April, the Valley of the Sun is truly at its dreamiest, but if your spring fling includes Phoenix Pride, know that it’s been pushed this year to November 6-7 due to Covid. Celebrating its Ruby Anniversary (Phoenix Pride, you are looking good at 40!) with headliners like Neon Trees, Melanie Fiona, Jenn Cuneta, Jody Watley, and Deborah Cox, this is one postponement that we think is worth the wait. And Phoenix in early November? Still pretty dreamy.

Looking for fun in the Valley of the Sun? Book a Phoenix hotel here.

Pride of the Americas: Fort Lauderdale

If you had planned on attending this inaugural event scheduled for April 2020 but cancelled due to Covid, go ahead and break out the sad face emoji. Intended as a week-long celebration focused on the cultures of North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean, we still have hopes this parade and party organized by Pride Fort Lauderdale may one day happen. Until then, we’ll content ourselves with Lauderdale’s plentiful gay hotels, bars and beaches.

Hey, Sunshine! Book your Fort Lauderdale hotel here!

Sleazy Madrid

Just how raunchy do things get at this long weekend of events held annually in the madcap Spanish capital? You’ll have to wait until next year to find out. Sleazy Madrid has been pushed to April 28-May 2, 2022, but rest assured this electronic music and gay fetish festival aimed at men pushes plenty of boundaries. Plus, the city is chock-full of bars featuring back rooms and dark rooms that don’t even begin to get interesting until the wee hours.

Viva Spain! Book your Madrid hotel here.

Toyko Rainbow Pride

Japan’s largest city is as expansive, frenetic and jam-packed with crazy energy as you’ve heard. Tokyo Rainbow Pride is scheduled to happen April 24-25, though travel restrictions mean that most of us probably won’t be attending. But bookmark this one for 2022. You haven’t lived until you’ve strolled the cherry-blossom lined Meguro River, wandered the alleyways of Shinjuku Golden Gai, slurped ramen (loudly) and bar-hopped in Ni-Chōme, the city’s hub for gay nightlife. With LGBTQIA life improving in Japan, this event is one to watch.

We call it the Land of the Rising Fun! Book your Tokyo hotel here.

Tagged: Arizona, California, Europe, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Germany, Japan, LGBTQIA, Miami, Palm Springs

Note: Orbitz compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site.

Jason Heidemann

Jason Heidemann

Jason is a Lead Content Specialist for Expedia Group, and manages content initiatives across numerous Expedia-owned brands. His work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Time Out, the Huffington Post, Chicago Magazine, Passport and many others.

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