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Applications for Press access to the stage, vip and parade route have to be made before the 10th of June 2023
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Sitges Pride, Europe’s “Pride by the Beach”, celebrates its 12th edition!
#sitgelovesyou will run from – June 14th to 18th
More than 40,000 visitors will attend the event in Sitges, Barcelona, Spain, recently voted “Best Small Pride in the World and one of Europe’s top trending pride events.
- Sitges Pride returns this June with its theme #sitgeslovesyou, continuing with the message that Sitges has always been a refuge for the LGBTQI+ community, a welcoming destination for everyone.
- A program of more than 40 acts will perform for free in the open-air “Pride Village” over five nights, right in the heart of Sitges, just 30 minutes from Barcelona.
- Unique cultural events, exhibitions, networking events and conferences will occur in parallel with festive parties during the day and evening.
- World-class tributes to Take That, Robbie Williams, Kylie, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, The Spice Girls, Taylor Swift, Boney M and ABBA will take to the stage each night, solidifying Sitges position as Europe’s No one pride by the Beach.
- Seventeen floats featuring more than 2,000 participants will participate in the main Parade on Sunday, June 18th, from 5 pm.
- In 2022 Sitges was ranked in the top 50 most popular travel destinations for Pride and was one of the Top 10 trending Pride versus 2019 – by year-over-year nights booked growth according to a Gay Times / AirBnB study. The event also came 1st in the Gay Cities Awards for Best Small Town Pride.
SITGES (BARCELONA) – Today, AFGAL, the organising body for Sitges Pride, unveiled the official program for the 2023 event, which will see over 65 performers take to the main stage during the 5-day festival.
TRIBUTE STARS – LIVE IN CONCERT
The “Pride Village” on the seafront of Sitges Psg Ribera will be the epicentre of the pride celebrations with some of the world’s top tribute stars playing homage to acts such as Kylie, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, The Spice Girls, Taylor Swift, Boney M and ABBA.
This year Sitges Pride will feature 60 artists from 14 countries and 20 Catalan performers.
POST PARADE CELEBRATIONS
On Sunday, June 18th, the post-parade party in the gay village will once again solidify Sitges reputation as one of the most unique pride events featuring world-class DJs and 4 hours of the best music and dancing under the sun.
The 12th Edition celebrations will close with ABBA. Over the past 11 years, Sitges has had more than ten different ABBA tributes, and the show has consistently ranked as one of the most attended events throughout the five days of performances.
This year’s act, “21st Century Abba”, winners of The National Tribute Music Awards, will once again bring their unique sound to the Sitges main stage.
DRAG ROYALE
Opening night shows include “DRAG ROYALE”, featuring the top drag performers from London’s gay scene with Sitges home-grown stars. Award-winning performers, Mary Mac, Drag with No Name, Miss Penny, and Karla Bear will perform alongside local favourites Lady Diamond and Sitges Sisters.
THE PARTIES – DAY AND NIGHT
Local gay businesses will host special parties and events. With more than 25 different gay bars, Sitges has something to suit all tastes, from Broadway musical nights to legendary drag dinner shows, cruising bars, to dance clubs.
The Official Sitges Pride App allows visitors to plan their entire night out, showcasing the best events each night. With more than 58,000 downloads, the app is available on both Apple and Google’s App Store.
THE PARADE – AN ATTRACTION FOR EVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD, FAMILIES & FRIENDS
The highlight of Sitges Pride is the Parade. The route will make its way across the Sitges Seafront Sunday, June 18th, at 5 pm. More than 2,000 participants and 17 floats will celebrate “Pride on the Paseo”.
CULTURE, ACTIVISM AND FUNDRAISING AT THE HEART OF SITGES PRIDE
In collaboration with volunteers and partners, Colours Sitges Link has organised a series of cultural and social activities. Highlights include a circle of talks at the new “Círculo Diverso Colors”, each afternoon from19:00 h.
- “BDSM as an alternative to chemsex”, by Javier Sotomayor, on Wednesday 14/06
- “New injectable treatments in ART and PrEP”, by Dr. José Miguel Cabrera
(infectious diseases doctor at Can Ruti), on Thursday 15/06
- “Porn, how it affects sexuality”, on Friday 16/06
A Bodyfullnes workshop on Saturday 17/06 and laughter therapy workshop, on Sunday
18/06, will end their Pride activities.
HIV, Hepatitis C and syphilis testing marathons
A special Rapid HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis C test service is available in Sitges during the pride celebrations. Pop-up test centres will operate on Balmins Beach on Friday and Saturday morning, in the Pride Village on Friday and Saturday evening, and at Colors Sitges Link HQ from Thursday to Saturday.
WE BRIDGE TO EUROPE
Sitges Pride continues its relationship with SVS – Acció en Blau , Sitges Social Volunteers, and is proud to present their international asylum-seekers support project, “We Bridge to Europe”.
The success of its Latin American program, “Puente Arco Iris” in bridging LGBTIQ+ persons to safe haven as refugees in Europe has served as the new rainbow, bridging to other nationalities from Africa, Asia and European homophobic governments.
SVS volunteers, Alejandra Villar & her Soul Nami ensemble and choreographer Silvia Cuesta will present this “humanitarian love project” born out of Sitges on the main stage in the Pride Village on Thursday June 15th.
ABOUT SITGES PRIDE
Now in its 12th year, Sitges Pride is ranked as one of the top 5 gay pride events in the world by reports from both CNN and Lonely Planet. Sitges hotels and apartments are reporting an almost 100% occupancy for the event, an especially welcome development after two years of pandemic restrictions.
The top 10 Nationalities of people visiting the Pride in 2021 were: Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, the United States, Italy and Sweden.
Sitges Pride is essential for promoting Sitges’ gay credentials to a world where more and more destinations are competing for LGBTQI+ tourists.
Sitges Pride is also economically impactful for the town, with the average spend per person during Pride of EUR 257, almost 50% higher than other events*.
In 2022 Sitges was ranked in the top 50 most popular travel destinations for Pride and was one of the Top 10 trending Pride versus 2019 – by year-over-year nights booked growth according to a Gay Times / AirBnB study.
Sitges Pride relies 100% on sponsorship. Its key sponsors include San Miguel, Addicted, Cutty Sark, Coca-Cola, Parrots Group, GayTravel4u and Gay Sitges Guide.
The event is organised in collaboration with Sitges Tourism via their #sitgesanytime program and Sitges Council.
* Study prepared by GESOP (Gabinet d’Estudis Socials i Opinió Pública S.L.)
ABOUT AFGAL
Founded in 2009, AFGAL is a not-for-profit organisation charged with promoting Sitges Pride to the community both in Spain and Internationally.
ABOUT SITGES
Sitges is just 30 minutes from Barcelona and a 15-minute train ride from the International Airport. It is one of the world’s leading international Gay Destinations, and it’s historic charm and unique location have earned it the title “The Jewel of the Mediterranean.” Visit http://www.gaysitgesguide.com for comprehensive information on the town.
For more information, press only:
ENG – Keith O’Reilly, +34 684 098 417, keith@gaypridesitges.com
ES – Nuria Golanó, +34 662 567 820, nuria@sitgespride.com
For more information on Sitges Pride:
Follow our official hashtag #sitgeslovesyou
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