There’s something magical about LGBTQ+ events: the colors, the joy, the sense of belonging that turns any street, club, or quiet corner into a celebration of identity and love. Now, you’ve probably heard that June is Pride Month in many parts of the world, and that’s absolutely true. But here’s a little twist worth knowing: if you’re looking to attend Pride-related events in Japan, you’ll notice that most of them take place in Tokyo. Keep that in mind as you explore, because LGBTQ+ events don’t just live in one month or one city. They pop up in different places, at different times, each with its own unique vibe, and that’s exactly what makes discovering them so exciting. And now, come along with us to discover which LGBTQ+ events will take place in Japan in 2026. Are you ready for the fun?
Queer Art Exhibition 2025 Artwork – Photo Credit: Tokyo Pride
Tokyo
Queer Art Exhibition
The Queer Art Exhibition features works created by LGBTQ+ artists that dive into themes like identity, history, culture, and personal experience. Through paintings, photography, illustrations, and mixed media, you’ll discover deeply personal perspectives as well as broader reflections on queer life and society.
What makes this event truly special is how interactive and community-focused it is. Visitors can vote for their favorite artist, with the winner receiving a Pride award, and even support artists directly through original artwork sales and tip boxes.
Date: June 3rd – 28th
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Address: 1F, 7 Chome-10-3 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062
Website: https://pride.tokyo/queer-art/
2024 Tokyo Rainbow Pride – Photo Credit: Tokyo Pride
Tokyo Rainbow Pride
The Tokyo Rainbow Pride Festival fills Yoyogi Park with stages, booths, and dazzling performances, while the Pride Parade winds through Shibuya and Harajuku, spreading love and visibility throughout the city.
This year’s Pride Festival theme focuses on human rights, connection, and pride in every identity. You’ll also find side events like Pride Night in Shinjuku Ni-chome, where the city’s legendary queer nightlife comes alive with music and dancing. Whether you’re waving a flag, volunteering, or just soaking up the atmosphere, Tokyo Pride is the powerful, joyful reminder that love always wins.
Date: June 6th – 7th
Time: 11 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Address: 2 Chome-3 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0041
Website: https://pride.tokyo/festival/
Drag performers at AiSOTOPE LOUNGE – Photo Credit: AiSOTOPE
Pride Night Shinjuku
After the parade, keep the party going at Pride Night, Tokyo’s ultimate celebration of queer nightlife. Held on the final night of the Pride Parade & Festival in Shinjuku Ni-chome, one of the world’s most diverse neighborhoods, this is where the energy carries on late into the night.
This year, the party takes over two venues, AiSOTOPE LOUNGE and ArcH, bringing together the LGBTQ+ community and allies in a vibrant, inclusive space. Dance floors light up, DJs spin all night, and the mood is electric. You’ll meet locals, visitors, and allies celebrating freedom together, through music, dance, and pure joy. Truly a night to remember, don’t you think so?
Date: June 7th
Time: 6 pm until late
Admission: Free
Address: 160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−12−16 セントフォービル 1F (AiSOTOPE LOUNGE)
160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 2 Chome−14−11 フタミビル 1F (ArcH)
Website: https://pride.tokyo/pride-night/
Youth speaker giving a talk at Youth Pride – Photo Credit: Youth Pride
Youth Pride
Youth Pride Tokyo is a welcoming, community-focused event designed for LGBTQ+ youth and allies to connect in a relaxed and supportive space. With the 2026 theme “One Friend, One Love, One Future”, it highlights how even a single meaningful connection can make a difference.
The first day is all about opening up and getting to know people. Expect orientation-style sessions, icebreakers, and small group meetups that make it easy to connect, especially if you’re coming alone. There are also talk sessions covering topics like identity, mental health, relationships, and navigating life as a young LGBTQ+ person. The second day shifts into a more social and expressive vibe. You’ll find interactive activities, creative workshops, and community spaces where conversations continue more naturally. It’s a great time to deepen connections, share experiences, and just enjoy being part of an inclusive, affirming environment.
Date: June 13th – 14th
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Address: 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 1 Chome−14−30 3F 1st Floor
Website: https://pride.tokyo/youth/
2026 Human Rights Conference – Photo Credit: Tokyo Pride
Human Rights Conference
The Human Rights Conference is the more thought-provoking side of Tokyo Pride, focusing on the real issues facing the LGBTQ+ community today. Held as part of the wider Pride program, it brings together activists, professionals, organizations, and allies for a series of talks, panel discussions, and presentations.
Across the sessions, you’ll hear conversations on topics like legal equality, workplace inclusion, education, mental health, and the everyday challenges LGBTQ+ people still face in Japan and beyond. Speakers often include community leaders, researchers, and advocates who share both personal experiences and expert insights.
The atmosphere is open and reflective, encouraging dialogue and deeper understanding rather than celebration alone. Keep in mind that the conference is mostly in Japanese, but it’s still a lovely experience, especially if you get along with a local friend or someone from the community who can share the moment with you.
Date: June 20th
Time: 1 pm – 5 pm
Admission: ¥500
Address: 2 Chome-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-8610
Website: https://pride.tokyo/human-rights/
Nagoya Rainbow Parade – Photo Credit: Nagoya Rainbow Parade
Other Cities
Nagoya Rainbow Pride
Nagoya Rainbow Pride is Nagoya’s main annual LGBTQ+ celebration, taking place in mid-May around the Sakae district, with main activities centered at Oasis 21 and Hisaya Odori Park; the event features a vibrant parade and march through central Nagoya in a colorful procession with themed floats, music, and performances promoting diversity and inclusion from 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
Surrounding the parade, a lively booth area at Oasis 21 runs throughout the day (from 10:30 am to 6 pm), hosting community organizations, nonprofits, and companies that offer resources, advocacy materials, and interactive experiences. This program showcases entertainment such as drag performances, live music, DJs, and dance acts, creating a festive atmosphere that blends celebration with awareness and encourages both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to connect, express themselves, and support equality in Japan.
Date: May 16th
Time: 10:30 am – 6 pm
Admission: Free
Address: Naka Ward, Nagoya, Prefectura de Aichi 460-0008
Website: https://nagoyarainbowpride.com/
Boat parade during the Pride Cruise – Photo Credit: Pride Center
Pride Cruise Osaka 2026
This one’s truly unique. Instead of marching on the street, you’ll float through the heart of Osaka in a colorful water parade! Pride Cruise Osaka 2026 invites everyone to celebrate inclusion and diversity right on the city’s scenic rivers. This year’s theme color is red, symbolizing energy and courage, so bring something red to wear. Expect music, laughter, and cheering crowds from the riverbanks.
The main parade happens between 3:20 pm and 4 pm, but arrive early, there’ll be talks, games, and other fun activities from 1 pm on, including an opening and talk sessions on equality through entertainment, music, a queer film, and media. There will also be a photo session after the cruise, DJ music, and a DaiShun talk show from 4:20 to 4:50 pm. Rain won’t stop the celebration (just pack a raincoat)!
This year, a record six boats are planned, each with its own theme: LGBTQ Rights, Yes to Same-Sex Marriage, Youth Pride, Trans Pride, Pride Center Osaka, and Pride Cruise Osaka. True to Osaka’s friendly and creative spirit, the Pride Cruise is lively, relaxed, and full of joy!
Date: May 23rd
Time: 1 pm – 5 pm (Main parade 3:15 pm – 4 pm)
Admission: Free (advance lottery registration required)
Address: 1-2 Kitahamahigashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0031
Website: https://pridecenter.jp/pride-cruise-osaka2026/
Seisho Queer Pride Parade – Photo Credit: Seisho Queer Pride Instagram
Seisho Queer Pride
Seisho Queer Pride is a small, community-focused LGBTQ+ pride event held in the Seisho area of Kanagawa (near cities like Odawara), offering a more intimate and local alternative to larger pride festivals. It brings people together for a day of performances, community booths, and social gatherings centered on visibility, connection, and celebration, with themes like “we are here” highlighting the importance of recognizing and supporting queer lives in smaller towns; rather than being a huge parade-heavy event, it has a warm, grassroots feel, created “by the queers, for the queers”, and focuses on building a safe, welcoming space where attendees can meet others, share experiences, and celebrate LGBTQ+ identity in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Date: June 28th
Time: 11 am – 8:30 pm
Admission: Free
Address: Manatsuru, Manazuru, Ashigarashimo, Kanagawa 259-0201
Website: https://www.instagram.com/seisho_queer_pride/
Sapporo Rainbow March – Photo Credit: TRP
Sapporo Rainbow Pride
Sapporo Rainbow Pride is a vibrant annual LGBTQ+ pride event that usually takes place over a weekend in mid-September around central areas like Odori Park and nearby pedestrian streets; designed to promote a society where people of all sexualities and gender identities can live freely without discrimination, the festival brings together thousands of participants for a mix of activities including a lively pride parade through the city, stage performances with music and dance, and a variety of community and sponsor booths offering information, food, and interactive experiences. Rooted in a long local history of pride marches and revitalized in recent years, the event emphasizes connection, visibility, and social change, welcoming everyone, whether LGBTQ+ or allies, to join in celebrating diversity in an open, friendly atmosphere.
Date: September 26th – 27th
Time: TBC
Admission: Free
Address: 060-0042 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Odorinishi, １〜１２丁目
Website: https://www.sprrainbowpride.com/
Kansai Rainbow Festa – Photo Credit: Rainbow Festa
Kansai Rainbow Festa
Kansai Rainbow Festa is a festival held every October in Osaka, usually at Ogimachi Park, where people from all over the Kansai region come together for a fun, colorful weekend celebrating diversity and inclusion; the event runs across two days, from late morning to afternoon. The event is packed with things to do, from browsing community booths run by local groups and businesses, to enjoying live stage performances like music, dance, and special guest appearances, while the big highlight is the Kansai Rainbow Parade on the second day, where participants march through the streets in bright outfits with music and banners, creating an energetic and joyful atmosphere; open to everyone and free to attend. It’s not just a celebration but also a chance to connect, learn, and show support for the LGBTQ+ community in a relaxed, friendly setting.
Date: October 10th – 11th
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Address: 1 Chome-1 Ogimachi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0025
Website: https://rainbowfesta.org/
Plan your trip around Pride season or simply follow the moments that spark your curiosity; either way, Japan’s LGBTQ+ events have a way of surprising you. From Tokyo’s vibrant celebrations to hidden gems across the country, there’s always a story waiting to be part of. Keep your eyes open, your calendar flexible, and your spirit ready, because the next moment of joy, connection, and celebration might be just around the corner.
Featured Photo Credit: Nagoya Rainbow Parade
