A neighbourhood, a collective and an entire city celebrate Gay Pride with a fiesta which fame has gone beyond the Spanish frontiers. That’s a week in which visibility is the main character.

That’s the visibility of diversity and tolerance. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families of all types, children, elderly and straight celebrate the right to be equal, but in plurality. And this year's theme is 'The right to health and equality'.

On 2nd of July 35 floats will pass along the Gran Vía, from Puerta de Alcalá to Plaza de España, where dj Brian Cross and the singer Marta Sánchez will play the latest dance music during one hour.

Five stages

As usual the opening speech will take place at Plaza de Chueca and this year will be on the Wednesday 29th of June and it will be given by the showman El Gran Wyoming (from the TV studio) and Esperanza Izaguirre a Chueca's resident since 1986.

Plaza del Rey will house the festival Muestra-T that will be inaugurated on 29th of June by the singer Clara Montes, accompanied by José Luis Montón, a flamenco guitarist and David González, classical guitarist. Nino Abou and Garbo will be among the artists who will perform at the jazz night (30th of June) while the flamenco night (1st of July) will star by Martirio. The dance will be responsible to put the finishing touch and close the festival on 3rd of July with the company of Carlos Alves and the performance of queer tango by Jorge Aubert.

On Friday 1st of July Plaza de Callao will house the National Beauty Contest Mr. Gay Spain. It will be a gala full of surprises and performances, in which the finalists performed three shows, one of them will be the traditional fashion show in swimsuit. Are you going to lose it?

Transvestites, drag queens, racings over high heels ... will seize Pelayo Street, the first street where Gay Pride was celebrated.

Vázquez de Mella Square will be a place without noise, but very vivacious, thanks to the presence of the Cultura La Culta Festival. The first social festival organized by the Gay Pride Confederation (27th of June – 3rd of July) will focus on the issue of AIDS, through a photographic and a visual exhibitions, and two 'Desconciertos': 2 djs sessions by headphones.

More culture

The ‘Art walk in Chueca' will show a solo exhibition by Joan Crisol at the Dionis Bennassar art gallery or 'Mírame, soy libre' (Look at me, I’m free) by the photographer Lau Slides at Delirio Live, an exhibition about lesbian themes.

On 25th of June from 6 to 11 p.m. del Rey, San Ildefonso, Mella and Chueca Squares will show various performances coordinated by the designer José Luis Raymond, to illustrate the artistic poster 'I love you and I love me' that supports solidarity campaign against HIV by MADO.

The theatre will take place at the Triángulo hall, one of the Visible festival’s venues. Among the works that you can see we find The John's decision, Le fridge and What will be, Sarah? The latter is a concert with theatrical staging based on versions of familiar pop or rock songs and it means also the Madrid debut of Catalan actress and singer Sara Perez.

More fiesta

Ricky Martin's concert at the Madrid Palacio de los Deportes on 28th of June will be the right prelude for Infinitagayweek, five nights of fiestas around different night clubs of the capital.

We highlight the world bear’s party on Thursday 29th of June at Pirandello night club (Ventura Rodriguez, 7), the party organized by Matinée in Macumba on Friday 1st of July, enlivened by the surprising voice of Vanessa Klein, it’s obligatory dressing white! Macumba welcomes on Sunday 3rd of July Space Pride, one of the most emblematic celebrations by Space of Sound. Julian Guarque, Binomio, Javi Reina, Jose Gonzalez, Dani Serrano will be djs responsible for entertain the night and will be accompanied by the latest technology in sound equipment, lighting and visuals.

The innovation of this year is Infinita Matinal from 7 a.m. on 3rd of July at Caja Mágica. Djs Perry Twins and their surprising choreographies will help you to say goodbye to Gay Pride Week as it deserves, but only till next year!