From June 27 to July 4, 2026, València will become the world epicenter of inclusion with the celebration of the XII edition of the Gay Games, an unprecedented sporting and cultural event that arrives for the first time to the Mediterranean city. It is not just about competing, but about living a collective experience where respect, equality and diversity take center stage.
What are the Gay Games?
Organized every four years in different parts of the world, the Gay Games were born with a clear purpose: break barriers through sport and culture. Participation is open to anyone over 18 years of age, regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, physical abilities, technical level, religion or nationality. Here, the important thing is not to win, but to excel and feel part of a global community that celebrates plurality.
More than a sporting event
Although the heart of the Gay Games beats to the rhythm of sport – with more than 37 disciplines in competition – the soul of the event goes much further. Colpbol and Valencian pilota, two traditional sports of the region, are added as an exhibition, connecting the present with local roots.
But this is not just a date for athletes. The cultural programming will be deployed throughout the city and beyond, with activities in emblematic spaces such as the Trinquete Pelayo, the Palau de les Arts or the Roman Theater of Sagunt. In total, 40 venues will host a mosaic of experiences ranging from music and dance to exhibitions, theater and conferences.
A safe space for everyone
At a time when hate speech continues to threaten social progress, the Gay Games reclaim sport as a space for encounter, visibility and empowerment. For many LGTBIQ+ people, these games are the only opportunity to compete or express themselves freely, without fear of being judged.
What if it wasn’t just about winning medals, but about meeting, sharing and resisting by dancing, running or singing?
Participating is adding
One of the keys to the event is that you don’t have to be a professional athlete. There are also no level tests or prior filters. You just need to want to be part of it. And that is something that is not so abundant in other sports or cultural spaces.
Registrations will be open to people from all over the world, with different categories, levels and modalities. It also seeks to involve local citizens, from volunteering to organizing community events.
A more equal future… through sport?
In a world that still questions the right to exist freely, the Gay Games offer something simple but powerful: a place to be. And although we don’t have all the answers, we know that these celebrations matter. Because they create community, break stigmas and remind us that change is also played, run and danced.
So now you know. Mark the date on the calendar. The summer of 2026 has an appointment in Valencia… and no one should miss it.
