European gay ski week
Home / travel tourism / European gay ski week
The Skiing
Val Thorens is at the top of the Vallee de Belville and gives unparalleled access to Les Trois Vallées. Other options include Lyon (LYS), Grenoble (GNB), or Turin (TRN), but these can have more complicated transfers. We’ve reviewed plenty of gay-friendly hotels where couples like us feel at home.
And honestly, the parties, concerts, and après-ski events alone are reason enough to go — especially when they are mixed with snow, mountains, and the energy of Pride. Choosing the right accommodation can make or break your trip.
Gay Ski Weeks: LGBTQ+ Ski Festivals Worldwide
Why join gay ski weeks?
For us, it’s the combination of sport, community, and freedom that makes these weeks so special.
Prepare for 1,000 of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies to descend on Val Thorens in a truly international event—last year, 6 of the 7 world continents were represented by 49 nationalities.
All genders are welcome at European Gay Ski Week, as the event is committed to inclusivity and welcomes everyone from the LGBTQI+ community and their friends and family.
—EGSW Guest
Getting There
You cannot fly directly to Val Thorens; you must fly to a nearby airport and take a ground transfer, with Geneva (GVA) and Chambéry (CMF) being the closest options. And yes, they are popular among gay bears and their friends, too. With 600km of pistes within 35,000 hectares this is the world’s largest ski area with snow guaranteed.
Hands-On Checklist
- Choose your destination and event dates early (Aspen, Arosa, Whistler, etc.)
- Book accommodation with LGBTQ+ welcoming hosts
- Reserve flights and ground transfers in advance
- Buy or reserve ski passes online to save time
- Pack ski/snowboard equipment or arrange rental on site
- Bring warm layers, waterproof outerwear, and casual village clothes
- Don’t forget festive outfits for theme parties and après-ski nights
- Check health insurance and travel documents
- Download event schedules and apps where available
- Plan recovery time: spa, onsen, or wellness breaks can be essential
With a little preparation, you can focus on enjoying your Gay Ski Week to the fullest once you arrive.
Please note travel logistics: shuttle buses from airports to mountain resorts, ski passes that you can pre-book online, and early hotel reservations to secure the best spots close to the lifts. Read more
Unless otherwise specified, prices shown are a guide only and, for your convenience, may have had calculations applied to them to give approximate comparisons and estimates, with regards to other similar prices listed, and/or currency rates which may fluctuate.
Packing is more than just ski gear: you’ll need warm layers for the slopes, casual clothes for the village, and something fabulous for the themed party nights. Over the years, we’ve built a collection of Gay Travel Guides that can help you plan trips far beyond the slopes.
Plan your next winter Pride trip
Planning your trip to a Gay Ski Week is part of the fun.
You’ll find more inspiration on how we highlight LGBTQ+ businesses here.
For our 18th edition of
Europe's biggest LGBTQI+ Winter Sports Event
We will be returning to the resort of Val Thorens, the highest village in Les Trois Vallées ski area.
European Gay Ski Week is all about the skiing...........
but we love a good party as well!
The place vibrates with fun (it's a ski resort!), so imagine what it's like when 2,000 of our LGBTQI+ community and their allies descend on Val Thorens.
Fabulous Shows,
Hilarious Cabaret,
Fantastic Parties
European Gay Ski Week gathers an exclusive selection of performers,
DJs, dancers, musicians and artists.
The Line up for 2026 will be announced in the Autumn.
To get an idea how our Shows, Parties and Cabaret will look, below is the line-up from 2025.
10 GREAT reasons for coming to Europe’s most popular Gay Ski Week
- Val Thorens 10 times winner best ski resort in France
- Val Thorens 4 times winner of World Best Ski Resort,
- Les 3 Vallées Ski Domain, the worlds biggest ski area
- Skiing for all abilities 50% greens and blues, the remainder reds and blacks
- EGSW Guest "Not knowing quite what to expect I was a little nervous as a solo traveler..........I had the time of my life......never before had so much to do and such fun.
- EGSW Guest "In a nutshell...They are the best for a fun filled, activity packed, exceptionally entertaining, full-on hi energy holiday and at a surprisingly inexpensive price".
- Amazing Apres, more parties than you can shake a stick at and brilliant cabaret throughout the week.
- Dinners, Lunches, A Foodies Delight, 12 Michelin starred restaurants in Les 3 Vallées ski domain.
- EGSW guest, the people "everyone was so friendly and I made some fantastic new friends".
- Everyone is welcome, with packages to suit all budgets.
Europe’s biggest LGBTQIA+ Winter sports and music festival is back with all the thrills of Val Thorens.
Save the date: March 21– 28 2026 is the 18th edition of Europe’s biggest LGBTQIA+ Winter Sports and Music Festival.
Unique to European Gay Ski Week is the sheer scale of the Après ski, which is held in the centre of the resort on the roof of Le Board, featuring giant video screens, musicians, performers, dancers and some great DJs.
A foodie’s delight, choose from 12 Michelin starred restaurants in Les Trois Vallées ski domain, for example, La Bouitte, a Michelin-starred restaurant part of the La Bouitte Hotel & Spa in Saint Marcel, offering a top-tier fine dining experience.
The event aims to be a safe and accepting space for people of all backgrounds, including queer women, trans, and non-binary participants, and is open to everyone.
The Parties
Over seven days you can expect 70 hours of music, 20 musicians and performers, 15 DJs playing, 16 club nights and parties, and 6 nights of Cabaret.
You ski or snowboard during the day, meet new friends on the chairlift, and dance in ski boots at night until you can hardly stand.
There are hotels, studios and apartments for all budgets ranging from standard to super deluxe. SeeValThorens.com is not a travel agent nor tour operator, nor the end supplier. Whether you are a beginner or an expert on the slopes, you will find your place in the community.