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In many countries, a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity has long since ceased to matter. The Gay Travel Index reveals which travel destinations will still be particularly LGBTQ+-friendly in 2026.
For many people, camping is the epitome of freedom—the freedom to let the urge to travel guide you and head straight to the most beautiful places, and to spend the night in your own home on four wheels wherever you like best.
Unfortunately, this sense of freedom isn’t always a given, especially for travelers from the LGBTQ+ community. That’s because, sadly, people still face intolerance, prejudice, restrictions, and in some cases even persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Travelers from the LGBTQ+ community therefore often have to choose their destinations with even greater care—even when it comes to camping. How free and safe are people from the queer community in different vacation destinations? Where can they feel safe and welcome and meet like-minded people?
The Spartacus Gay Travel Index takes a closer look at vacation destinations in Europe and around the world and rates how LGBTQ+-friendly—or unfriendly—they are 🏳️🌈
Who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community? 🌈
'LGBTQ+' is an abbreviation of the English words 'Lesbian', 'Gay', 'Bisexual', 'Transsexual/Transgender' and 'Queer'. Additional letters are often added to the term. The term 'LGBTQIA+' includes all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual/transgender, queer, but also intersex and asexual people. The '+' includes other gender identities. Here, you can find out more about what the respective sexual orientations and gender identities mean.
How safe do travellers from the LGBTQIA+ community feel?
Being able to vacation without worry is important for all travelers, but unfortunately, it’s not equally a given for everyone. This is also shown by the latest Travel Proud study by booking.com from 2026, which surveyed over 13,300 LGBTQ+ travelers in 19 countries worldwide.
According to the study, nearly 6 in 10 LGBTQIA+ travelers (58%) had at least one negative experience related to their gender or sexual identity while traveling in the past year.
Only just under a third (31%) of LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide say they are open about their identity while traveling. Nearly half (48%) regularly scan their surroundings to check if it’s safe before showing affection in public.
Nevertheless, the desire to travel remains strong: 66% of respondents worldwide prioritize choosing destinations where they can be completely themselves.
The Spartacus Gay Travel Index - briefly explained
What is the Gay Travel Index?
The Gay Travel Index has been published annually since 2012 by the travel blog “Spartacus – International Gay Guide.” It assesses the legal situation and living conditions for members of the LGBTQ+ community in countries around the world. Based on this, it ranks countries according to whether they are safe travel destinations for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
In 2026, the Gay Travel Index assessed 216 countries for their LGBTQ+ friendliness. The evaluation takes into account, among other things, sources from publicly accessible NGOs and government organizations. One example is ILGA World, a coalition of several organizations that advocates for queer human rights worldwide. It publishes annual world maps to illustrate the legal situation on this issue.
What categories does the Gay Travel Index cover?
The Gay Travel Index evaluates countries and regions using a point system to determine whether they are recommended travel destinations for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2026, Spartacus Travel will again award points across a total of 18 categories, ranging from marriage equality to anti-discrimination laws, adoption rights, and persecution, all the way to the death penalty for homosexuals.
Countries receive negative points if:
Pride parades are banned
Homosexuality is criminalized
The rainbow flag is banned
Content in books and films is restricted
The following aspects are rated positively:
Countries that take a stand against discrimination
Same-sex couples are allowed to marry and adopt children
Transgender rights are enshrined in law
A third gender option (intersex/3rd option) is legally recognized
Gay Travel Index: The most LGBTQ+-friendly travel destinations in 2026
Platz 1: Island
Platz 2: Malta, Spanien
Platz 4: Kanada, Belgien, Deutschland, Portugal
Platz 8: Neuseeland, Norwegen, Schweiz
Platz 11: Australien, Frankreich, Chile, Urugay
Island an der Spitze
Auf dem ersten Platz steht in diesem Jahr ein klarer Alleingänger: Island. Das Land im hohen Norden hat sich von 13 auf 14 Punkte gesteigert und führt den Index 2026 damit erstmals allein an. Letztes Jahr musste sich Island den ersten Platz noch mit vier anderen Ländern teilen.
Malta und Spanien auf Platz zwei
Den zweiten Platz belegen mit jeweils 13 Punkten Malta und Spanien. Beide Länder lagen bereits 2025 ganz vorne und teilten sich dort sogar noch Platz eins.
Deutschland klettert auf Platz vier
Auf Rang vier folgen gleich vier Länder mit je 12 Punkten: Belgien, Portugal, Kanada und Deutschland. Deutschland kann sich dabei über eine Verbesserung von Platz 6 auf Platz 4 freuen. Die Gesamtpunktzahl für Deutschland bleibt zwar stabil, doch Verschlechterungen in anderen Ländern sorgten für eine bessere Platzierung im Ranking. Kanada hingegen hat im Vergleich zu 2025, als es noch auf dem geteilten ersten Platz lag, Positionen eingebüßt.
Rückschritte für Spitzenreiter
Ein bemerkenswerter Trend 2026: Kanada, Australien und Dänemark verlieren Punkte in der Kategorie „Locals Hostile", weil Umfragewerte zur gesellschaftlichen Akzeptanz von LGBTQIA+-Personen in diesen Ländern sinken.
Die größten Aufsteiger: Polen und Nepal
Die größten Verbesserungen im Ranking haben in diesem Jahr Polen und Nepal hingelegt. Polen katapultierte sich von Platz 118 auf Platz 59. Grund dafür sind erzielte Fortschritte bei den Rechten von Trans-Personen. Zudem hat sich das gesellschaftliche Klima im Land entspannt. Nepal verbessert sich um 21 Plätze und landet auf Platz 32, unter anderem dank wachsender Toleranz und mehr Sicherheit für queere Reisende.
Den gesamten Bericht mit der Wertung je Land in den einzelnen Kategorien findet ihr hier.
Gay Travel Index: Which countries perform particularly badly in 2026
At the bottom of the Gay Travel Index are countries where travelers, unfortunately, face discrimination and, in some cases, even persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Looking at Europe, Turkey, Belarus, Russia, and the Vatican rank at the bottom.
Place 216: Yemen
Place 215: Iran
Place 212: Saudi Arabia, Chechnya, Afghanistan
Place 211: Somalia
Place 2010: Uganda
Place 208: Iraq, United Arab Emirates
Spartacus Gay Travel Index USA 2026
In the U.S., the situation for lesbian, gay, and queer travelers remains mixed. Overall, the United States ranks only 47th in 2026 with just 4 points—a significant drop from 41st place the previous year.
However, because the social—and especially the legal—situation for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. varies greatly from state to state, Spartacus also publishes a separate index that takes a closer look at the 50 states.
New York continues to top the list, followed by California, Nevada, and Washington in second place, as well as Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Oregon in fifth place. Anyone looking for an LGBTQ+-friendly travel destination is in good hands in these states.
Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee now occupy the bottom spots. Reasons for this include censorship measures and limited access to medical care for transgender people. Idaho is also significantly tightening its laws, for example by restricting medical care for transgender people and eliminating a third gender option.
The Gay Travel Index makes it clear: In the U.S., there can sometimes be just a single state line separating a comparatively safe environment from a clearly hostile one.
LGBTQ+-friendly cities in Germany
In 2026, Germany climbs to 4th place among the world’s most queer-friendly countries, placing it among Europe’s top performers—along with Belgium, Canada, and Portugal, the country scores 12 points. Germany continues to lose a point in the “hostile locals” category because segments of the population still display hostility toward gay and queer travelers.
Our capital, Berlin, ranks among Europe’s largest gay hubs and is therefore an exciting travel destination for the LGBTQ+ community. The first Christopher Street Day took place in Berlin as early as 1979 and is now considered one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Cologne is another must-visit destination on the list, as the city is well known for its gay scene.
We’ve listed here the dates when you can celebrate diversity at Christopher Street Day events in major German cities. And maybe a campervan trip is a cool way to not only vacation in one of these cities but also to stand up for tolerance?
Fortunately, Europe has many interesting destinations where lesbian, gay or queer people can go on holiday without fear of rejection.
Hotspots for the lesbian and gay community (including camping) in Europe include Mykonos in Greece, Santorini and the island of Lesbos, which hosts one of the biggest lesbian parties in the world every year, the Sappho Women - International Eressos Women's Festival.
There are also popular destinations for the LGBTQ+ community in Spain: Gran Canaria, Ibiza and the former fishing village of Sitges, for example. In May, the popular Gay Pride Maspalomas takes place in Gran Canaria every year. And on Mallorca, the international lesbian festival Ella is celebrated every year.
Iceland is considered a particularly lesbian-friendly destination. No wonder, because in 2009, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the first openly gay head of government in the world. Also Sweden is considered one of the most queer-friendly destinations, with many major pride festivals taking place there.
Conclusion on the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations for camping
Enjoying a carefree and free holiday is super important for every holidaymaker - but unfortunately not equally possible for everyone in every country. The idea that people from the LGBTQ+ community still have to fear restrictions, discrimination or even penalties and persecution in some countries is - to put it mildly - completely inconceivable to us.
The Gay Travel Index is therefore not only relevant for queer travellers. It gives an indication of how seriously human rights, tolerance and openness are taken in different countries. For all those who wish to do so, it can also be a kind of moral compass that can influence the decision in favour of or against a destination.
We hope that there will be more and more places where tolerance and diversity are practised. Because travelling is for everyone. For everyone 🏳️🌈🫶
