Circuit 101
The top US circuit parties (and the global ones worth the flight)
Winter Party, the Black Party, Purple Party, the Pines Party and more: what's running in 2027, what quietly died, and how to do a weekend right.
Last checked October 2026. Things change: confirm schedules and prices before you go.
What a circuit weekend is
A circuit weekend is a multi-day run of parties built around one main event: usually a welcome party, pool or beach parties, a tea dance, the big night, and a closing party. Many began as AIDS-era fundraisers and still benefit LGBTQ+ charities. You buy a weekend pass or tickets to individual events, and the crowd travels in from all over.
The big US weekends in 2027
| Weekend | Where | When | The vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen Gay Ski Week | Aspen, CO | Jan 17–24 | Skiing by day, big DJ parties by night. The season opener. |
| Winter Party Festival | Miami Beach | Mar 5–8 | The beach party on the sand plus a full weekend, benefiting the National LGBTQ Task Force. |
| The Black Party | New York | March (TBA) | The Saint at Large's dark, fetish-leaning all-nighter. |
| Purple Party | Dallas | Apr 29–May 3 | Texas' big weekend. 2027 theme: "Purple Odyssey." |
| Gay Days Orlando | Walt Disney World | Jun 3–7 | Parks by day, pool parties until 4 am. Our guide. |
| Pines Party | Fire Island | Jul 30–Aug 1 | The beach party of the summer. Fire Island 101. |
| Atlanta Black Pride | Atlanta | Labor Day (TBA) | The biggest Black LGBTQ+ weekend in the country. |
| Southern Decadence | New Orleans | Labor Day (TBA) | French Quarter street festival with circuit-style parties all weekend. |
| URGE Miami | Miami Beach | Thanksgiving (Nov 27–30, 2026) | The Thanksgiving weekend that replaced White Party Miami. |
Leather has its own calendar: Mid-Atlantic Leather (DC, January), IML (Chicago, Memorial Day) and the Folsom Street Fair (SF, September). See them all on the calendar.
Worth the flight
- Sydney Mardi Gras (Feb–Mar): the parade, then the official party.
- GCircuit Songkran, Bangkok (mid-April): Asia's biggest, timed to the Thai New Year water festival.
- Madrid Pride / MADO (late June–early July): Europe's biggest Pride party.
- Circuit Festival Barcelona (August): a week-plus, including the water-park day.
- XLSIOR Mykonos (late August): island sunsets and beach parties.
- Winter Pride Maspalomas, Gran Canaria (November): winter sun.
Gone (or on pause)
- White Party Palm Springs: Cancelled for 2025 and didn't return in 2026 despite a 'coming in 2026' teaser. The official site has no dates.
- White Party Miami: Care Resource's Vizcaya benefit was last held in 2018. Thanksgiving weekend in Miami is now URGE.
- Black & Blue Montréal: No festival since the 31st edition in October 2022.
- Hotlanta: No 2026 or 2027 edition found.
- Ascension: The Pines daytime party ran roughly 2006–2017 (later moving to Mykonos and Asbury Park). Nothing since.
Older guides still list these. Don't book flights around them.
How to do a weekend right
- Buy passes early. Prices rise in tiers, and the main events sell out.
- Stay walkable to the venues, or budget for rideshares at surge prices at 4 am.
- Pace yourself. The main event usually starts late and runs into the morning. You can't do every party.
- Check the themes. Most main events have a dress code or theme. Pack for it.
- Sexual health: talk to your doctor about PrEP and DoxyPEP before you go.
On the calendar
Winter Pride Maspalomas
Gran Canaria, Spain · Nov 2–8, 2026
Winter-sun Pride week with pool parties and the Yumbo Centre bars.
URGE Miami Thanksgiving
Miami Beach, FL · Nov 27–30, 2026
Miami's Thanksgiving circuit weekend (the slot White Party Miami used to own).
Aspen Gay Ski Week
Aspen, CO · Jan 17–24, 2027
The original US gay ski week: days on Aspen Mountain, après and big-name DJ parties at night.
Whistler Pride & Ski Festival
Whistler, BC, Canada · Jan 24–31, 2027
A week of skiing at Whistler Blackcomb plus Pride parties in the village.
Winter Party Festival
Miami Beach, FL · Mar 5–8, 2027
The beach party on Miami Beach plus a weekend of events, benefiting the National LGBTQ Task Force.
Sydney Mardi Gras Parade
Sydney, Australia · Dates TBA Expected Sat Mar 6 (festival from mid-February)
The world-famous night parade on Oxford Street, then the official after-party.
Elevation Mammoth (25th)
Mammoth Lakes, CA · Mar 17–21, 2027
California's gay ski week, a 25th-anniversary edition.
The Black Party
New York, NY · Dates TBA TBA, usually a Saturday in mid-to-late March
The Saint at Large's dark, fetish-leaning all-nighter, a New York ritual since the Saint days of the early '80s.