Vienna set to celebrate EuroPride and arrival of equal marriage in 2019
The Austrian capital - which was recently named the world's most liveable city - will be the LGBT place to be next summer.
By Will Stroude
Image: Paul Bauer
Vienna is preparing for double the love in 2019 with the arrival of both EuroPride and marriage equality.
The Austrian capital – which just last month usurped Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city in the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey – is set to host the international Pride celebration for the second time since 2001 next summer from 1-16 June, as thousands take to the streets to celebrate love and equality.
EuroPride 2019 will have extra special meaning for the people of Vienna: It will be the city’s first Pride celebration following the legalisation of equal marriage in Austria, which is set to come into force from January 1 following a ruling from the Constitutional Court in December 2017.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world are expected to line Vienna’s stunning Ringstrasse – just a stone’s throw from the banks of the Danube – during the Rainbow Parade on June 15, while a packed schedule of events across the city is set to ensure an electric atmosphere throughout two full weeks of festivities.
Image: Christian Stemper
A Pride Beach on the Danube Canal, a street festival the Prater amusement park and a Pride Day at Schönbrunn Zoo are just some of the special events taking place, while the EuroPride Village will provide the heart of proceedings outside City Hall, with top international acts set to take to the stage.
Image: Paul Bauer
The advent of marriage equality in Austria also means that stunning venues such as Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere Palace will also be opening their doors to gay couples looking to tie the knot amidst iconic Baroque architecture – and with the abundance of music, culture and scenery on offer in Vienna, honeymooners are sure to be close behind as Austria enters the age of equality.
Image: Paul Bauer
Of course, while EuroPride is set to bring the masses, Vienna remains one of Europe’s most popular gay destinations all year round: With two huge fetish events taking place in spring and autumn and the world-famous Rainbow Ball offering an LGBT take on a classic Viennese ball, it’s easy to see why the city beat other locations such as New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas to be named ‘Destination of the Year’ at the Australian LGBTI Awards.
In short: there’s going to be no better place to be gay next summer.
For more information about EuroPride visit europride2019.vienna.info and europride2019.at.
For more information about LGBT life in Vienna visit LGBT.vienna.info and facebook.com/LGBTVienna.
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