Warm hearts, open minds! Norway was among the first countries in the world to grant equal rights to everyone, no matter who they love. In 2026, Oslo Pride will kick off on 17th June and end with the big highlight, the Pride Parade, on 27th June.
Like its Nordic neighbours, most Norwegians have a liberal attitude towards sexuality and gender identity, and the country was among the first to enact anti-discrimination laws against gays and lesbians.
In fact, Norway ranks among the top 10 countries on top of the 2022 ILGA-Europe annual Rainbow Europe Map.
Today, same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples, including church weddings, adoption, and assisted pregnancies. The country is proud of its many openly gay and lesbian politicians and celebrities in sports and entertainment.
This has not always been the case. 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on homosexuality in Norway.
"For me as a leader of FRI (The Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity) it is important to look back with gratitude to those who pushed through that change in the law. Because it was hard work, and still is today. We need to continue to keep up the pressure," says Inge Alexander Gjestvang.
Explore a wealth of queer-friendly events
For travellers, it's nice to know that Norway is a welcoming country for the LGBTIQ+ community.
"I find that Norway is very good at making most things available to everyone. I rarely look up safe places to go, because most places are," says Majken Helén Evensen, Transformation Manager at Strawberry and Oslo Pride volunteer.
If you're looking for bars, venues and cultural events aimed specifically at a queer audience, most of them are found in the big cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim. Oslo Pride is a big annual event, attracting thousands of people, where human rights and LGBTIQ+ issues set the agenda through art, culture, politics – and parties.
"I think it's important that there are places where you can come as a queer person and feel you can relax. Both dedicated queer nightclubs and mainstream places have an inclusive policy," says Gjestvang, manager at FRI.
LGBTIQ+ friendly places can be found in cities like Stavanger, Tromsø and Bodø as well. Check out this quick guide to queer travel in Norway from locals:
Oslo Pride
More on LGBTIQ+ travel in Norway
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