Bear RunsEvents

20 bear events around the world to look forward to in 2020

Happy new year! To celebrate the arrival of the 20s, we have gathered together 20 of the best international bear events we are looking forward to in 2020!

From Spain to Sydney, and from Ireland to Italy, these bear events offer something unique and awesome for the global bear community. Plus, its a great way to explore the world!

Head over to our other article here to check out the 20 best bear events in the Americas to see what we’re looking forward to there as well.

Feb 16-29: Bear Essentials, Sydney, Australia

Bear Essentials is one of Australia’s most renowned bear festivals. It takes place during the famous Sydney Mardi Gras and is organised by the Harbour City Bears. Bear Essentials features 17 events including daytime activities, night time parties and so much more.

Check out their website here and follow them on Facebook here.


March 19-23: Amsterdam Bear Weekend, The Netherlands

The guys behind FurballBear-Necessity and Club Church are the driving force behind Amsterdam Bear Weekend with the aim to create an event for the community, by the community, from people that are part of that community. Come and check out the beautifully diverse city of Amsterdam as it gets beary!

Check out their website here and follow them on Facebook here.


March 20-30: Bear Carnival, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

With 40 events across 9 days, from clubbing and pool parties, to cruises and dating parties, Bear Carnival has the biggest bear programme in Europe! Combined with the fact that Gran Canaria is the World’s largest gay beach destination, and this could be the most fun bear holiday of your life!

Check out their website here and follow them on Facebook here.


March 26-29: Bear Féile, Dublin, Ireland

Ireland’s biggest and best bear event takes place in Dublin each March. Bear Feile is a great mix of fun, fur and good old Irish hospitality with four days of parties and events including the Mr Bear Ireland competition.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


April 16-19: Tallin Bearty, Estonia

A bear weekend with a twist, our Estonian friends are known for putting on cultural bear weekends including art, music and cinema. This is the sixth year of Tallin Bearty and this weekend is focussed on music.

Check out the Facebook event here for more info.


April 24-May 3: Bear Festival Milano, Italy

Now into its 13th year, Bear Festival Milano returns this April to the beautiful city of Milan. Events include sauna parties, international bear events such as Mad Bear with guest DJs, “TubberBear” sex parties, a bear-beer bus and more.

Check out the Facebook event here.


April 25 – Mr Bear Thailand Contest

Thai bears unite to compete for the title of Mr Bear Thailand. Come and join the bears in Bangkok for this awesome new competition.

Check out the Mr Bear Bangkok Facebook page here more info.


May 7-9: Mr Bear Europe Contest, Lyon, France

The prestigious Mr Bear Europe Election Weekend will take place from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 May in Lyon, France, hosted by GRRRIZZLYON Bear Association. Mr Bear Europe sees title winners from all over Europe come together to celebrate the european bear community.

Check out the Facebook event here and follow the Mr Bear Europe Organisation Facebook page here.


May 20-24: Fierté Ours, Paris, France

Fierté Ours Bear Pride is France’s answer to Europe’s growing number of bear festivals. In the ‘City of Lights’ – the festival includes the election of ‘Monsieur Ours’ (Mr Bear), as well as a number of parties, dinners, brunches and drinks at various bars, restaurants and saunas throughout the city.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


May 27-June 3: Lisbon Bear Pride, Portugal

Lisbon Bear Pride returns to the beautiful country of Portugal from 27th May through 3rd June. A full lineup of amazing events will be announced soon but will include club nights, pool parties, saunas, restaurants and cultural trips.

Check out the website here and follow them on Facebook here.


June 7-14: Southern HiBEARnation, Melbourne, Australia

For over the past 20 years bears from all over Australia, New Zealand and beyond have gathered in Melbourne for the biggest celebration of bear pride – Southern HiBearnation.

Each year, VicBears put together a schedule of events for bears and their admirers to enjoy over 7 fun-filled days. With 17+ events on offer across the entire week, there is something for every bear to enjoy – from the big dance parties, to free films in the afternoon, hearty lunches, educational workshops and more.

Southern HiBEARnation also includes the election of includes Mr Bear Australasia, another very important reason this is on our list!

Check out the website here and follow them on Facebook here.


June 18-22: Brighton Bear Weekend, UK

Brighton Bear Weekend is an annual event for bears, cubs and their friends is held in sunny Brighton on the south coast of the UK. 

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


27 July-2 August: Stockholm Bear Pride

Started in 2019, Stockholm Bear Pride sees the coming together of the various local bear groups to celebrate Pride in this amazing Scandinavian city. Various events are held across the Stockholm Pride weekend including saunas, pub drinks, parties and picnics. This year is also celebrating the Swedish Bear Movement 25th anniversary.

Check out their website here and follow them on Facebook here.


August 7-17: MAD.BEAR Beach, Torremolinos, Spain

MAD.BEAR Beach is an amazing summertime party where you can enjoy both beach and sun along with the best Bear parties during the day and at night.

Alongside the parties there are many cultural opportunities to be enjoyed in the nearby city of Malaga, a very historic and popular Spanish city. 

MAD.BEAR Beach’s sister event MAD.BEAR is also held in Madrid in December.

Check out their website here for details of both weeks and follow them on Facebook.


September 3-6: Reykjavik Bear, Iceland

Reykjavik Bear is run by the cubs of Bears on Ice and is a natural continuation of the festival which ran for 15 years. This four day men only event for bears and their gay, bi and trans friends from all around the world and is a great opportunity to see a little bit of Iceland and Iceland’s small and friendly bear scene.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


September 4-13: Sitges Bears Week, Spain

Sitges Bears Week in September is one of the biggest and most popular Bear festivals in Europe attracting more than 5,000 visitors, bears, admirers, chasers, muscle bears and more. The “Bear Village” may be on the paseo, but the bears are everywhere – Sitges is transformed into a bear heaven for 12+ days.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


September 14-21: Istanbear Festival, Istanbul, Turkey

The biggest bear gathering of West Europe, Balkans, Anatolia, and the Middle East! Istanbear is hosted in the historic city of Istanbul in Turkey and features seven days of events.

Check out the website here and follow them on Facebook here.


October 1-4: Bear Scot Fest, Edinburgh, UK

Bear Scot Fest is one of the UK’s most popular bear weekends, held in the beautifully historic city of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


October 15-17: Bear Pride Tel Aviv & Mr Bear Israel

Celebrate Bear Pride in the stunning city of Tel Aviv alongside the election of Mr Bear Israel. Check out the Tel Aviv Bears Facebook here to stay up to date.

November 25-29: German Bear Pride, Cologne

Cologne Bear Pride is one of the longest running and most attended bear events in Europe. The event takes place on the last week in November and can make for the perfect pre-Christmas escape as the Cologne Christmas Markets also open that weekend where you can munch on marzipan and gingerbread and knock back warming glasses of gluhwein – German mulled wine.

Check out their website for more information and follow them on Facebook.


BWM Staff

Our Staff Writing Team works hard to bring you great content and share news & events from the bear community and beyond.

3 thoughts on “20 bear events around the world to look forward to in 2020

  • It looks like a fun year. Let’s make the most of it! 🙂

  • I’m a bit gutted you didn’t include great British bear bash or Pre-hibearnation both in Manchester. GBBB iS an amazing weekend, and pre-hibearnation is getting better and bigger every year.

  • british should brexit…

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