European Gay Ski Week 2026 in Val Thorens: A High-Altitude Celebration of Pride, Snow, and Music

 

From March 21 to 28, 2026, the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ winter sports festival — European Gay Ski Week (EGSW) — returns to the French Alps, transforming Val Thorens into a vibrant, snow-covered hub of music, inclusivity, and alpine adventure.

Each year, thousands of guests from across Europe and beyond converge on this iconic ski resort for a week that seamlessly blends outdoor thrills with unforgettable nightlife.

Val Thorens: The Highest and Most Iconic Alpine Playground

Set at 2,300 metres, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and part of the legendary Les 3 Vallées, the largest connected ski area in the world. Its altitude guarantees excellent snow conditions well into spring, making late-March the perfect time for a large-scale winter festival.

Beginners, casual skiers, and seasoned experts will all find terrain to enjoy: from wide, gentle blue pistes to steep, exhilarating descents. With interconnected access to Méribel and Courchevel, guests can explore hundreds of kilometres of pistes before returning to a festive après-ski atmosphere.

The Event: The Largest LGBTQIA+ Winter Festival in Europe

European Gay Ski Week is more than a holiday — it is a full cultural experience. Known as Europe’s premier LGBTQIA+ ski week, the event combines sport, nightlife, art, and community into a single immersive celebration of diversity.

The 2026 edition promises:

• Over 70 hours of live music, featuring international DJs, vocalists, and performers.

• 16 themed parties and late-night events, hosted across clubs, après-ski bars, and pop-up venues.

• Seven nights of cabaret, including drag performances, comedy, live shows, and immersive entertainment.

• A spectacular open-air après-ski every afternoon, complete with giant screens, dancers, and DJ sets on the rooftop terrace in the heart of the village.

This dynamic schedule ensures each day transitions seamlessly from mountain adventure to evening spectacle.

A Festival Built on Inclusivity and Community

A defining strength of EGSW is its atmosphere of openness and acceptance. The event attracts a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ travelers and allies from across the world, creating an international community where everyone can feel free and celebrated.

Val Thorens fully embraces the festival, offering a warm welcome to all guests and helping ensure a safe, inclusive environment throughout the week.

Packages and Accessibility

EGSW offers flexible packages covering accommodation, lift passes, and event passes, with options suited to different budgets. Guests can choose from:

• Affordable studio apartments

• Modern residence-style accommodations

• Premium chalets and hotels for those wanting luxury touches

Packages typically begin at competitive rates, making the event accessible to a wide range of participants while still offering high-quality services.

Why Attend European Gay Ski Week 2026?

Whether you are a passionate skier, a nightlife enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a week of joyful community in a breathtaking alpine setting, EGSW offers an experience unlike any other:

• World-class skiing in a snow-sure resort

• A full week of entertainment and culture

• An inclusive atmosphere celebrating diversity

• Opportunities to meet new people from around the globe

• Unforgettable après-ski and nightlife

This is not just a festival — it’s a celebration of identity, visibility, and connection at the top of Europe’s most spectacular mountains.

A Week to Remember

European Gay Ski Week 2026 promises to be one of the standout LGBTQIA+ events of the year. With its perfect mix of adventure and celebration, hosted in the unparalleled setting of Val Thorens, it offers a high-altitude escape where snow, music, and community come together in a week of pure alpine magic.

New Rapid Testing Centre Opens at Fight Aids Monaco

 

Fight Aids Monaco has expanded its prevention efforts with the launch of a weekly rapid testing service at its headquarters, unveiled earlier this week to mark World AIDS Day. Every Tuesday morning, the centre now provides free and confidential screening for HIV, hepatitis B and C, as well as other sexually transmitted infections.

Using rapid diagnostic tests, results are available within 30 minutes, with complete anonymity assured. The initiative is designed to reach individuals who may feel uncomfortable or hesitant about visiting traditional screening facilities.

“We wanted to create a space for people who are still afraid of others’ judgement, of walking into a screening centre,” said Princess Stéphanie. “At Fight Aids Monaco, the environment is more reassuring, with teams trained to support visitors before, during and after testing. Whether the result is positive or negative, having clear information is essential.”

 

Princess Stéphanie emphasised that the new service complements existing screening options at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, offering an additional, more discreet pathway for those seeking support.

While effective tools to combat HIV continue to advance, testing and awareness remain critical. UNAIDS reported approximately 1.3 million new HIV infections worldwide in 2023, with rising rates among younger people—a trend the Princess cited as a reminder of the work still to be done.

“We’ve already used rapid tests in community outreach programmes,” she added. “Establishing this service within our own premises is both important and a recognition of what we’ve been doing for years.”

Founded in 2004, Fight Aids Monaco integrates education, prevention, medical assistance and social support. The newly opened testing centre represents the latest step in that mission, breaking down barriers of stigma, cost and delay that often discourage people from getting tested.

The service is available every Tuesday morning at Fight Aids Monaco’s headquarters, La Villa Pasteur, 15 boulevard Charles III, offering free, confidential, and accessible screening for all.

People wishing to take a test can now book an appointment online or by phone at 97 70 67 97, in order to benefit from a personalized and optimal welcome.

Photo credits: Frédéric Nébinger

One Night. One Stage. One Cause: Cabaret FAM Takes Over Monaco

 

Ready for an unforgettable night out that also makes a difference? On Monday, 16 December, the chic Marius Restaurant becomes Monaco’s most glamorous destination for a spectacular evening in support of Fight Aids Monaco, founded and led by Princess Stéphanie.

This is not just another show—Cabaret FAM is a full-scale immersive experience. Expect modern cabaret energy, close-up performance, and a venue transformed into an intimate lounge with atmospheric lighting, signature cocktails, and à la carte dining.

Taking centre stage is international transformist sensation Manel Dalgó, joined by two dancers for a one-of-a-kind performance that brings the artists right into the heart of the audience. No traditional stage. No distance. Just pure artistry and connection.

And the best part?

Tickets are just €40!

For over 20 years, the association has been a lifeline for those affected by HIV—providing support, awareness, care, and prevention efforts throughout the region. Your presence helps keep that mission alive. With 100% of ticket proceeds benefiting Fight Aids Monaco.

This is your chance to enjoy an evening of flair, fun, and philanthropy—all while supporting a cause that matters. A meaningful night that celebrates compassion, community, and inclusion

Cabaret FAM isn’t just entertainment. It’s entertainment with purpose.

Reserve your place, bring friends, and be part of an evening that makes a difference.

World AIDS Day 2025 with Fight AIDS Monaco

 

Living on the Côte d’Azur, you quickly discover that many of the familiar urban myths just don’t hold up. One of the biggest misconceptions is that behind all the glamour and prestige, there’s little room for empathy, compassion, or community.

The reality couldn’t be more different.

Take World AIDS Day, for example. Across the region, people are marking the day with sincerity and solidarity—honouring the memory of those we’ve lost, and supporting those who continue to fight.

Since the inception of the charity, many of us have been fortunate where we can to support the meaningful work of Fight AIDS Monaco. The organization plays a vital role in supporting those with HIV and AIDS while also honouring the memory of those lost, including through the creation of memorial quilts—carefully sewn by volunteers and dedicated supporters. Their efforts continue to embody compassion, remembrance, and community.

One of the largest gatherings of community members came together yesterday in support of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie’s charity, Fight AIDS Monaco, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. The occasion included the unveiling of memorial quilts created by members of the charity to honour those who have lost their lives to AIDS, in observance of World AIDS Day.

 

Held at the Oceanographic Museum, the event welcomed Princess Stéphanie, her daughter Camille Gottlieb, and Monegasque dignitaries, as Fight AIDS Monaco presented its memorial quilts for the 14th consecutive year.

Both poignant and heartfelt, the quilts serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating impact of AIDS. On Friday, the association presented 8 of its 14 meticulously crafted pieces, each requiring an average of 170 hours to complete.

 

 

The quilts, viewed as powerful symbols of hope, draw inspiration from the AIDS Memorial Quilt movement that began in San Francisco in 1985. This global initiative honours those who have lost their lives to AIDS through handcrafted fabric panels. Christophe Glasser, Director of Fight AIDS Monaco, highlighted this important connection in his address.

Fight AIDS Monaco is a non-profit NGO founded by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie in July 2004. Confronted with the psychological, financial, and emotional challenges faced by people living with HIV—along with the discrimination many experience daily—Princess Stéphanie committed herself to supporting them in their fight for dignity, health, and inclusion.

As Princess Stéphanie has stated:
“I join all those who are fighting HIV in their own lives. I encourage everyone to be screened, to protect themselves, and to thank anyone who devotes their time and money to the mobilization against AIDS.”

Each year, this event is both a remembrance and a celebration of compassion. It honours those who have passed due to HIV/AIDS, while also reflecting the strength of a community united in support, awareness, and hope. This year’s World AIDS Day was no different.

Fight AIDS Monaco continues its mission through the dedication of its board members, a small but committed team of employees, and many volunteers, working alongside Princess Stéphanie to raise awareness, promote prevention, and fund vital services throughout Monaco. The organization is supported by a government grant as well as private donations.

To support their work or to donate, please contact Fight AIDS Monaco.

Photos credit: Monaco Matin