Puglia 2023 What’s On. A calendar of Puglia’s LGBTQIA+ cultural and other selected events.
January
7 January | Makumba, Bari
Gay nightclub. Continuing their 2023 winter season.
More | Makumba Tribe Village on Facebook
21 January | Pazzeska, Bari
Gay friendly nightclub. Work in progress | Info Giannelli 346 375 8593 | 📍Garage Sound via Mauro Amoruso Manzari 62/7 B Bari.
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More | Pazzeska on Facebook
28 January | Makumba, Bari
Gay nightclub. With special guest La Diamond, winner of Drag Race Italia, S2. Last night of their winter season | 📍The New Circle Disco, Strada Statale 16 – USCITA 14A c/o Palaghiaccio – BARI CITTA’.
More | Makumba Tribe Village on Facebook
February
4, 12, 19 & 21 February | Carnevale di Putignano
Puglia’s most famous carnival, one of the oldest in Italy, returns for its 629th edition. Parades on Saturday 4, Sunday 12, Sunday 19 and Tuesday 21 February, from 18.30.
Concerts, events and shows take place from 2 – 25 February. 📍Putignano (BA).
More | Carnevale di Putignano website (in Italian)
18 February | Makumba, Bari
Gay nightclub. ★☆ C A R N E V A L I S S I M A ☆★ | 📍The New Circle Disco, Strada Statale 16 – USCITA 14A c/o Palaghiaccio – BARI CITTA’.
More | Makumba Tribe Village on Facebook
21 February | Pazzeska, Bari
For the first time one crazy night, bringing together: 
Adoro & Pazzeska 
start ore 21.30 LA MOJITERIA
Viale Einaudi n 53 Bari
Gay friendly nightclub. Free entry | Info Giannelli 346 375 8593
More | Pazzeska on Facebook
25 February | Hotparty Disco&Cruising Italy
start ore 22.30 Margot Club Prive, Fasano
Viale Einaudi n 53 Bari
Sex club | Info 340 824 4204
More | Hotparty on Telegram
March
25 March | Hotparty Disco&Cruising Italy
start ore 22.30 Margot Club Prive, Fasano
Viale Einaudi n 53 Bari
Sex club | Info 340 824 4204
More | Hotparty on Telegram
April
8 April | Makumba, Bari
Gay nightclub. ★☆LA GRANDE NOTTE DI PASQUA☆★ | 📍The New Circle Disco, Strada Statale 16 – USCITA 14A c/o Palaghiaccio – BARI CITTA’.
More | Makumba Tribe Village on Facebook
9 April | Pazzeska, Bari
Gay friendly nightclub. 
Pazzeska Culture | Info Giannelli 346 375 8593 | 📍Villa Rotondo
Corso Alcide De Gasperi – strada Vicinale Carducci 431 Bari.
More | Pazzeska on Facebook
June
Puglia Pride (Foggia) | 10 June
After an 8-year gap, Puglia Pride returns to Foggia. Prontə!
📍piazza Umberto Giordano, 16.30
More | Foggia Pride, Puglia Pride on Facebook | Puglia Pride on Instagram
Bari Pride | 17 June
Puglia’s biggest Pride celebration held in the regional capital.
📍piazza Umberto I, 15.00
More | Bari Pride on Facebook | Bari Pride on Instagram | The Puglia Guys Bari Pride Guide and Gallery
July
Salento Pride (Lecce) | 1 July
Salento Pride continues its run in Lecce after previous years in Gallipoli and Brindisi.
More | Salento Pride on Facebook | Salento Pride on Instagram | Diversity Wins: The Puglia Guys Salento Pride Guide and Gallery
1 and 2 July | Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Polignano a Mare
Two days of spectacular cliff diving as the World Series returns to Polignano, a regular stop-off for the competition.
Taranto Pride | 8 July
Taranto is home to both a summer and winter Pride.
More | Taranto Pride 2023 information | Taranto Pride on Instagram | The Puglia Guys Taranto Pride Guide and Gallery
Matera Pride | 22 July
Matera in nearby neighbour Basilicata is only a short hop from Bari and accessible from Puglia. Their Pride (now in its 3rd edition) is one that we really enjoy. They really know how to party!
More | Matera Pride on Facebook | Matera Pride on Instagram | The Puglia Guys Matera Pride Guide and Gallery
August
September
October
November
December
June
Salento Pride is scheduled to take place in Lecce on 1st July 2023.
In 2022 there were five Pride parades in Puglia. Matera Pride took place in Basilicata, the neighboring region. Other LGBTQ+ cultural events take place in Puglia throughout the year, including the Bari International Gender film festival, Sherocco Italian language festival in the Valle d’Itria and Masseria Wave, a 6-week+ long queer summer festival, in Salento.
Hi
We are travelling from the UK next week and are looking to base ourselves in Matera for 3 nights (accommodation booked) and then head up to Gargano and base ourselves in Vieste or Peschici. Which of the Gargano locations would you recommend and do you have any hotels or B&B that you would recommend.
We will be driving from Matera to Gargano can you also suggest the best route?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Paul & John
Ciao – have you looked at our main site has detail on the Bari to Vieste drive as one of our favourite Puglia itineraries. Do not use the autostrada, take the coastal route through the salt flats at Margherita di Savoia.
Our Matera guide is full of information that might help with your stay there.
Gargano is one of our favourite parts of the region, but by mid-September it starts to wind down for the season. On our last visit in mid September we found Peschich much quieter than expected. Vieste was slightly better, though still in the end of season mode (whereas in Salento we wind down 2 – 3 weeks later). Of the two Vieste will be more lively, but our favourite accommodation, absolutely special and at least a place to visit for lunch (lunch on the trabucco terrace rather than dinner), or for sunset the bar and aperitivi, is Al Trabucco da Mimì, a very special place indeed.
So just bear in mind that Gargano is much quieter already in October than from Bari south, but it’s still a magical place.
Hope that helps – buone vacanze
LuigiM.