Phuket will host the first InterPride conference in Asia!

Phuket will host the first InterPride conference in Asia!

The news from the island of Phuket is overwhelmingly positive: the city is being hailed as host of the InterPride General Meeting and World Conference (GM&W) in 2026. This is a first as it will be the first time a major meeting of the global Pride network will take place in Asia. The announcement, released on October 1, 2025, creates great anticipation for the event, which will take place October 26-31, 2026. Phuket was able to prevail against an Indian competitor and will now host 200 to 400 delegates as well as numerous online participants from over 400 InterPride member organizations. Phuket.fr reports that The program includes political sessions, workshops, networking events and even a gala dinner to promote exchange and connection within the global Pride movement.

Preparations for this historic step include close collaboration between Bangkok Pride, the Foundation for Gender Rights (FOR-SOGI) and the Andaman Power Association (Phuket Pride). Commenting on the selection, Arun Chumaporn Waddao, co-founder of Bangkok Pride, said: “This will be a critical point for unity, engagement and sustainable change in the global Pride movement.” This conference will not only shine a light on Thailand's progress on gender equality issues, but also position the region as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly in the world. Bangkok Post adds that The event is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Thailand, with estimated revenues of up to 1.1 billion baht.

A sign of progress

It was no coincidence that Phuket applied to host the InterPride Conference. Governor Sophon Suwannarat led a ceremony to sign a memorandum focused on promoting gender equality. The aim is to increase awareness of gender inclusion and reduce social discrimination. In a country where the issue of gender rights is becoming increasingly important, this development is seen as part of a broader social change. DW reports that Thailand will introduce a new marriage law on January 22, 2025, granting civil equality to same-sex couples, marking a long-awaited achievement in the region.

The social changes that have taken place in Thailand in recent years have been driven by the legal legitimization of same-sex marriage. The pressure on the LGBTQ+ community to assert their rights has increased enormously in recent decades. The fight for gender equality is now being further strengthened by such international events as the InterPride Conference in Phuket.

An international stage

The choice of Phuket as host is also a strong signal for the future development of LGBTQ+ rights in Southeast Asia, where acceptance and support for same-sex marriage varies widely. While progress is being made in countries like Vietnam (65% support for same-sex marriage), the situation is less rosy in other countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, where homosexuality is heavily criminalized. The upcoming event will bring Phuket into the global spotlight and could serve as a model for other regions.

In summary, the upcoming InterPride Conference in Phuket showcases not only the regeneration of the LGBTQ+ movement in the region, but also Thailand's vision to create a safe and welcoming environment for all gender identities. This will be an event that is significant not only for Phuket but for all of Asia.