Gay & queer Locarno

34°© Ozonski · CC BY 3.0

Your local guide to queer Locarno: events, nightlife, saunas and more — all in one place, updated continuously.

Best known for its film festival, Mediterranean Locarno on Lake Maggiore offers queer creatives a sun-soaked stage.

Events in Locarno

Today(1)

Film

78th Locarno Film Festival 2026 – queer cinema

The 78th Locarno Film Festival (5–15 August) features several queer works — including a project by Queercore director Bruce LaBruce and «Ãsheghetam», a short film about a queer youth in Iran (Pardi di Domani). 233 films from 69 countries, 103 world premieres. Evening screenings on Piazza Grande are open to the public and free.

Aug 5 · 06:00 PM · Locarno

Beaches & badis in Locarno

Beaches & gay-popular badis →

Third-party-reported, approximate info — check locally. Respect other bathers, local rules and water safety (rivers can be dangerous). Not a cruising directory.

River beach

Ponte Brolla / Vallemaggia

River bathing spot near Ponte Brolla by Locarno, described by a local gay source as gay-friendly. Listed approximately — mind river safety.

Air34°Fri 34°Sat 30°Sun 31°

Via Vallemaggia, 6605 Locarno · Locarno · Approximate location

Updated 2026-06-21

Beaches & gay-popular badis →

Health & PrEP in Locarno

Health & PrEP →

For information only, not medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment always consult professionals and check the official source.

PrEP centre

Ospedale Regionale di Locarno (La Carità) — Malattie infettive

SwissPrEPared PrEP centre
infectious diseases consultation

Via all'Ospedale 1, 6601 Locarno · Locarno

+41 91 811 47 15

malattieinfettive.odl@eoc.ch

Updated 2026-06-21

Official website ↗

Frequently asked questions about gay Locarno

What LGBTIQ+ events are there in Locarno?

We list upcoming queer events in Locarno, such as “78th Locarno Film Festival 2026 – queer cinema”. The agenda is updated continuously.

Are there gay-friendly beaches or lidos in Locarno?

Yes, around Locarno there are gay-popular bathing spots such as Ponte Brolla / Vallemaggia.

Where can I get PrEP or an HIV/STI test in Locarno?

In Locarno you'll find sexual-health and PrEP services such as Ospedale Regionale di Locarno (La Carità) — Malattie infettive, alongside the national SwissPrEPared programme.