Taipei is home to one of the biggest Pride parades in Asia and has many gay friendly / LGBTQ+ bars and venues. In 2019, Taiwan became first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage earlier that year and it is a truly progressive country.
The first Taipei Pride parade took place in 2003 and by 2017, it had grown to over 100,000 participants from all over the world. In 2023, Taiwan also allowed transnational same sex marriages.
From the famous rainbow crossings that were painted to celebrate same sex marriages in Taiwan to LGBT book stores and Rainbow sightseeing buses, Taiwan’s gay scene is thriving.
Featuring clubs, pubs, Taiwan gay events and more, here is our guide to gay Taipei and LGBTQ+
Taipei Pride / Taipei Color
25 October 2025
Taipei Pride is an annual event in Taiwan, attended by tens of thousands of local and international LGBTQ+ members – Taiwan is a very progressive country (another of many reasons to love Taiwan) and the streets become awash with color and celebrations.
Taipei Pride is the largest gay parade in East Asia and always takes place on the last Saturday of October.
The main Taipei Color / Taiwan Pride 2025 event takes place on Saturday October 2025 with a Pride parade that starts and finishes at Taipei City Hall. The party then continues in Ximending with lots of LGBTQ+ bars by Red House like Locker Room or Taboo in Zhongshan.
You might like – Top 65 things to do in Taipei >
Taipei Rainbow Festival
Organised by the Taipei Culture Foundation and The Red House community, this annual gay Taipei event coincides with Taiwan LGBTQ+ Pride.
Progressive brands and local Taiwanese LGBTQ+ representatives curate events and Pride pop-ups across Taipei.
If you’re attending the 2025 Taipei Pride next month (25 Oct) or want to know more about LGBTQ+ activities and sites, you can also take a ride on the Rainbow Sightseeing Bus.
The 2025 Taipei Color / Pride bus runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 26 October 2025 and features onboard entertainment followed by a drag show and drinks.
There are two themed routes – Drag Bus and Party Express.
A Color Taipei free information leaflet should be available from tourist information offices all over the city plus locations like Red House in Ximending.
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Taipei Rainbow
International Day Against Homophobia Taiwan
Since 2020, Taiwan has become the first Asian city to join the Rainbow Cities Network and take part in International Day Against Homophobia every 17 May.
The day is to advocate for an end to violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and reinforces how progressive Taiwan can be compared to other countries.
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Taipei’s Rainbow Crossings
There are two iconic rainbow crossings in Taipei – the first, Rainbow Six (6號彩虹) was unveiled in Ximending (by exit 6 of the Ximending MRT) in 2019 to coincide with the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Taiwan.
In time for Taipei Pride 2025 (Taipei Color), the Rainbow Six Crossing has recently been repainted (in August 2025) so it will shine bright again for Pride.
A second Taipei Rainbow crossing (The Rainbow Starting Line) was painted in Xinyi, in the shadow of Taipei 101 in 2020, to coincide with Taipei Pride that year.
Both Taipei rainbow crossings have become popular photography spots and are some of the most Instagrammable places in Taiwan.
Incidentally, there is also a rainbow crossing in Kaohsiung at Pier2 Art Center but as of summer 2025, it looks quite faded and is in need of some TLC.
You might like – Our guide to Ximending at night and our Ximending hotel guide
Taipei Gay Bars and LGBTQ+ Friendly Venues
The Red House area, Ximending
One of the highest concentrations of gay bars in Taipei is around The Red House in Ximending.
One of Taipei’s most iconic buildings, the Red House is a beautiful old building that has served many purposes over the years since it opened in 1908. Inside are lots of lovely gift stalls, some of which sell Taiwan pride gifts.
There are also a handful of LBGTQ+ stores located just outside the entrance to the Red House.
Whilst shopping heaven in the daytime, Red House reinvents itself at night with an array of LBGTQ+ bars opening in the courtyard.
Around the back of the Red House, you’ll find around a dozen pubs, clubs and bars plus another couple more hidden away on the upper level.
All of the bars around Red House have very late opening hours, (very) Happy Hour drinks prices plus themed outdoor terraces and tropical gardens with neon signs.
Some of the most popular LGBTQ+ Red House bars in this part of Ximending include The Secret Garden, Mudan (the OG bar), G2 Paradise and Café Dalida (famous for its Taipei drag queen performances). All of the Red House gay bars and clubs are open until 2am.
You might like our guide to The Red House in Ximending >
The Locker Room
Located around a 10 minute walk away from the Red House, the Locker Room is a gym themed bar with something for all tastes – from drag queen performances to all male shower strips, this is quite the Taipei at night place to be.
And yes, there is even a showerhead over the main dance floor to get you very wet – but don’t bring a shower cap!
Locker Room is open from 9pm to 2am Wednesday through Sunday.
Book your Taipei Locker Room Macho Show here >
Wonder Bar
One of the best known Taipei lesbian bars, Wonder Bar is located on Fuxing North Road and is known for its themed parties and glamorous girls only nights out.
All bar staff are females and Wonder Bar is renowned for its gourmet food menu and a great place to eat out in Taipei at night. The cocktails here are highly rated too.
Wonder Bar Taipei is open 7 nights a week from 7pm to 1am (and until 2am on Friday and Saturday).
Check out our Taipei neighbourhoods guides:
Beitou >
Dihua Street and Dadaocheng >
Gongguan and Longquan >
Tamsui >
Ximending >
Xinyi >
Zhongshan >
Also check out our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Taipei >
TABOO Taipei
For many the best Taipei queer night out, Taboo is open five nights a week and popular with the expat LGBTQ+ community.
Taboo has lots of drink specials like NT$500 to NT$800 entrance fee with all you can drink all night (the price depends on what night of the week you go) plus there are themed evenings like K-Pop night.
Taboo is open from 7am to midnight Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and from 10pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday.
Try this Taboo Club Party Experience >
Other Taipei LGBTQ+ Businesses
HiWow Studio
Run by a gay couple, HiWow Studio 海蛙攝影 specialises in same sex couple photography and wedding photos.
Check out the HiWow Facebook page here >
Tong-Kwang Church
Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church is Taiwan’s first church started by the LGBTQ+ community – it celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Taipei Queer Bookstores and Shops
There are several LGBTQ+ bookstores in Taipei including Illumination Books, Athena Books and Fembooks (the first feminist bookstore in Taiwan). Sadly, GinGin Store and Love Boat Taipei are no longer trading as of summer 2025.
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