DIVA headed across the pond to experience the annual festivities
BY PHOEBE IRIS, PHOTOS BY VILLE DE NICE / PASCAL SEGRETTE
Feathers, sequins and glitter took over the streets of Nice last weekend as the city celebrated Queernaval – France’s first gay carnival.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the festivities, which have become a highlight in the Nice Carnival calendar.
The parade is a spectacular affair, featuring 400 costumed performers, activists, and volunteers entertaining over 10,000 spectators. Best of all, it’s completely free – though booking tickets in advance is required.
Each carnival has a different theme, with this year’s being “King Of The Oceans”, inspired by the 2025 UN Oceans Conference, which is being held in Nice this June.
Place Masséna came to life with sailors, pirates, merpeople, glowing jellyfish, and flying whales – even the moon made an appearance! Also featured were dazzling drag queens, energetic majorettes, and some more unexpected costumes, with a standout performance from a bejewelled Freddie Mercury.
The evening celebrated diversity, with people of all ages, genders and sexualities invited to participate. One member of Caram’elles, a local organisation for queer women, gracefully embodied a mermaid, gliding through the parade on a bed pushed by fellow members due to her limited mobility. This moment beautifully encapsulated the inclusivity at the heart of the celebration, as the community ensured no one was left behind.
After the parade, the crowd was invited to the dance floor, where the sound of Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra filled the streets as thousands of people came together in a celebration of queer joy.
Nice has a vibrant, welcoming LGBTQIA community. If you’re planning a visit, here are some queer venues you should check out:
The only queer, feminist second-hand bookshop outside of Paris, it regularly hosts exhibitions, cultural events, and film screenings. The shop offers a wide selection of books in both French and English, all at very reasonable prices.
A quintessential gay bar that warmly welcomes everyone. A sign outside reads “hetero friendly”, and this playful spirit continues inside the cosy venue, where you’ll find erotic art, rainbows and disco balls galore. It’s the perfect first (or last) stop on your queer night out.
If you’re looking to boogie the night away on a sticky dance floor, Le Six has got you covered. The bouncer waved us in with a grin, saying, “There are only two rules: buy one drink and have fun.” Come for the attractive crowd, great music, and incredible drag shows. Don’t forget to climb the ladder to the viewing platform for excellent people-watching.
You can find out more about Queernavel here: nicecarnaval.com/en/events/lou-queernaval/
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