Celebrating Pride abroad?

Be aware of risks, look after your health, get appropriate vaccinations and take condoms with you when you attend international Pride events

Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) or straight, if you're celebrating Pride abroad in 2026, remember to protect yourself against infections spread during sex and close personal contact. These include gonorrhoea, HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and mpox (previously called 'monkeypox').

Meeting new or casual sexual partners at international festivals is a common experience for many travellers. However, unprotected, condomless sex increases your risk of STIs [1]. Always protect yourself – use condoms and make sure all your vaccines are up to date.

Mpox, Shigella and drug-resistant gonorrhoea [2, 3] are three STIs where travel-related infections are more common.

Cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant (hard to treat) Shigella infections, often in gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), are being reported more frequently worldwide [4-8]. The symptoms of this infection are similar to food poisoning.

An international mpox outbreak in 2022 spread to over 100 countries worldwide [9]. Mpox cases are still being reported worldwide: Mpox: affected countries, including the UK.

In the United Kingdom (UK), a rise in difficult to treat, antibiotic resistant cases of gonorrhoea has been reported in travellers [10-13]. Gonorrhoea is the second most commonly diagnosed STI in the UK. Most gonorrhoea infections can still be successfully treated, but increased antibiotic resistance means gonorrhoea could become an "untreatable" infection [14].

Advice for travellers

Before you travel

If you are celebrating Pride abroad, remember to get comprehensive travel insurance.

If you are travelling to mainland Europe, apply for a free United Kingdom (UK) Global Health Insurance Card too. This helps you access emergency state healthcare at a reduced rate and may help you get free emergency care in some European countries.

Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for your all your destinations.

See our Country Information pages for information about health risks, prevention advice and vaccine recommendations for your destination. If appropriate, make an appointment with your practice nurse, pharmacist, sexual health clinic or other healthcare provider for vaccines and health advice before you go.

Make sure you are up to date with any destination-specific travel vaccines and all routine UK vaccines such as COVID-19, combination vaccines to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, polio (and mumps, measles, rubella (MMR/MMRV) vaccines. Consider having vaccines such as those that help protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), and against hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses which can also be spread during sex.

Hepatitis A outbreaks have been linked to Pride events in mainland Europe in the recent past [15, 16] and hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination are available for all GBMSM attending sexual health services.

A vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea is now available in the UK for eligible people including gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure, attending sexual health services.

In 2022, mpox vaccination was offered to people most likely to be exposed to mpox during the outbreak. Mpox vaccination is now routinely offered in sexual health services in the UK for gay and bisexual men at higher risk of exposure [17].

Be realistic – if condomless sex is on the cards, discuss HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis/prevention (PrEP) with a sexual health professional before you travel. If needed, make sure you have appropriate contraception.

While you are away

Always follow good hygiene rules to protect yourself, your friends and partners from respiratory infections: cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands frequently (only use hand gel if you are in a place where you can't wash your hands) and clean surfaces with antiseptic wipes.

Many infections can be spread by contaminated food and water – be careful what you eat and drink and follow basic food hygiene rules.

Some infections, like hepatitis A and Shigella, are spread via contaminated food and water, but can also be passed on by direct contact with someone who is infected. This includes sex involving anal contact and/or exposure to faeces (poo). Unlike hepatitis A, there is no vaccine to prevent Shigella.

Always wash your hands with hot water and soap after using the toilet, changing babies' nappies and before preparing and eating food to help protect against infections like Shigella.

See here for more information about avoiding sexual spread of hepatitis A and Shigella. This includes advice on managing symptoms if you are unwell.

Always be aware of your risk of STIs; carry and use condoms consistently and correctly with all new sexual partners.

While numbers of mpox cases in the UK reported by GBMSM have significantly reduced compared to the peak of the outbreak in 2022, travel-associated cases are still reported [18]. It is particularly important to be aware of symptoms and how you can reduce your risk of mpox infection.

Mpox virus spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who has the virus [19]. See here for more information on how mpox is spread.

See UKHSA advice for people diagnosed with an mpox infection who have been advised to self-isolate here: Mpox: guidance for people who are isolating at home [20].

When you return

If you are unwell with a fever, flu-like illness, persistent or bloody diarrhoea (dysentery) or any other unusual symptoms e.g. jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), get urgent medical help. Remember to tell your nurse, doctor or other health professional you recently travelled abroad.

If you have symptoms and are concerned that you may have an STI or are symptom free but had unprotected sex call NHS 111 or visit a sexual health clinic. In the UK, STI testing and treatment is free and confidential.

If you have a rash with blisters and are concerned about mpox infection, do not go to a sexual health clinic without contacting them first. Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people until you have been advised on what you need to do [18, 19].