Madison

Madison has a rich LGBTQ+ history and hosts Madison Magic PrideFest (August) and The Big Gay Pride Market (June). Shamrock Bar, FIVE Nightclub, and Woof's anchor the bar scene; OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center runs programming. The city has been a hub for queer activism since the 1980s.

LGBT-friendly bar & nightclub with a big dance floor, DJs, theme nights & drag revues.

FIVE Nightclub

Chill, gay-friendly hangout with classic comfort food, full bar, weekend brunch & happy hour.

Shamrock Bar & Grille

Rollicking gay sports lounge boasting happy hours, daily specials & a Sunday Bloody Mary bar.

Woof’s

Wisconsin-themed, retro-style tavern offering beers, brats & cheese curds (all sourced in-state).

The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant

D’Vino is a bar in Madison. Located at 116 King St, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

D’Vino

Local chain serving frozen custard, burgers & hot dogs in an old-school setting.

Michael’s Frozen Custard

Forward Craft & Coffee is a restaurant in Madison. Located at 2166 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA.

Forward Craft & Coffee

Quaint cafe & bakery serving comfort food & creative cupcake flavors in a family-friendly setting.

Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery

Wallaby’s Cafe is a restaurant in Madison. Located at 1351 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Wallaby’s Cafe

Cargo Coffee is a restaurant in Madison. Located at 750 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Cargo Coffee

Artful, well-lit space for carefully sourced coffee, housemade soups & panini, plus free WiFi.

Fair Trade Coffee House

Coffeehouse with a feline theme & WiFi serving java, homemade gelato, breakfast fare & baked goods.

Java Cat Coffee

EarthWise Pet (Madison East) is a shop in Madison. Located at 3260 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.

EarthWise Pet (Madison East)

Fromagination is a shop in Madison. Located at 12 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Fromagination

Kylee’s Gift Cottage is a shop in Madison. Located at 6711 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.

Kylee’s Gift Cottage

A Room of One’s Own Bookstore is a shop in Madison. Located at 2717 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704, USA.

A Room of One’s Own Bookstore

Wisco Home Goods is a shop in Madison. Located at 4664 Cottage Grove Rd, Madison, WI 53716, USA.

Wisco Home Goods

The Shop by EBNS is a restaurant in Madison. Located at 626 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

The Shop by EBNS

Delta Beer Lab is a venue in Madison. Located at 167 E Badger Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA.

Delta Beer Lab

Herbiery is a bar in Madison. Located at 2015 Winnebago St Suite 101, Madison, WI 53704, USA.

Herbiery

Rude Brew Kombucha

Square Wine Co. is a venue in Madison. Located at 1 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Square Wine Co.

Pony Boy Salon is a venue in Madison. Located at 133 S Butler St Suite Suite 200, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Pony Boy Salon

Union Hair Parlor is a venue in Madison. Located at 2039 Winnebago St, Madison, WI 53704, USA.

Union Hair Parlor

Rebel Hair is a venue in Madison. Located at 330 Junction Rd, Madison, WI 53717, USA.

Rebel Hair

Mint Cuts and Color is a venue in Madison. Located at 812 E Dayton St Suite 208, Madison, WI 53703, USA.

Mint Cuts and Color

An event combining board games and speed dating for singles in their 20s and 30s. Participants will enjoy a night of classic and new board games, guided by a gaming concierge, while in a lively venue with drinks included. The event aims to facilitate meeting new people, with opportunities to exchange contact information and potentially find romantic connections or new friends. Tickets include a voucher for the first drink at Delta Beer Lab.

Board Game Speed Dating

A monthly queer film screening hosted by A Room of One's Own, featuring the film 'National Anthem.'

A Room of One's Own Bookstore

Queer Movie Night: National Anthem

Brewgrass Fridays 2026: Miles Over Mountains is a summer event series held at The Edgewater Madison in Madison, WI. The event features performances by various bluegrass bands, including Miles Over Mountains on July 31, 2026. Attendees can enjoy Wisconsin Fish Fry starting at 5:00 p.m., with live music beginning at 6:00 p.m., along with Potosi brews on the plaza and scenic sunsets. The event is free and open to the public, offering a family-friendly atmosphere with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Brewgrass Fridays

Brewgrass Fridays 2026: Miles Over Mountains

Join us for the 'Summer Rock Party at Club LaMark' featuring the band Section 8. The event promises a night filled with high-energy hits, fan favorites, sing-along moments, and dancing. It's an ideal summer night out with great people and live music. The party starts at 5:00 PM and continues until 9:00 PM at Club LaMark, located at 1525 N Stoughton Rd, Madison, Wisconsin.

Section 8 at Club LaMark

Annual celebration with parade, live entertainment, and community activities in Madison.

Madison Pride

High Noon Saloon

Hot Summer Sappho's

A party where women dress as their crushes and enjoy music late into the night.

Open Competitive League Softball Games at McGaw Park, Fitchburg, WI.

McGaw Park

Badgerland Pride Softball - Week 6

Join the watercolor class on August 4, 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00 at Delta Beer Lab in Madison, WI. Participants will learn to paint their own dog using watercolors, starting with outlining and layering colors. No drawing skills are required as dogs will be pre-drawn on the paper. All supplies are included, and attendees will leave with a framed or matted 5x7 inch artwork. The class costs $65 per person, which includes a free first drink, and 10% of the fee benefits the Dane County Humane Society.

Paint Your Dog (watercolors)

A lively drag performance night featuring local drag artists at The Velvet Lounge.

The Velvet Lounge

Drag Show Night at The Velvet Lounge

Join the Gay Madison Pageantry Family on Friday, August 7th, 2026, at 9:30 PM for the annual Gay Madison Pride Show at FIVE Nightclub in Madison, WI. The event features performances by current court members Buda L Infiniti Ross & Shanta Infiniti Sanchez, as well as other notable performers. Proceeds from raffles and Jell-o Shots will benefit Wilma's Fund, supporting homeless LGBTQ youth. There is no cover charge; reserved tables are available for purchase. Hosted by Victoria Lynn, this event celebrates LGBTQ pride and community.

Gay Madison Pride Show

Monthly Latin dance night with DJ, dance lessons, and performances.

Latin Night Fiesta

Madison Latin Dance Collective

An outdoor concert featuring Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson at Breese Stevens Field in Madison. The event is scheduled for August 8, 2026, starting at 17:45. Attendees can enjoy live music performances in a vibrant setting. Tickets are available for booking online.

Train with Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson

Join Madison County LIVE at Christy's Landing on August 9, 2026, starting at 2:00 PM at 2952 Waubesa Ave, Madison, WI. Enjoy an afternoon of live music, drinks, and good vibes with over 210 interested attendees. Organized by Madison County, this event is perfect for party-goers and social enthusiasts looking for a fun-filled day by Lake Waubesa.

Christy's Landing

Madison County LIVE @ Christy's Landing

Softball games originally scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, have been postponed due to poor air quality and rescheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2026.

Open Competitive - Week 5 Softball Games

Badgerland Pride Softball League

A softball game event organized by Badgerland Pride Softball League, rescheduled to August 9, 2026, due to poor air quality.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year: the Badgerland Pride Softball Royalty Drag Show 2025! Come and support the league and your fellow league players! The contestant that raises the most money wins the crown and the title of Badgerland Softball Royalty 2025. Includes a Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle.

Badgerland Pride Softball Royalty Drag Show 2025

A drag show fundraiser supporting Badgerland Pride Softball with contestants competing for the title of Royalty.

Games are cancelled tonight due to impending weather. This game will be made up at the end of the season, August 10th.

Olbrich Park Field #4

Game Day - Rec/Social League

Badgerland Pride Softball

A community softball game that has been rescheduled to August 10th due to weather.

A lively drag show featuring local performers at The Velvet Lounge in Madison.

Drag Night at The Velvet Lounge

A lively drag performance event held regularly at a local venue to entertain and celebrate LGBTQ culture.

The Rainbow Lounge

Monthly Drag Show Night

Join the Rainbow Happy Hour at DELTA BEER LAB for an evening of socializing and fun. The event is scheduled for August 12, 2026, from 17:30 to 19:00. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with fellow attendees in Toronto.

Rainbow Happy Hour at DELTA BEER LAB

A vibrant pride event with rallies, food stalls, entertainment, and information tables, held each August in Madison.

Madison, WI

OutReach Magic Festival 2026

OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center

Madison's Magic Pride Festival returns on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 1 pm to 6 pm at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin. Organized by the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, this free event celebrates LGBTQ+ life with colorful booths, performances by local drag artists, spoken-word poets, indigenous drummers, and diverse musical acts. Attendees can enjoy community resources, health services, arts and crafts vendors, youth activities, and a marketplace showcasing queer creativity. The festival emphasizes inclusivity, community building, and honoring the history of LGBTQ+ activism, with opportunities for audience participation and accessible facilities.

Madison Magic PrideFest 2026

The 2026 Magic Pride Festival, hosted by OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, will take place on Sunday, August 16th, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Warner Park in Madison, WI. The event features a stage show with local LGBTQ+ performers, a large vendor area, games and activities for youth and families, food and beverages, and more. For more information, contact OutReach at 255-8582 or email dough@lgbtoutreach.org.

Magic Pride Festival

Madison's Magic Pride Festival returns on Sunday, August 16, 2026, from 1 pm to 6 pm at Warner Park. Organized by the OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, this free event celebrates LGBTQ+ life with colorful booths, live performances, community resources, and family-friendly activities. Attendees can enjoy music, spoken-word poetry, indigenous drumming, drag shows, and speeches addressing current social issues. The festival emphasizes inclusivity, community building, and supporting marginalized groups, with suggested donations of $5 to $10 to help cover costs. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnic supplies, reusable water bottles, and to use public transportation or bike to the venue.

Warner Park

Madison Pride Festival 2026

Madison's vibrant pride event held each August with rallies, food stalls, entertainment, and community activities.

OutReach Magic Festival

A colorful parade celebrating the LGBTQ+ community through downtown Madison.

Madison Pride Parade

A queer movie night hosted by Celena at A Room Of One's Own Bookstore, featuring a film from Kanopy's library. The event takes place in The Reading Room at 2713 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI, on August 27, 2026, from 19:00 to 21:00. Masks are required. Attendees can RSVP via the provided Google Forms link.

Live concert featuring Barenaked Ladies & Matt Nathanson, celebrating 25 years of the 'Drops of Jupiter' tour.

Hayden Homes Amphitheater

TRAiN: Drops of Jupiter - 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour

Tickets for the 2026 Wisconsin Badgers Football season, including access to all regular season home games, are available. The event takes place at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, starting on August 30, 2026, at 18:00. Attendees can purchase tickets online and enjoy the games in a lively stadium environment.

Wisconsin Badgers Football Season Tickets

An evening screening of LGBTQ-themed films promoting awareness and community engagement.

Madison Community Theater

LGBTQ Film Screening

College football game at Camp Randall Stadium featuring the Wisconsin Badgers.

Camp Randall Stadium

University of Wisconsin Football Game

University of Wisconsin

Join the Rainbow Happy Hour at DELTA BEER LAB for an evening of socializing and fun. The event is scheduled for September 9, 2026, from 17:30 to 19:00. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with fellow attendees. For more details, visit the event page.

A screening of films celebrating LGBTQ stories and experiences, followed by a community discussion.

LGBTQ Film Screening: Love & Pride

Avondale Brewing Company

Dylan Gossett: The Westward Tour Volume I

Weekly Wednesday event featuring DJ Alex and A Bailar with Luis starting at 7:30pm.

Sotto Night Club

Wednesdays: DJ Alex & A Bailar with Luis

Weekly Thursday Latin music night featuring DJ Frecuencia Infinita.

Thursdays: Jueves Latino with DJ Frecuencia Infinita

N.E.W. Pride Alive 2026 is a regional LGBTQ+ celebration held in De Pere, Wisconsin, scheduled for September 19-20, 2026. The event features a Friday night adults-only cabaret with drag performances, comedy, burlesque, and dancing, starting at 5 p.m., and a family-friendly festival on Saturday with live music, vendor booths, youth activities, and fireworks. The festival aims to empower LGBTQ+ individuals, raise awareness, and foster an inclusive community through social events, educational workshops, and community grants. The 2026 edition will include expanded rural outreach with free shuttle buses, a queer history exhibit, and sustainability initiatives.

N.E.W. Pride Alive 2026

Friday nights featuring pop, Latino beats, and EDM with DJ Frequencia Infinita.

Fridays: Dame Mas Gasolina Nights with DJ Frequencia Infinita

Saturday night DJ performance by DJ Jimmy Celius.

Saturdays: DJ Jimmy Celius

A live music event featuring Mumford and Sons and Marcus King Band, taking place on September 22, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The event offers an electric atmosphere for concert enthusiasts and fans of these bands.

Mumford and Sons & Marcus King Band

An upcoming live music event featuring bands Combichrist, King 810, A Killers Confession, and Heartsick. The event is scheduled to take place from September 28, 2026, starting at 00:00, and will end on October 29, 2026, at 19:00. The venue is The Annex At The Red Zone in Madison, United States. Tickets are available for booking online.

Combichrist King 810 A Killers Confession & Heartsick

A social dance event welcoming all LGBTQ individuals to dance and connect.

Queer Dance Night

Join us at Delta Beer Lab in Fitchburg, WI, for our monthly Rainbow Happy Hour. Enjoy good food, beer, and engaging conversations with a friendly community. No RSVP required.

Rainbow Happy Hour

A social dance event for the LGBTQ community to connect and celebrate through music and dance.

Madison Dance Hall

Weekly wine tastings held every Friday from 17:00 to 19:00 at Square Wine Co.

Friday Night Tastings

A night dedicated to Latin music and dance, happening on the first Saturday of each month.

Latin Night

The Sylvee

Jack White at The Sylvee

Join us for an electrifying performance by Jack White at The Sylvee in Madison on November 10, 2026. The event is scheduled to start at 02:00 AM and will feature a two-hour concert. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the legendary artist live in a vibrant setting. Tickets are available for booking online. The venue is located at 25 S. Livingston Street, Madison, WI 53703.

Join us at Delta Beer Lab in Fitchburg, WI, for our monthly Rainbow Happy Hour gathering. Enjoy good food, beer, engaging conversations, and meet new friends. No RSVP is required for this event.

Rainbow Happy Hour at Delta Beer Lab

A casual brunch gathering for LGBTQ individuals and allies to socialize and build community.

The Rainbow Café

LGBTQ+ Brunch Meetup

A monthly drag show featuring performances by local drag artists.

Madison Drag Revue

A casual brunch gathering for LGBTQ individuals to socialize and build community.

AC/DC's PWR UP Tour in Australia with special guests Amy and the Sniffers. Concert dates across multiple cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane.

Madison

Upcoming Events

Board Game Speed Dating

Queer Movie Night: National Anthem

Brewgrass Fridays 2026: Miles Over Mountains

Section 8 at Club LaMark

Madison Pride

Hot Summer Sappho's

Badgerland Pride Softball - Week 6

Paint Your Dog (watercolors)

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FIVE Nightclub

Shamrock Bar & Grille

Woof’s

The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant

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