Okay sure, much of Europe may be a tad nippy in January—but gay life is on fire all across the continent, with a host of hot events kicking off 2012 with a bang.
So start the New Year right: Find that passport and get to some of these fab European happenings throughout January.
On January 8, the Arosa Gay Ski Week returns to the slopes of Switzerland for the eighth time, with an expanded itinerary spanning a full eight days. Last year’s event attracted nearly 400 attendees from across Europe, the US, and Australia.
For the art lover, Fred Gallery in London reopens from its winter holiday on January 9 with the powerful exhibition “Queer Self-Portraits Now” (including work by Ryan Riddington, above), on display through January 29.
On stage, Lubiewo (Lovetown) continues to thrill audiences at Teatr Nowy in traditionally-not-very-LGBT-friendly Krakow, Poland. Adapted from Michal Witkowski’s 2005 book of the same name, the play—running through January 22—offers a fascinating glimpse into what gay life was like under communist rule.
Because it’s never too early to start stressing about what to wear next fall and winter, Milan hosts its semi-annual Men’s Fashion Week from January 14 to 17. A little French city called Paris follows suit the very next day with its Men’s Fashion shows, running from January 18 to 22.
Image via Arthur Galan
Dust off the chaps, chaps. Antwerp plays host to the third Belgium Leather Pride from January 19 to 23.
Prefer your gay ski weekend with a more Gallic air? The Alpine resort of Meribel welcomes the second Gay Ski Buddies Week from January 28 to February 4.
Photo via Gay Ski Buddies
MEJ
Dude in the first picture is insanely hot.