Pack Your Bags and Start Tapping: Grindr Reveals The Top Gay Travel Destinations for 2026 Just in Time for Host or Travel Season 3

Business Wire 12-May-2026 9:00 AM

New Content Features Tips and Guidance for Global Gay Travel Along with New Data Featuring Top Locations for Flirting, Finding Cross-Border Connections, and More

Grindr (NYSE:GRND), the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™, announces the return of its hit original series, Host or Travel. Born from the understanding that LGBTQ+ travelers face a unique set of challenges, from navigating unfamiliar cities to finding spaces where they can show up authentically, Host or Travel was created to change the way the community explores the world. Season 3 continues that mission, unleashing how the app serves as a gateway to nightlife, community-led travel, and authentic local culture through integrated in-app features.

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Grindr Presents: Host or Travel, Season 3

Season 3 of Host or Travel arrives just in time: new in-app data reveals how users around the world are connecting, flirting, and curating their own adventures. For the gayborhood, travel has always been about more than sightseeing, it's about finding safe spaces, discovering communities that welcome you, and experiencing a city through the eyes of those who actually live it.

Why follow a guidebook when you can follow local recommendations to the best hidden speakeasy in Lisbon? Season 3 moves from Paris to Manila, Sydney to Puerto Vallarta, and more, showcasing how Grindr puts connection and community-led travel in the palm of your hand.

"I've traveled to a lot of cities, but there's something different about exploring a place through Grindr," says JP, Host or Travel Season 3, Episode 5. "You're not just seeing the tourist version, you're getting the real thing, through people who actually live it. That's what the gayborhood means to me, wherever I am in the world."

To understand how the gayborhood truly moves around the world, Grindr pulled back the curtain on its own in-app user data, revealing a clear set of trends shaping how LGBTQ+ users connect, flirt and travel today. The data shows that while every city has its own rhythm, key behaviours are defining gay travel in 2026:

• Cross-border connection is booming – smaller, highly connected countries like Luxembourg, Japan, and Slovenia are driving the most cross-border chats internationally
• Some cities are built for flirting – Taipei leads the world with the most messages sent, followed by Milan and Athens, where the conversation never stops
• Global hotspots still dominate – Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York City, Bangkok, São Paulo, and Berlin are the most frequently traveled cities among Grindr users
• Connection happens on different clocks – Manila, Taipei, and Buenos Aires lead for late-night chats, while San Salvador, Colombo, and Kathmandu are most active in the early morning hours
• Some cities want it fast – Usage of Grindr's "Right Now" feature, which connects users looking to meet up instantly, is highest in Taiwan, the Philippines, Lima, Buenos Aires, and Medellín

"Grindr is the digital home for the community, and Host or Travel was created from the understanding that for gay travelers, finding your people in a new city isn't just a nice-to-have, it's crucial," said Tristan Pineiro, CMO, Grindr. "The gay community finds strength in numbers, and we built this series to celebrate that. Our users aren't just looking for dates, they're using Grindr to curate their own global adventures, find safe spaces, and experience the world through the eyes of locals who get it. That's the gayborhood in action."

This season, we're crossing borders across seven iconic cities with episodes airing:

• May 12: Sydney, Australia – Serves sun, sea, and after-dark energy in equal measure: from kinky haircuts at the Naked Barber to harbor boat-party tours, the gayborhoods from Darlinghurst to Newtown prove Sydney has it all, day and night
• May 19: Austin, Texas – Where cowboy boots meet queer culture: from 4th Street to Austin's sprawling gayborhoods, filled with legendary barbecue, local artists, and vintage shopping
• May 26: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – From electric drag brunch, rooftop pole dancers, and pool parties at the Tryst Hotel, to open air markets, boat trips, and beach clubs, Puerto Vallarta is built around community for a gayborhood that never has an off switch
• June 9: Paris, France – Where Le Marais sets the scene: café crawls, cabarets, and a gay nightlife that makes Paris earn its reputation as a global gay hot spot
• June 16: Manila, Philippines – Street food, steam rooms, island escapes, and some of the wildest drag shows in Asia, the gayborhood here runs 24 hours and never runs out of surprises
• June 23: Lisbon, Portugal – Where bohemian architecture, local eats, and steamy saunas converge into one of Europe's most eclectic and electric gay scenes
• June 30: Miami, Florida – South Beach turns up the heat with rooftop pool parties and sun-soaked boardwalks, while Wynwood's thriving gay art scene cements Miami as a gayborhood hotspot for travelers

Whether you're a Host showing off your city, or a Traveler exploring new horizons, Grindr Presents: Host or Travel Season 3 is your boarding pass to the Gayborhood's of the world - powered by the people who know it best.

ABOUT GRINDR INC.

With more than 15 million average monthly active users, Grindr has grown to become the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™, on a mission to make a world where the lives of our global community are free, equal, and just. Available in 190+ countries and territories, Grindr is often the primary way for its users to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Since 2015, Grindr for Equality has advanced human rights, health, and safety for millions of LGBTQ+ people in partnership with organizations in every region of the world. Grindr has offices in West Hollywood, the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

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