How to Celebrate World Goth Day in 2025

World Goth Day (May 22) is upon us once more, bringing macabre festivities and a joyous celebration of darkness the world over. High-profile gatherings like the Above the Waves World Goth Day Festival in Alameda, CA (May 3-4) are great for gathering with fellow bats, but if you don’t live near one of the big goth festivals, there are still plenty of ways to get spooky this spring. However you decide to celebrate, this is your chance to help make goth culture visible.

Look for Local Goth Events

Person with purple hair and dark makeup holding out hand with chains, surrounded by flowers

Clubs or music venues in a city near you could have events like dark DJ shows, dance parties, and concerts to bring the goths out on the floor. Small, underground clubs are the most likely to put on these types of shows, so check out the schedules of venues in your area where you know they cater to an alt crowd.

Find World Goth Day events happening in your area here.

Visit a Cemetery

The cemetery photoshoot is a beloved goth custom–after all, goths have been hanging out in graveyards since the days of Percy and Mary Shelley–so prepare to deck yourself out in black and visit the dearly departed.

Overgrown graveyard with ivy-covered gravestones

Older graveyards where the headstones have started to crumble and wear away with time are ideal for creating a sense of gothic atmosphere. For a souvenir of your trip, use the side of a crayon, charcoal, or a piece of dark wax and paper to create a grave rubbing you can frame and hang up on your wall. This is a great way to preserve a piece of history–just make sure you don’t damage any delicate stonework in the process.

Check Out a New Goth Band

Woman with blue hair and dark makeup wearing a black sleeveless top with studs.

Find a goth artist you haven’t listened to before and give them a spin! If you typically listen to current goth bands, this is the perfect opportunity to check out the 80s goth music that formed the backbone of the trad goth scene. You can also explore goth music from countries outside the anglosphere to have a truly global World Goth Day.

Host a Goth Movie Night

Person with skeleton makeup wearing a black top hat and coat on a white background

Grab some of your closest ghouls and put on a gothic movie or two for some dark, macabre vibes. Whether you choose a current fave like Nosferatu or Lisa Frankenstein or a classic from Tim Burton or David Cronenberg, the right movie always creates a fun goth atmosphere.

Play a Goth Game

Immersing yourself in a gothic tabletop game like Vampire: The Masquerade or The Call of Cthulhu with a few darkness-loving friends is another fun way to celebrate all things gothic. A dark, spooky D&D campaign would also create a mysterious mood. Try lighting some incense and putting on dark ambient music to create an atmosphere fit for a dungeon.

Person wearing a red hood and dress with dark hair, standing outdoors.

Whether your goth aesthetic is dark and ethereal, edgy and industrial, or downright scary, World Goth Day is the time when we can all join Nick Cave in saying “RELEASE THE BATS!!!!!”