Cologne Pride

Cologne Pride 2025

Cologne (Köln) Pride, also known as CSD (Christopher Street Day), is one of the most vibrant and celebrated pride events in Europe. Dating back to 1979, it has grown into a massive festival that attracts over 1,000,000 visitors annually from all over the world. Cologne Pride promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with diversity, equality, and tons of love.

Festival - July 4 - 6

There will be an opening ceremony and then nonstop events after over the ensuing weeks. The major festival occurs for the CSD Cologne Street festivities in Cologne’s charming Old Town district with a huge street festival. After the official opening, multiple stages burst into life, showcasing local and international acts, DJs, drag performers and liver performances. The street party also includes food trucks, cocktail and beer bars, information stands, and tons of vendor booths across the nearby squares.

Pride Parade - Sunday, July 6

The Cologne Pride Parade starts from Deutzer Brücke, working its way across the Old Town district to Komödienstraße, with over 120+ floats participating in this massive rainbow parade. The Deutzer Brücke offers amazing panoramic views, for some instagrammable stories! Also, make sure to get there early, because it will be packed with fellow LGBTQ+ members and supporters. Afterwards, the city bars and clubs will be filled with patrons for the final night of pride in Cologne, so have fun and celebrate to your heart's content.

Pride Details

Pride weekend takes place in the city of Cologne (Köln in German), Germany, a city that has a rich history of LGBTQ+ activism. The name Christopher Street Day is inspired by the Stonewall Riots, a series of protests that took place in New York City in 1969. The riots were a response to police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located on Christopher Street. They marked the beginning of the LGBTQ+ liberation movement and have since been celebrated every year in pride events worldwide.

Traditionally, the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Cologne consists of the street festival in the Old Town (Innenstadt) district over the entire weekend and the demonstration through Cologne's city center on Sunday. Since Europride 2002, the CSD has also been expanded to include a supporting program lasting over two weeks. Cologne Pride offers a framework for numerous events of all kinds, whether sports tournaments or cultural festivals, discussions, readings or parties.

The highlight of the festival is the massive parade that takes place on the final weekend. Cologne Pride Parade starts from Deutzer Brücke, working its way through the Old Town district to Komödienstraße, with over 120 floats participating in the parade.The parade features colorful floats, music, and dancing, as well as an abundance of rainbow flags and costumes. It's a joyous celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and identity, and a chance for people to come together and celebrate our resilient community.

Importance of Pride

One of the unique aspects of Cologne Pride is its commitment to activism and advocacy. The festival has a strong political component, with many events and discussions focused on LGBTQ+ rights and equality. The organizers also work closely with local and national politicians to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and to address issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to the parade and political events, Cologne Pride also features a variety of cultural events, including art exhibits, theater performances, and literary readings. The festival also has a strong focus on inclusivity, with events and programming for people of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations.

Overall, Cologne Pride is a fantastic celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and identity. It's a chance to come together with people from all over the world, to celebrate diversity and equality, and to advocate for a more just and inclusive world. Don't miss the chance to be a part of this unforgettable event in Europe!

Places to Stay - Book Early!

If you're planning to attend, be sure to book your accommodations early. The festival is incredibly popular, and hotels and other accommodations fill up quickly. Popular hotels near or in the gay area to give you a head start - Hotel Motel One Köln-Neumarkt, Hotel Lyskirchen, The QVEST, Maritim Hotel Köln, or 25hours Hotel.

Popular Cologne Gay Bars

Focused in the Old Town area and Rudolfplatz, so check out these venues while in town: Zur Kaiserin, Amadeus, Macky's Asia Lounge, Gentle-Bears, Baustelle 4U, or Café RICO.

Cologne Gay Saunas

Vulcanus, Bathhouse Babylon Cologne, and Phoenix Sauna Köln are the popular gay bathhouses in Cologne.