Most people know Berlin Pride for one thing: the colourful Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade.
This year, for the first time, the city is extending the official street festivities to two days. Things kick off at 6pm on Friday, July 24th, with a political rally called "Democracy evening".
Then, from midday on Saturday, July 25th, hundreds of thousands of people and dozens of colourful floats will parade through the streets of the German capital for one of Europe's biggest Pride celebrations.
The parade – under this year's theme of 'Haltung ist hot'' ('taking a stand is hot') – ends at Brandenburg Gate, where the celebrations continue with performances across eight stages from around 4.30pm.
It may have become more commercial over the years, but it's still fun, loud, and full of joy.
But for many Berliners, and members of the city's queer community, the parade is only one part of Pride weekend.
From community events and workshops to parties, here's how to make the most of Pride weekend in Berlin – and where to keep the celebrations, and the solidarity, going long after the last float has passed.
Berlin is a city where queer life exists every day of the year. Long before the rainbow flags appear on public buildings, Berlin's LGBTQIA+ communities are busy organising exhibitions, workshops, political discussions, drag shows, film screenings, queer sports groups, sober meet-ups and more.
Which is to say, Pride Week does not make Berlin's queer scene, it just brings it into focus for everyone.
Survival tips
Starting with the basics, if you'll be attending the CSD parade for the first time this year, there is some practical advice that is good to know:
- Plan a specific place to meet your friends before you arrive; the large crowds often overload mobile phone networks, making service spotty at best!
- Carry water. Spätis and small kiosks are around, but in the middle of a parade you might not see one for a while.
- Bring sunscreen! Berlin can be cloudy but many underestimate how intense the summer sun can be, especially if you're out in it all day.
- Wear comfortable shoes, or bring a pair to change into. Heels will only be fun for the first half of the day.
- Carry cash. Many places accept cards, but many others do not.
- Plan toilet breaks. Public bathrooms can have long queues, and cafés and bars may require you to buy something before using facilities.
- Don't plan your entire night around one club. Pride weekend is one of the busiest nightlife weekends of the year, so you may as well see a few different spots. (On a related tip: pre-ordering tickets for busier events helps, but Berlin's famous door policies still apply. Tickets don't guarantee entry to every event.)
Workshops and community events
To truly understand why Berlin has long been considered one of Europe's (even the world's) queer capitals, you'll want to step beyond the parade a bit.
Some of the best parts of Pride Week happen away from the main stages and parades.
Many of the smaller events often appear at the last minute, so it's useful to check out more than one calendar or events list.
To get started, however, you can find the official CSD Berlin program for parade information and Pride Month events here.
Then, for club events and after parties, the go-to source is Resident Advisor.
Alternatively, look for events at queer community centres, collectives & clubs like Allesbien, prideART, queer garten or ZK/U.
You can also check out bars like Tipsy Bear, Silver Future, Bar Zum schmutzigen Hobby and K-Fetisch which publish event lists weeks ahead, including everything from drag shows to flirty meet-ups.
Also look out for special events like author readings at She Said, themed parties like Puti Club and pride warm-ups at places like Other Nature.
Finally, for even more inspiration, it's worth taking a look at recommendations listed by topical social media pages like Party Dyke, Q.bpm, Rausgegangen, and SIEGESSÄULE, as well as general event guides by Berlin-specific media like TheBerliner and iHeartBerlin.
Some of the events to be found also happen throughout the year, but they all go a bit bigger during Pride season. And many are free.
You'll also find workshops and discussions on topics ranging from queer history to sexual health and polyamory. Some of these also offer opportunities for those who are curious to learn about more taboo topics, like Berlin's leather and fetish communities, beyond the stereotypes.
Many of these sessions are designed for beginners and focus on safety, respect and community. But it's worth noting that some events are organised for specific groups such as FLINTA* (which includes females, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, transgender and agender people).
Make sure you check event descriptions before showing up so you know who the space is intended for.
Making posters and protest art
If you are planning to join one of the marches but don't want to arrive empty-handed, look out for communal banner-making sessions, like this one, throughout Pride Week.
These gatherings bring people together to paint signs, create posters and prepare messages for demonstrations. Materials may be provided and the atmosphere is usually relaxed and welcoming, even for people arriving alone, making these types of events an easy way for newcomers or visitors to engage with Berlin's queer community.
Additionally, many are free or donation-based. And for the non-German speakers, don't worry: English is commonly spoken everywhere.
Other marches
While CSD is the biggest demonstration, Berlin Pride includes many other political gatherings.
The Dyke* March is one of the city's best-known Pride traditions, creating space for lesbians, bisexual women, trans and non-binary people while maintaining a grassroots activist focus.
Other demonstrations throughout Pride Week highlight issues including trans rights, queer migration, anti-racism and social justice. These events are usually smaller than CSD but often feel closer to the political roots of Pride. If you are interested in the history and activism behind Pride celebrations, look out for marches addressing these issues.
After Pride: Berlin stays queer
Of course, even after Berlin's Pride Week comes to an end, the city does not suddenly stop being queer. So if you missed the weekend this year, you can still find your own way to celebrate Pride in the city.
Throughout August and beyond, you can still find plenty of queer exhibitions, outdoor gatherings, drag shows, community and nightlife events at the venues and sources linked above.
The rainbow flags may come down, but the communities behind them remain.
Berlin's queer culture exists and thrives all year. Pride Week simply makes it easier to find.
