CSD Dortmund – Christopher Street Day

CSD Dortmund — Pride in the Ruhr Area

Christopher Street Day Dortmund is the city's annual Pride event — a demonstration, street festival, and after-show party all in one. The next edition on September 5, 2026, will be held under the contemporary political motto „Fight for Pride — No Step Back“. In times when LGBTQIA+ rights are being questioned again internationally, the motto is the program: solidarity, visibility, defense of achieved rights.

Program Schedule — Demonstration, Street Festival, After-Show

Demonstration — from 1:00 PM

Starts at the north exit of the main train station. The demonstration procession will go through Dortmund's city center to Friedensplatz. A demo truck with a sound system will be at the front, followed by associations, initiatives, and private individuals — rainbow flags, signs, alliance banners. Thousands of participants are expected.

Street Festival — 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Several stages will be set up on Friedensplatz. Program:

• Political speeches by queer political initiatives
• Live music and DJ sets
• Drag performances
• Information booths from queer initiatives, health counseling services, bookstores, NGOs
• Bistro with vegan, queer-friendly catering

After-Show — from 10:00 PM at Domicil

The official after-show party will take place at Domicil-Club (Hansastraße 7–11). The first floor will feature „Pop, House & Queer Classics“ with DJs U-GO-BOY and Mary Sanchez. As described by the organizers: „Loving beats. Queer sounds. Safe Space.“

SLADO e.V. — Dortmund's Umbrella Organization

Behind CSD Dortmund is SLADO e.V. — the umbrella organization of all LGBTQIA+ associations, initiatives, and activist groups in Dortmund. With its dense network of queer sports clubs (Vandalos), youth work centers (Sunrise), support services, self-help groups, and cultural spaces, it is the organizational backbone of Dortmund's queer scene.

Dortmund's Queer History

Dortmund has its own queer history — from the Schwulen Zentrum Dortmund (founded in the 80s), through the Schaffhausen Quarter (long a stronghold of the queer scene), to today's more broadly based spaces across the city. With the CSD, this history becomes visible once a year — and politically anchored.

CSDs in the Ruhr Area

Besides Dortmund, Cologne (Cologne Pride, one of the largest CSDs in Europe), Düsseldorf, Bochum, and Essen also have their own Pride events. The North Rhine-Westphalia CSD scene is one of the most vibrant in Germany.