CSD Hof — Christopher Street Day

Making Queer Life Visible in Upper Franconia

CSD Hof is one of Bavaria's youngest queer festivals: the first edition took place in 2024, and 2026 will see the third iteration. The motto »People are queer here too« refers to the rural, small-town context: in a region where queer lifestyles are less visible than in Munich or Nuremberg, the CSD is a deliberate political and cultural statement — visibility, networking, solidarity.

Colorful Week May 23–30

Before the actual CSD day, there is a festival week with cultural and political events: film screenings, readings, queer workshops, discussion formats, theater evenings, and meet-ups for various communities. The program points are spread across cultural centers, pubs, and meeting places in Hof.

Demonstration and Street Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026

The highlight is Saturday, May 30. The day begins with the CSD demonstration, which winds through Hof's city center — demanding equality, protesting discrimination, and advocating for queer visibility in Upper Franconia. Afterwards, starting around 4:00 PM, the street festival begins at the Kugelbrunnen with a stage program. Live music, drag shows, speeches, and panel discussions alternate; food stalls and beer benches cater to the audience, and an awareness room is available for guests needing support. Around 1,000 participants are expected.

Queerlife Hof e.V. as the Organizer

The organizer is Queerlife Hof e.V., a local queer association that has been active in community work in and around Hof for several years. The association receives support from the federal program »Demokratie leben!«, the City of Hof, local businesses, and cultural partners. This broad sponsorship is part of the political message: queer visibility is actively and institutionally supported even in a region with a rural structure like Upper Franconia.

Hof an der Saale — Small City with History

Hof is located in the extreme northeast of Bavaria, on the edge of the Franconian Forest and near the borders with Saxony and the Czech Republic. The city, with just under 45,000 inhabitants, is home to a university and is the main town of a district that encompasses large parts of the Upper Franconian hinterland. The CSD takes place in the old town around the Kugelbrunnen — a central meeting point in the city center.