CSD Jena — Christopher Street Day
Demonstration for queer rights and colourful street festival on the Rasenmühleninsel in Paradies
About CSD Jena
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a CSD Jena al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Political Demonstration and Colourful Street Festival
Christopher Street Day Jena has been an integral part of the queer community in Central Thuringia since 2019. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, it combines two inseparable aspects: political protest for queer rights and the colourful street festival celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQIA* community. The name commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of June 28, 1969, in New York's Christopher Street, which marked the modern queer movement.
Demonstration Procession from Eichplatz to Paradies
The demonstration procession starts at Eichplatz in Jena's city centre and proceeds through the inner city. The final destination and stage is the Rasenmühleninsel in Paradies — the green park on the banks of the Saale river, where the stage, information stands, food trucks, and DJ sets create the festival atmosphere. Thousands of participants are expected — the demonstration has grown continuously in recent years and is now one of Thuringia's largest queer events, alongside CSD Erfurt.
Demands 2026 — Trans Rights and Intersectionality
CSD Jena takes a clear political stance: visibility for queer people in Thuringia, protection against discrimination and hate crimes, full equality for trans and intersex people, and intersectional solidarity with all marginalised groups. With its academic tradition and strong student movement, the university city of Jena offers a special resonance for these issues.
Organiser: Queer Lioness e. V.
Since early 2025, CSD has been supported by the newly founded association Queer Lioness e. V. — the successor organisation to CSD Jena. Queer Lioness sees itself as 'the colourful side of Thuringia' and organises queer events year-round: queer pub nights at Spacement, FLINTA* bar nights, a community and youth group, political education, and anti-discrimination projects. The CSD is the annual highlight, the most visible action of the association's work.
Jena — University City in the Saale Valley
The university city of Jena (approx. 110,000 inhabitants) in the state of Thuringia has a long tradition of academic and political movements. The Friedrich Schiller University, Carl Zeiss optics, and an engaged civil society shape the city. CSD fits into this tradition: Jena as a place of visible queer identity in a region where queer visibility is still not a given.
CSD Jena — edition 2026
2026 Edition
CSD Jena 2026 is one of Central Thuringia's most important queer events, organised by the newly founded association Queer Lioness e. V. The dual format of political demonstration and festive street festival remains its hallmark: morning gathering and demo, afternoon park party in Paradies.
The demo proceeds through the city centre with demands for queer visibility, protection against discrimination, full trans rights, and intersectional solidarity. In Paradies, participants can expect a diverse stage programme lasting into the late evening.
Programme CSD Jena 2026
Morning — Gathering and Demonstration
- Meeting point: Eichplatz Jena in the city centre
- Opening speeches with political demands
- Demonstration procession through the city centre with banners, music, and creative performances
- Final destination: Rasenmühleninsel in Paradies
Afternoon and Evening — Street Festival in Paradies
- Stage programme with queer artists, live music, and drag shows
- Political speeches and statements
- Information stands of queer organisations (Queer Lioness, BfMT, FLINTA* initiatives, counselling centres)
- Food trucks with vegan and vegetarian options
- DJ sets until late evening
Accompanying events during the festival week
- Queer pub nights at Spacement before and after CSD
- FLINTAsTisch — Bar night for FLINTA* people
- Workshops and discussion rounds in the run-up (via Queer Lioness e. V.)
Exact timings, bands, and demo route will be announced on the association's social media channels (Instagram @csd_jena, Facebook, TikTok) and on queerlioness.org.
Highlights CSD Jena 2026
- Demonstration and colourful street festival on June 20, 2026
- Start at Eichplatz, final destination Rasenmühleninsel in Paradies
- Political demands for queer visibility and trans rights
- Stage programme with queer artists, drag shows, live music
- Information stands of queer and solidarity organisations
- DJ sets until late evening
- Organiser Queer Lioness e. V. — the colourful side of Thuringia
- Free admission, donations welcome
Prices CSD Jena 2026
Free admission. Donations to finance the CSD are welcome — the association Queer Lioness e. V. covers most of the costs through donations. Food and drinks at food trucks at festival prices.
Practical information — CSD Jena
Date 2026
Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Demo Route
Starting point: Eichplatz Jena. Final destination: Rasenmühleninsel in Paradies (Saalepark on the Saale riverbank).
Park Programme
Stage with music and speeches, information stands of queer and solidarity organisations, food trucks, DJ sets into the evening.
Admission
Free. Donations welcome — the CSD is largely financed by donations.
Getting There
By train: ICE/IC to Jena Paradies (the station building is directly at the demonstration's end point). Tram lines 1, 4, or 5 to Holzmarkt for Eichplatz.
Other CSD Dates in the Region
CSD Weimar June 27, 2026, CSD Neustadt an der Orla May 23, 2026, CSD Naumburg August 1, 2026, CSD Erfurt September 5, 2026.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a CSD Jena al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place CSD Jena
Eichplatz und Rasenmühleninsel im Paradies
Eichplatz, 07743 Jena