CSD Potsdam

Demo, Festival, Political Talk — Three Days of Potsdam CSD

For years, CSD Potsdam has been the most important annual event for the LSBTIQ* community in the state of Brandenburg outside of Berlin. In 2026, it will be bigger, more political, and more combined than ever before: The demonstration will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, starting at 12 PM from the Alter Markt in front of the State Parliament, and the entire weekend and Monday evening will be filled with a program of festival, church service, and political talk.

First Time as a Combined Demo with the Inspection Initiative

The most important innovation in 2026: The CSD will take place for the first time as a joint demonstration with the Inspection Initiative — a statewide platform that campaigns against the rise of right-wing extremist forces. The organizers describe the combined demo as a "colorful demo that promotes tolerance, openness, and equal rights". In a politically charged situation — Brandenburg elected the AfD as the strongest right-wing extremist party in the state parliament in 2024 — the combination of queer visibility and anti-extremist engagement aims to forge new alliances.

Demonstration Route

The demonstration procession starts at 12:00 PM at the Alter Markt, proceeds via Breite Straße, Zeppelinstraße to Luisenplatz, and continues via Hegelallee, Jägerallee, Pappelallee, and Georg-Hermann-Allee to Kiepenheuerallee. From there, the route leads back through the Kolonie Alexandrowka and ends around 2:00 PM at the Alter Markt via Friedrich-Ebert-Straße. A deliberately chosen route that connects historical sites of remembrance (Alexandrowka), representative residential areas, and state parliament democracy.

Queensday — For the First Time at the Alter Markt

A second festival format is moving into the city in 2026: The Queensday Festival, which has been celebrated in the Dutch Quarter for years, will take place for the first time at the Alter Markt. Live music, comedy, and queer performances will fill the festival grounds directly in front of the State Parliament on Saturday — the message is clear: The queer community demands its place in the symbolic center of political power.

Sunday Church Service and Political Talk Premiere

On Sunday, the queer*kirche*potsdam invites you to a church service in the Nikolaikirche — an inclusive liturgy that combines queer identity and Christian spirituality. On Monday evening, at 6 PM, a political talk will take place for the first time at the Potsdam Film Museum: Lord Mayor Noosha Aubel (independent) will discuss the political challenges for queer life in Brandenburg with representatives of the queer community and civil society. The premiere of the political talk marks the institutional recognition of CSD by the city's leadership.

Potsdam and the Queer Community in Brandenburg

The state capital Potsdam, with a population of just over 187,000, is one of Brandenburg's largest cities and is home to the largest queer community in the state outside of Berlin. The CSD is organized by the association Regenbogen Potsdam, which provides counseling, networking, and political work for the LSBTIQ* community year-round. The alliance behind CSD 2026 includes numerous initiatives and welfare organizations from across the state, in addition to Regenbogen Potsdam.