CSD Schleswig — Schleswig Pride

Christopher Street Day — A Tradition Since 1969

Christopher Street Day commemorates the Stonewall riots of June 28, 1969, on New York's Christopher Street, which marked the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. In Germany, CSD has been established in major cities since the 1970s; in recent years, it has increasingly spread to smaller towns and rural regions — including structurally weaker Schleswig-Holstein, where the CSD calendar now includes four events.

Schleswig — Cathedral City and Schlei Village

Schleswig is the district capital of the Schleswig-Flensburg district in Schleswig-Holstein and, with around 25,000 inhabitants, the most historically important city in the northern German state. It is located on the Schlei, a Baltic Sea inlet over 40 km long, and is the seat of the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany. With the Schleswig Cathedral of St. Peter, Gottorf Castle, and the Viking Museum Haithabu, the city is rich in cultural history — Schleswig Pride adds a colourful, contemporary layer to this historic cityscape.

Parade, Street Festival, Workshops

The day's schedule follows the classic CSD format:

• Parade — a demonstration procession through Schleswig's city centre, with floats, music, drummers, banners, and demands
• Street Festival and Stage Programme — afterwards at Schleswig Market Square or the harbour, with speeches, live acts, drag shows
• Workshops and Info Booths — advice, political information, networking of local queer initiatives
• Evening Programme — DJ sets, party

Patronage by Daniel Günther

The patron of CSD Schleswig 2026 — and the entire CSD Schleswig-Holstein season — is Daniel Günther, Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein (CDU). With his patronage, the Minister-President sends a political signal against homo- and transphobia at a time when queer communities are increasingly facing hostility, even in Germany.