Gayhane — 28th Anniversary at SO36

Gayhane — Berlin's oldest queer party

Founded in 1997 by DJane Ipek at SO36, Gayhane was more than just a party from the start: it was a response. In the late 1990s, Berlin's gay and lesbian communities were still predominantly white and Western European — people of Turkish, Arab, or other migrant backgrounds found little connection in the classic gay bars and clubs of Nollendorfplatz. Gayhane opened an explicitly queer-oriental dancefloor with Turkish pop music, Arabic sounds, Greek hits, and Hebrew tracks — thereby creating a safe space for a previously marginalized community.

SO36 as a stage for subcultural history

SO36, named after the old West Berlin postal code district Kreuzberg 36, is one of Berlin's most iconic concert and club venues. Founded in 1978 in a Kreuzberg backyard, it was a central meeting point for the Berlin punk scene in the early 1980s; Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Einstürzende Neubauten, and David Bowie are part of the venue's history. Today, SO36 is an event center with a distinctly queer and left-leaning program — the monthly Gayhane is one of its regular series.

House of Halay for queers, lesbians, transpeople, gays

This is how Gayhane describes itself. The Halay is a traditional Anatolian circle dance, which is regularly a highlight at Gayhane. The audience ranges from 18 to 70+, queer and heterosexual, Turkish, German, Syrian, and Polish. "Gayhane is not just a club, but a political statement," writes SO36. For 28 years, the night has been a must-attend event in Berlin's queer calendar — on the last Saturday of every month.

The Anniversary Night: 28 Years, Three DJs, One Live Band

For its 28th birthday — January 31, 2026 — the special night brings together the resident DJ team: Ipek (founder), mikki_p, Aziza A (one of the most significant German-Turkish rappers), and Amr Hammer. Additionally, there will be a live performance by the band Kırık Kadehler ("broken glasses"). A specially curated anniversary show rounds off the program. Admission starts unusually early at 8 PM — the organizer states: "This night is for all Gayhanes," explicitly including those who no longer want to club until the early morning.

Political visibility and 28 years of tradition

Gayhane's significance extends beyond Berlin: the format has been copied multiple times (in Vienna, Cologne, Hamburg, Istanbul) and is considered a pioneering project of migrant-queer club culture in Europe. With its 28th anniversary, SO36 honors not only the party but also the communities that have come together on the dancefloor over 28 years.