Klingenpride — CSD Solingen

Klingenpride — Solingen's queer summer highlight

What has been a firm fixture in the Pride calendar in Dutch Cologne and Westphalian Dortmund for years now has its own date in Solingen: Klingenpride — Solingen's only LGBTQIA* festival. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, hundreds of people from the Bergisches Land, Niederrhein, and Rhineland will gather for the demonstration and the main stage program in Südpark Solingen.

Demo Route — from the Town Hall to Südpark

The demo starts at 1:00 PM at the town hall on Walter-Scheel-Platz 1, goes through Solingen's city center, and ends in Südpark. The route is typically CSD: loud, colorful, with floats from local initiatives and Solingen's civil society. The police will accompany the procession; traffic in the city center will be temporarily diverted.

Festival from 3 PM in Südpark

From 3:00 PM, the stages in Südpark Solingen will open. The main stage will be opened by Ilka Werner. The following will perform:

• Das Sohn
• Part of the Art
• Esther Filly
• Lieber lila
• Leopold

The performances end at 10:00 PM with the closing set by DJ Denise Lau.

"Queerer Bahnsteig" — the DJ dance floor

Parallel to the main stage, a separate DJ dance floor called "Queerer Bahnsteig" will feature electronic sets:

• Tobias Christoph
• Nicolas Stefan
• J. Althaus
• LALENA

Those who prefer to dance rather than listen to speeches will find their place here.

Stands, Initiatives, and Political Discourse

In Südpark, there will be stands from local LGBTQIA* organizations, self-help groups, counseling centers, the Aidshilfe, and political parties. Topics include: anti-discrimination, equal rights, coming-out counseling, trans and inter rights. Klingenpride sees itself not just as a party, but as a political action + summer festival in one event.

Solingen — the "City of Blades"

Solingen is internationally known as the "City of Blades" for its knives and cutlery. The city in the Bergisches Land has around 161,000 inhabitants and has been a remarkably open location with a vibrant queer scene for years. The name "Klingenpride" plays on Solingen's "City of Blades" identity — a confident pun.

CSD Solingen e.V. — the association behind it

The organizer is CSD Solingen e.V. — a young association that has been organizing the Pride independently for several years. Partners include the restaurant Stückgut and the cultural association Güterhallen e.V., which offers additional accompanying events.

Arrival and Parking

Two recommended parking lots: Birkenweiher (in the city center) and Bahnhof Solingen-Mitte. By public transport: S-Bahn S7 to Solingen-Mitte, then walk to Südpark. If coming from the Rhineland: A46 to Solingen-Aufderhöhe.