PaderPride / CSD Paderborn

Pride in Paderborn — City with Cathedral and University

PaderPride is the Christopher Street Day (CSD) of the city of Paderborn and the central LGBTQ+ visibility event in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL). Organized by AIDS-Hilfe Paderborn, the 2026 event comprises five weeks of programming — the Pride Weeks from May 12 to June 19, 2026, with Pride Day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, as the highlight.

Pride Day, June 6, 2026 — Demonstration and Street Festival

The central celebration day begins on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Rathausplatz. After opening speeches, the demonstration march through the city center starts — past the Cathedral, through the pedestrian zone, with banners, rainbow flags, trucks, and music. Thousands of participants (estimated 2,000–4,000 in recent years) march for more visibility, against discrimination, and for full legal equality for LSBTIQ* people through Paderborn.

After returning to Rathausplatz, the street festival begins at 1:30 PM with:

• Action booths from LGBTQ+ organizations, counseling centers, associations, and political initiatives
• Live music on the main stage with local bands, DJs, and performances
• Performances by drag artists, dance groups, and slam poets
• Food and drinks from mobile stands and trucks

Pride Weeks — Five Weeks of Programming

The Pride Weeks from May 12 to June 19 include a packed program of events — political, cultural, social:

• May 12, 2026 (Opening): Poetry Slam with LGBTQ+ performers
• May 26, 2026: Bingo night with entertainment
• May 30, 2026: Second Bingo night
• June 2, 2026: Health and Wellness Activities + Film screening
• June 6, 2026: Pride Day (Demonstration + Street Festival)
• June 7, 2026: Ecumenical service in Paderborn Cathedral
• June 8, 2026: Discussion panel with activist Hans Berlin
• June 19, 2026 (Closing): Author reading by Sven Rühl

Ecumenical Service in the Cathedral

A special feature of PaderPride: the ecumenical service in Paderborn Cathedral, one day after Pride Day. Paderborn has been a predominantly Catholic city for centuries — the seat of an archbishopric and a theological faculty. The ecumenical service for LSBTIQ* people in the Cathedral has been an important sign of openness and dialogue between the church and the queer community for years.

Discussion with Hans Berlin

Hans Berlin (* 1962) is a well-known LGBTQ+ activist, performer, and political figure who has been working at the intersection of queer visibility and social discourse for decades. The discussion panel on June 8 brings him into direct exchange with the Paderborn community.

Author Reading by Sven Rühl

The closing event of the Pride Weeks on June 19 is an author reading by Sven Rühl — an author who addresses queer themes in contemporary literature. Reading with discussion and book signing.

Paderborn — Historic City with a Modern Community

Paderborn, with around 153,000 inhabitants, is the seat of the Paderborn district and the Archbishopric of Paderborn. It combines historical identity (Cathedral, theology, medieval old town) with a dynamic university city (University of Paderborn with approx. 20,000 students). The LGBTQ+ community has been organized for decades and uses PaderPride as an annual visibility and solidarity ritual.