Pride Memmingen (CSD)

A Young Pride Event in the Allgäu

Pride Memmingen was founded in 2023 and will celebrate its fourth edition in 2026. Behind the festival is the association Pride Memmingen e.V., which aims to make the LGBTQIA+ community of the Allgäu region visible – especially in rural areas where queer visibility is much more challenging than in Munich, Berlin, or Cologne. Memmingen is an independent city in the district of Unterallgäu (Bavaria) with around 45,000 inhabitants and a historic old town dating back to the Free Imperial City era.

Three Components: Rally, Demo, Party

The program follows the proven model of German Pride events: Rally and stage program on Memmingen's historic market square with speeches from politics, culture, and the community, music acts, and drag performances. This is followed by a demonstration through the city center – colorful flags, posters, music from the parade float, a deliberate political statement for diversity, anti-discrimination, and equality. The event culminates in the After-Party at Kaminwerk, Memmingen's cultural center (Anschützstraße 1), with drag show acts, queer DJs, and a dance floor.

Kaminwerk as a Queer Safe Space

For years, Kaminwerk has been a central venue for Memmingen's subculture – a former industrial building that now hosts concerts, parties, and cultural events. For Pride Memmingen, it is not just a party location but a symbolic place: a safe space where queer identity can be celebrated. The after-party has two phases: from 6:30 PM, the outdoor area with food stands ("Il Tedesco" with pizza and focaccia), and from 9:00 PM, indoor festivities with DJ sets and drag shows.

Political Dimension and Allgäu Identity

Pride Memmingen is not just a festival but also a political statement. The organizers emphasize the necessity of queer visibility in the Allgäu region, where conservative structures often shape the social climate. The combination of the Free Imperial City's history (Memmingen was the location of the "Twelve Articles" in the Peasants' War of 1525 – one of Europe's first human rights documents) and the Pride movement creates a locally rooted identity.

A Growing Community

With each edition, the number of participants grows. Pride Memmingen is now a firm fixture in the calendar of the Bavarian LGBTQIA+ community, attracting participants from all over the Allgäu, the Lake Constance region, and the surrounding areas. The event aims to be deliberately inclusive – "for everyone who thinks colorfully, lives loudly, and celebrates freely."