Stuttgart PRIDE — CSD-Hocketse

Stuttgart PRIDE — a movement with history

Stuttgart PRIDE is by far the largest queer festival in Baden-Württemberg and one of the most important in Southern Germany. Since the 1990s, IG CSD Stuttgart e.V. has organized a multi-week program — from political events and cultural weeks to the actual demonstration and Hocketse. In 2026, the motto is "Without Us, No Us!" — a political statement on visibility, participation, and societal co-creation by queer people.

The Cultural Weeks — Program from July 10 to 26

Stuttgart PRIDE doesn't just start with the demonstration: Over 16 days, the cultural weeks will feature readings, film screenings, theater performances, lectures, workshops, performances, and networking events at various venues across the city — from Theater am Faden to Bibliothek 21, small clubs in Calwer Straße, and the Bohnenviertel. Traditionally, the opening is the reception at Stuttgart City Hall (July 10).

The Hocketse — Street Festival on Two Squares

From Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, Markt- and Schillerplatz will be transformed into the festival zone. On Markt-platz, the Kulturbühne (culture stage) will host live acts, drag shows, panel discussions, and political contributions. On Schillerplatz, the legendary Open-Air-Disco will feature top DJs on a six-meter-high DJ booth — Pop, Electronic, Schlager, House. In Kirchstraße, the CSD-Infomeile (info mile) will host associations, counseling centers, and queer communities. Around 50 food and drink stalls will cater to visitors. On Sunday, a "Market of Opportunities" will connect the two squares, with a family area located in Münzstraße towards the Dorotheen-Quartier.

The Demonstration — July 25

The highlight is the CSD Demonstration on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Meeting point: Rotebühlstraße. From there, the demonstration procession — with trucks, samba bands, associations, parties, and citizens' initiatives — will march through the city center, past Mailänder Platz, along Königstraße, to Schlossplatz. The final rally will take place there with speeches, bands, and the announcement of political demands.

Stuttgart as a Queer Hotspot

The state capital of Baden-Württemberg has a compact but vibrant queer scene — smaller than Cologne, Berlin, or Hamburg, but denser and more visible. Bars like Mata Hari, the Wagenhallen collective club Schocken, Pyrolex, and the theater scene around Renitenztheater and Theater am Olgaeck form its backbone. Stuttgart PRIDE is the annual manifestation of this scene — political, cultural, festive.