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Cologne CSD 2025: Diversity, colors and strong voices for queer rights!
Experience the Cologne CSD 2025: colorful demonstration for queer rights, 60,000 participants, creative outfits, and celebrations in the city center.
Cologne CSD 2025: Diversity, colors and strong voices for queer rights!
What a spectacle! Cologne's Christopher Street Day (CSD) presented itself today again as one of the most colorful and diverse demonstrations in Germany. When the drizzle stopped, the parade started, which not only stands for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, but also brings solidarity and togetherness to the fore. Around 60,000 participants have registered for this special day, which exceeds last year's figures, and many thousands of spectators join them along the route. Jens Pilhau from ColognePride held the ceremonial opening with the words: “Diversity is the greatest enemy of populist actors”.
This year's motto "For Queer Rights. Many. Together. Strong!" demonstrates the determination to stand up for the rights of the queer community. Bärbel Bas, the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, and Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker highlighted the ongoing hostility against queer people in their speeches and underlined the need to increase this visibility. Prominent guests such as Karl Lauterbach, Claudia Roth and Ina Brandes also didn't miss the opportunity to support the event.
Colorful diversity and solidarity
The demonstration, which begins on the newly illuminated Deutzer Bridge, runs through Cologne city center on a route approximately 5 kilometers long. It features costumed groups and festively decorated floats celebrating all forms of love and acceptance. Along the route, which leads along Augustinerstrasse to Marzellenstrasse, not only confetti was distributed, but also information brochures and condoms to raise awareness of important issues.
The participation of a delegation from Rio de Janeiro, which is taking part in the CSD as a partner city of Cologne, is particularly touching. Milton Reis da Cunha Junior, a carnival presenter from Brazil, brought the worrying information about the difficult situation of the queer community in Brazil and praised Cologne as a positive example of tolerance and solidarity. At the same time, the discussion about the rainbow flag continued at the German Bundestag, where NRW Culture Minister Ina Brandes made it clear that she would definitely have hoisted the flag.
Celebrations into the night
Today's celebrations culminate in a colorful stage program with performances by live acts. The Cologne hitmaker Brings will heat up the party around 7:30 p.m., followed by actors from the musical Moulin Rouge and the legendary Weather Girls, who will provide an additional atmosphere.
The event, which has taken place continuously since 1991, is not only an integral part of the Cologne calendar, but also a celebration of diversity that connects people of different origins and identities. A day full of euphoric moments and a strong message: standing up together for the rights, freedom and equality of all. Let's stay strong, colorful and together!