ruhrPRIDE 2026 Germany

Info

ruhrPRIDE (CSD Essen Pride) takes place on Saturday the 8th August 2026.

The ruhrPRIDE is the largest queer street festival in the Ruhr area and an integral part of the CSDs in Germany. The non-profit organisation ruhrPRIDE eV is looking forward to celebrating a colourful festival with you on Saturday in August and inviting all interested people to join in. The highlights of ruhrPRIDE on Saturday are the large demonstration and the subsequent street festival on Kennedyplatz, in the middle of Essen's city centre. In the previous week there will be a colourful supporting program with varied queer events. The ruhrPRIDE invites everyone to stand up for an open society, diversity and acceptance and to demonstrate loudly with us and also to celebrate.

Theme
to follow

Parade
Start trade fair car park P2 - Essen Rüttenscheid. The demonstration is taking place for the 15th time this year. The route has been shortened slightly to ensure everyone can take part in the event, based on experience with the new routing implemented last year.

Festival
Following the demonstration, the ruhrPRIDE street festival in the heart of the city centre starts on Kennedyplatz and, for the first time this year, on the neighbouring Friedensplatz. In addition to the large ruhrPRIDE main stage with various live acts, a political talk and other highlights, numerous groups, clubs and associations will present themselves on the squares. Of course, there will be some culinary delicacies and cool drinks at Kennedyplatz again this year. But the restaurants around the squares also offer something for all tastes. Everyone is invited to spend a colourful, loud, politically effective and unforgettable day with us and to set an example for the queer communities.

After party
to follow