Nachlese ColognePride 2026: Zwischen Rekord, Kritik und Hass

With a record-breaking number of around 1.5 million visitors, this year’s ColognePride sent a powerful message and fully lived up to its motto, “For Queer Rights—Many. Together. Strong!” perfectly. This success is underscored by the police report, which ranks the weekend as one of the most peaceful major events in Cologne.

At the same time, media reports and voices from the community fueled the debate over where the line between political activism and partying lies, how much individual freedom is appropriate, and how much space the CSD should offer to controversial political actors.

At the same time, the extent of overt hatred has continued to grow this year. This is no longer about objective criticism of social debates or LGBT+ culture. What's happening here is, in part, a devastating hatred that eagerly seizes upon any absurdity to legitimize itself.

We do not want to turn a blind eye to either of these developments and are seeking a two-pronged path forward: We want to engage in an open, free dialogue with constructive critics in order to examine ourselves. At the same time, we want to discuss new, effective strategies to resolutely put a stop to the growing hatred.

Participants include:

Christian Huyeng, Mr. Fetish Europe and Board Member of Rheinfetisch e.V. 

Jens Pielhau, Board Member and Press Spokesperson for ColognePride e.V.

Also invited: 

Everyone is welcome—whether you’re passionate about culture or media, active in journalism or the arts, queer or not.

Bring your ideas, inspiration, or just your curiosity! We believe that diverse experiences, ways of thinking, and creative approaches inspire us all—and lead to new ideas.

We look forward to seeing you!