Event Dates
From: Friday, July 3, 2026
To: Monday, July 6, 2026
Gay Pride Cologne 2026
Cologne Gay Pride or as it is better known Christopher Street Day is one of the bigger European gay prides attracting over one million people.
Pride in the gay capital of Germany, Cologne, 2026
Gay Pride Cologne and the Cologne CSD parade are part of a larger Gay Pride Festival, which includes several cultural events, concerts and parties. Cologne is the 4th largest city in Germany and is one of the most gay-friendly destinations in Europe.
- Are you visiting Cologne Pride? Stay close to the party at 25 Hours Hotel Koeln The Circle, rated “Fabulous” by guests featuring beautifully decorated rooms and an excellent on-site bar and restaurant.
CSD Cologne Street Festival
- Next Edition: Friday 3rd of July 2026 to Monday 6th July 2026.
- Events kick off in Cologne’s charming Old City district at 6 pm on Friday with a huge Street Festival.
- Street parties take place on the Heumarkt, Alter Markt, Gürzenichstraße and Elogiusplatz.
- After the official opening, three stages burst into life. The Street Party includes food trucks, bars, information stands, vendor booths across several nearby squares, and a complete stage program featuring local and international acts, DJs, drag queens and liver performances.
- Don’t miss the daily dance stage shows at Günter-Wand-Platz and the Friday Opening Party at Odonien/artheater/Helios37.
- Stay close to the Pride celebrations at Maison Marasil, a design hotel rated “Fabulous” by guests in the heart of the old town, featuring individually designed rooms and apartments.
Cologne Pride Parade
- Sunday 5th July 2026 – Cologne Gay Pride Parade starts from Deutzer Brücke, working its way through the old town to Komödienstraße, with over 120 floats participating in the parade.
- The parade typically kicks off at noon. Deutzer Brücke offers a panoramic view of the historic old town (Altstadt).
- Tip: Prime spots: along Hohenzollernring, near Friesenplatz, in front of the Dom Cathedral, and on Deutzer Brücke for views of the procession and river backdrop.
- For less crowded vantage, stand near media park or Inklusions‑area which has ramp access and a diverse audience.
- Streets fill early—get to your viewing spot by 11 am.
- If you plan on visiting, book your hotel in the gay district early, as this is one of the most popular Summer pride events in July. Choose hotels along Ringstrasse or close to Heumarkt or Ebertplatz for walking distance to stage areas and parade.
Cologne Beach Pride
- Late June to Monday 6th July 2026 – Situated on Elogiusplatz, near Heumarkt in Cologne’s Old Town, the Pride Beach transforms an urban square into a sandy oasis.
- Enjoy an urban beach setup with sand, loungers, and a shallow water basin—great for dipping your feet.
- Complete with a beach bar serving cocktails (like Aperol Spritz), drinks, and light snacks.
- By evening, the DJ-driven chill beach vibe ramps up into sunset parties, especially during the main festival days.
Pride Festival Cologne
- Friday 3rd July to Monday 6th July 2026 – The Cologne Pride Festival hosts a weekend of pride circuit parties featuring international DJs, dancers and fantastic stage shows with live performances, dancers and large play areas.
- Events end with the world-famous Greenkom and Naughty after-parties (day and night parties).
Cologne Pride Partyboat
- Saturday 4th July, 2026 – Cologne Fetish Pride hosts a special Pride Boat Party on Saturday afternoon. The three hour river cruise includes DJs and the winner of Mr Bear Europe.
- Note this is the second of two boat parties, the first held during Cologne Fetish Pride in May.
Sexy Cologne Pride Festival Main Event
- Saturday 4h July, 2026 – Sexy Cologne Pride Edition A unique one-off special edition of the Sexy party with 14 different DJs, four stages, XXL play area and an amusement park!
Babylon Pool Party
- Monday 6th July, 2026 – The Babylon Pool party is the perfect way to end your Cologne Pride celebrations on Monday.
Cologne Pride Fetish Events
- Friday – Xtreme Cologne, with more than 2,000 sexy fetish fans taking over a massive warehouse location with international DJs and massive play space.
- Friday – GUYZ – trendsetting event for queer nightlife during national holidays, big DJs and fetish lovers! Pack your leather and latex for this one.
- Saturday – Cologne Partyboat, hot sounds and hot guests invite you to a tour on the river in the sun and drinks on the XXL open-air party deck.
Gay Cologne
- Cologne has two distinct pockets of gay activity: Schaafenstrasse, Rudolfplatz, and the streets around Heumarkt, closer to the Dom/Central station.
- The city’s two major gay areas ensure something for all tastes, from the older leather scene on the Old Town’s Heumarkt-Mathiasstrasse to the more modern area around Rudolfplatz, catering to the young and trendy.
- Head to ExCorner, Cologne’s best gay bar with cosy interiors and attractive, young clientele.
- Ruhrpott, offers delicious nibbles and fantastic cocktails..
- Die Mumu, is the place to go if you want to dance late into the night.
Where to stay during Cologne Pride?
- Our top trending hotel is the Hyatt Regency Cologne, just a short ride away from the Pride Festival and has excellent views of the Cathedral, the old town and the river Rhine.
The following Cologne hotels are close to the city’s gay bars and the pride celebrations:
Hotel Lyskirchen, Maritim Hotel, Dorint-Cologne, 25hours Hotel,
Recommended Hotels
Its advisable to Book in advance
Book now and pay on arrival
Where we stay!
Steigenberger Hotel one of the top-rated
locations in Cologne next to the gay bars
Official Website
For further information and advice on
Cologne Pride, visit The website
Gay Map of Cologne
There two gay areas in Cologne: Rudolfplatz, known locally as the “Bermuda Triangle” is more modern in style with Many of the cafes, bars and clubs around have started during the last twenty years. The Old Town is home to more Traditional pubs and bars for mixed ages.
Filzengraben 26, 50676 Köln, Germany
This hotel lies in the heart of , 100 m from the Rhine Promenade. Guests enjoy free use of the large indoor swimming pool and modern gym, and the sauna can be used for a surcharge.
The bright and spacious rooms at Hotel Lyskirchen feature elegant interiors. All rooms come with a flat-screen TV, a desk and a coffee machine as well as a complimentary bottle of mineral water. Free WiFi is available.
Pipinstraße 15 0667 Cologne, Germany
This hotel is situated in Cologne city centre, 200 m from the Heumarkt Square. It offers spacious rooms and a restaurant. Some rooms include access to a health club with large indoor swimming pool (usable for a surcharge).
Dorint am Heumarkt Köln provides spacious rooms with soundproofed windows and modern décor. All rooms include free tea/coffee facilities and a stylish marble bathroom. Some rooms offer a view of Cologne Cathedral.
Heumarkt 2050667 Cologne, Germany
Centrally located in Cologne, this hotel provides panoramic views of the River Rhine. The Maritim Köln offers elegant accommodation and a spa with a gym and indoor pool.
The air-conditioned rooms and suites of the Maritim Hotel Köln are furnished in warm colours. All rooms include satellite TV, a desk and a modern bathroom. WiFi is provided free of charge for guests in the whole hotel.
Hohe Straße 30 51149 Cologne, Germany
Located next to the lively pedestrian areas Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse you find Hotel am Augustinerplatz, only a 4-minute walk to Cologne’s Old Town and the Rhine.
The rooms at the 4-star Hotel am Augustinerplatz were completely renovated in 2009 offering a comfortable, modern design. They all feature a TV with free sky channels, a telephone, minibar and a safe.
Im Klapperhof 22-24, 50670 Köln,
Conveniently set in Cologne, 25hours Hotel The Circle provides air-conditioned rooms, a restaurant, free WiFi and a bar. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. The hotel has newspapers and a fax machine and photocopier that guests can use.
Guest rooms at the hotel are equipped with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and a shower. All units include a desk.
Komödienstraße 3, 50667 Köln, Germany
The units come with tiled floors and feature a fully equipped kitchenette with a fridge, a dining area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom with bidet and a hairdryer. Free WiFi and a balcony.
Ehrenstraße 67, 50672 Köln, Germany
The apartment has 3 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 3 bathrooms with a bidet. Free WiFi and private parking
Friesenwall 24B, 50672 Köln, Germany
The units come with tiled floors and feature a fully equipped kitchenette with a fridge, a dining area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom with bidet and a hairdryer. Free WiFi and a balcony.
Hämergasse 4-14, 50667 Köln, Germany
All apartments at DASKöln feature designer-style furniture, a safe, and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a private bathroom with a shower. Just a 10-minute walk from Cologne Cathedral & the Main Train Station
Friesenwall 26 / Kettengasse, Cologne 50672
● Modern design with a popular street terrace
● Great spot to unwind and socialize
● Offers a welcoming atmosphere for everyone
Monday, Tuesday 16:00 – 24:00; Wednesday, Thursday 15:00 – 24:00
Friday 15:00 – 01:00; Saturday 12:00 – 01:00; Sunday 15:00 – 24:00
Mittelstraße 31-33, Cologne 50672
● Popular among shoppers from nearby fashion & design streets
● Gay-friendly with a cozy vibe
● Ideal for a coffee break or light meal
Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00 – 19:00; Thursday-Saturday 09:00 – 21:00;
Sunday 09:00 – 20:00
Pipinstraße/Vor St. Martin 8-10, Cologne 50667
● Cafe-bar in the Old Town of Cologne, next to the tower of Klein St.Martin ● Energetic, pink-hued gay bar featuring drinks, cafe bites & drag shows, plus outdoor tables.
Wednesday, Thursday 17:00 – 24:00; Friday 17:00 – 03:00 Saturday 14:00 – 03:00; Sunday 14:00 – 22:00
Pipinstraße 3, Cologne 50667
● Friendly gay bar in the Old Town, with a touch of Mediterranean
● The Barcelon has been a popular gay gin bar in Cologne's old town since 2011 with a large outdoor terrace.
Wednesday, Thursday 17:00 – 23:00; Friday, Saturday 17:00 – 02:00
Sunday 14:00 – 20:00
Pipinstraße 5 / Vor St. Martin 12, Cologne 50667
● Popular gay bar in the Old Town of Cologne
Monday-Thursday 17:00 – 01:00; Friday, Saturday 17:00 – 03:00+ Sunday 16:00/17:00 – 01:00
Kasinostraße 1a / Stephanstraße, Cologne 50676
● Traditional German pub with a mixed clientele
Tuesday-Saturday from 16:00
Schaafenstraße 61 A, Cologne 50676
● Modern fancy bar with drinks, DJs, music videos, and neon lights.
● Mainly young and middle-aged clientele.
Wednesday, Thursday 19:00 – 03:00; Friday, Saturday 21:00 – 05:00
Schaafenstraße 45, Cologne 50676
● Mixed gay-straight-lesbian cocktail lounge bar.
● Stylish and with high-quality cocktails and drinks.
● Stylish and with high-quality cocktails and drinks.
Tuesday-Thursday 19:00 – 03:00; Friday, Saturday 20:00 – 05:00
Greesbergstraße 2/Eigelstein, Cologne 50668
● Long-standing gay bar in the Eigelstein quarter.
Monday-Thursday 15:00 – 01:00; Friday, Saturday 16:00 – 03:00 Sunday 14:00 – 00:30
Balduinstraße 20, 50676 Köln, Germany
● Small fetish-friendly gay bar in the center of Cologne Men Only!
Tuesday-Thursday 19:00 – 02:00; Friday, Saturday 19:00 – 04:00 Sunday 17:00 – 02:00
Richard-Wagner-Straße 25, Cologne 50674
● Small basement lounge bar with karaoke and mixed clientele.
Tuesday-Sunday from 20:00
Greesbergstraße 2/Eigelstein, Cologne 50668
● Long-standing gay bar in the Eigelstein quarter.
Monday-Thursday 15:00 – 01:00; Friday, Saturday 16:00 – 03:00 Sunday 14:00 – 00:30
Mühlenbach 53, 50676 Köln, Germany
● Bears-friendly bar in the Old Town of Cologne.
● Little and big bears in all sizes.
Wednesday-Saturday from 18:00
Alter Markt 58 50667 Cologne, Germany
● In summer with terrace at Alter Markt(Old Market), a popular area for tourists.
● The clientele outside is usually very mixed.
Daily 12:00/14:00–01:00/03:00
Pipinstraße 5, 50667 Köln, Germany
● Small bar in the Old Town of Cologne.
● Next to the gay bars Barcelon and Baustelle4U.
Wednesday,Thursday17:00–01:00;Friday,Saturday17:00–2:00 Sunday16:00–23:00
Mathiasstraße 5, 50676 Köln, Germany
● Small gay bar with a backroom.
● Mainly attracts thirty- and forty-something clientele.
Monday-Thursday 20:00 – 02:00+, Friday, Saturday 20:00 – 05:00+
Sunday 20:00 – 02:00+
Mathiasstraße 22, 50676 Köln, Germany
● The longest-running gay cruising and fetish bar in Cologne.
● Formerly known as Hands and Boners.
● Primarily attracts clientele aged 35+.
● Minimum consumption: 8 €
Monday 18:00 – 03:00, Tuesday-Thursday 21:00 – 03:00, Friday, Saturday 21:00 – 05:00, Sunday 21:00 – 03:00
Club Bogen 2, Gladbacher Wall 5, 50670 Köln, Germany
● Legendary party, well known for a great line up and light show. Cute crowd as well.
Schaafenstraße 49, 50676 Köln, Germany
● Popular busy gay bar can be a lot of fun
Daily from 7pm
Schaafenstraße 57 50676 Cologne, Germany
● Rather inconspicuous during the day, the Ex|Corner wakes up in the evening with regular entertaiment this bar is always busy
Schaafenstraße 51 50676 Cologne, Germany
● Gay bar with mainly very young clientele
Daily from 19:00
Mühlenbach 57 50676 Cologne, Germany
● Bar for gay seniors and their admirers.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday from 17:00 –01:00; Friday, Saturday17:00–03:00
Recommended Hotels in Cologne By Booking
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Cologne that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Dorint Hotel
5 Star, Luxury
- 5-star, health club, large indoor pool.
- Close to the gay district.
- Soundproofed, marble bathroom.
- Prime city center location, luxurious amenities, ideal for relaxation.
25hours Hotel
4 Star, Readers Choice
- 4-star, unique bar, vibrant ambiance.
- Close to the gay district.
- Air-conditioned, flat-screen TV.
- Creative design, central location, perfect for a unique experience.
Hotel Lyskirchen
4 Star, Great Value
- 4-star, indoor pool, modern equipped gym.
- Close to the gay district.
- Flat-screen TV, elegant interiors.
- Heart of Cologne, great value, modern facilities, leisure comfort.
DASKöln
Serviced Apartments
- Modern-style, central, free WiFi.
- A short walk to the gay bars.
- Designer furniture, equipped kitchen.
- Quiet yet central, ideal for longer stays, close to attractions.
Video of Cologne Gay Pride
Christopher Street Day – Cologne / Köln Official Video
Top Gay Neighbourhoods in Cologne
Cologne, affectionately referred to as the “Gay Capital of Germany”, boasts vibrant gay neighbourhoods brimming with history, culture, and LGBTQ+ pride. The city’s heart beats loudly in the districts of Rudolfplatz and the Old Town’s famous Bermuda Triangle.
Altstadt-Nord | Cologne Old Town
Photo: Cologne hosts huge Circuit Events, Kinky Festivals & even a Gay Christmas Market
- Cologne’s gay scene is around Heumarkt-Mathiasstrasse in the Old Town (Altstadt). It is the city’s original gayborhood.
- The gaybourhood is home to low-key gay bars, a leather vibe and famous cruise clubs.
- One of the pioneering districts for LGBTQ+ rights in Germany, it hosts several post-parade parties during Cologne Pride.
- Discover the best things to see and do in the old town.
Rudolfplatz
Nicknamed “The Bermuda Triangle”, located west of town and home to Babylon & Phoenix saunas.
Ehrenfeld
Artsy neighbourhood, 20-mins from the centre, with trendy cafes, boutiques, & a vivid street art scene.
Belgian Quarter
Known for its hip atmosphere offering a blend of chic boutiques, trendy restaurants, & lively bars.
Deutz
On the eastern bank of the Rhine River, with a quieter vibe and fantastic views of Cologne’s skyline.
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