In 2022, CSD Salzburg became the Salzburg Pride Festival. Since then, Salzburg’s queer community has been celebrating Pride for a week with numerous events.

“Be visible Schatzi“ is the motto of the Salzburg Pride Festival for the third year in a row – and Schatzi is more visible in Salzburg than ever before. Initiatives and activities with a queer connection can be found across all possible groups in Salzburg’s urban society. This is also reflected in the programme for Pridefestival Salzburg 2024.

Strong support in the city of Salzburg

On Friday, 30 August, Dexpleen will open the Salzburg Pride Festival 2024 in the Volksgarten with emotional indie pop/rock mixed with electro pop. From the Volksgarten, the party will move on to Lehen or the Andräviertel district. At Narrencastl, it’s Queer Karaoke. The trendy bars Mexxx and Dark Eagle will also be kicking off the first round of parties at the Salzburg Pride Festival 2024.

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On Saturday, 31 August, the queer picnic will kick off in Hans Donnenberg Park. In the Salzburg scene, there will be a drag king workshop that offers insights into the world of drag kings. On 31 August, the Salzburg Summer Academy will conclude with the closing of an exhibition of queer archives from around the world and the exhibition Confessing Weakness with works by Philip Gufler at the Traklhaus. On 31 August, international participants of the Summer Academy and visitors to the Pride Festival Salzburg 2024 will meet for an inspiring evening at the Stadtgalerie Zwergelgarten in Mirabellpark.

On Sunday, 1 September, the Museum der Moderne Salzburg will be hosting a queer treasure hunt at 3 p.m. From 4 p.m., it’s Sexy Sunday Afternoon at Wolfgang’s Dark Eagle, the only bar in Salzburg with separate playrooms. In the evening, you can also go for a sundowner at Hugo’s, the rooftop bar of the arte Hotel, and enjoy the Queer Lounge Salzburg from the very top.

The Queer Pub Quiz on Monday, 2 September at the Academy Bar has almost become a classic. Based on the experiences of the last two years, it is sure to be another fun-filled evening.

The Pride Night Kitchen Club at Olina’s kitchen studio on Tuesday, 3 September will be as informative, delicious and entertaining as usual. The workshop ‘Fake Images’ begins at 3 p.m. A search for clues based on historical images from Obersalzberg. This workshop is presented by Dokumentation Obersalzburg in collaboration with HOSI Salzburg, as is the film ‘Nelly&Nadine’ at 7 p.m. at Das Kino. A lesbian love story set in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Today, more than ever, it seems necessary to remember these times. Also on Tuesday evening, Gigi LaPajette from Salzburg and Grazia Patricia from Vienna invite you to a humorous evening at the Rooftop Bar of the arte Hotel.

On Wednesday, 4 September, a workshop will be held in the morning to address questions about right-wing extremism. On Wednesday, Birgit Leichenring from the Chemsex Network Vienna will be travelling to Vienna to bring interested parties up to date on STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Break the Binary is the title of the workshop with members of the ballet ensemble of the Salzburg State Theatre. And there will be an ecumenical queer church service in the Kollegienkirche.

On Thursday, 5 September, Magic Garage will be performing its Pride Festival Edition at the Academy Bar. Trans*Eltern-Info will be offering tips for relatives of transgender young people. And at 7 p.m., the Kollegienkirche will host the Austrian premiere of a queer opera by British composer Iain Bell. A co-production with the Salzburger Kammerspiele.

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Salzburg Pride 2024

CSD (Christopher Street Day) dates back to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 on Christopher Street in New York, which are considered the beginning of the modern gay and lesbian movement. The actual CSD weekend consists of a Pride Parade and Pride Night.

It all kicks off on Friday evening, 6 September, with Gigi’s Drag Bingo at the HOSI Bar. Last year’s experience at the new HOSI location? A great party! On the same evening, Florian Niederseer will host the Poetry Slam, this time at the Toihaus Theatre in the Andräviertel district. The Pride Pre-Fetish Party, now a tradition, will kick off at Dark Eagle. And, of course, Mexxx will also ring in the CSD weekend.

On Saturday, 7 September, the two-hour queer city tour will begin, offering plenty of opportunities to learn about Salzburg and its queer connections. At the same time, Martin Eder from the vegetarian restaurant Furo will be hosting a pre-parade barbecue on Lasserstraße. And Gigi LaPajette will be hosting brunch with her divas at 12 noon on the 14th floor of the arte Hotel, offering a brilliant view over Salzburg.

From 4 p.m., the Salzburg CSD parade will assemble in front of Salzburg Central Station. At around 5 p.m., the procession will set off for Nonntal University. There, the festivities will gradually transition into Pride Night at ARGE Kultur. Naturally, there will be two dance floors and a stage programme. The official start time is 8 p.m. At 9 p.m., LMC Salzburg will host a meet and greet in the basement of ARGE for all leather and fetish enthusiasts. From 10 p.m., Ambjörn Söderberg will be spinning his darkroom sounds at Fetishclubbing until the early hours of the morning.

On Sunday, 8 September, there will be another brunch at Café am Kai – with the usual great breakfast menu and fantastic views right on the Salzach. And Schatzi will probably tidy up again. A week full of queer visibility in the beautiful city on the Salzach – that’s what the Salzburg Pride Festival 2024 will be.

This article will be continuously updated and supplemented. All fixed dates can be found in the event calendar or on the website of the Salzburg Pride Festival. Tickets for individual events can also be booked there. Or view the programme booklet as a PDF here. Happy Pride! Peter Goebel