Pride Salzburg: The Pride Festival in Salzburg at a glance

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 22.05.2025

Since 2019, Pride in Salzburg has been celebrated both as a demonstration for equality and as a party for tolerance. Since 2022, it’s not just the parade that takes place, but an entire week each year is now dedicated to visibility and openness towards the LGBTQI+ community. The Pride Festival is held across countless locations in Salzburg, bringing the city to life with a diverse program of culture, politics, and entertainment. And it draws a crowd – not just locals from Salzburg, but also numerous visitors from across Austria and abroad, all coming together to send a powerful message of love and equality.

Table of Contents

Pride Salzburg 2025
History of the Pride Festival in Salzburg
How can you celebrate Pride Month in Salzburg?
Pride Parade: A key event in the year 2025
Pride Night: A night full of diversity
Gay bars & clubs in Salzburg

Pride Salzburg 2025

From August 29th to September 7th, 2025, it’s once again time for Pride, protest, and party in Salzburg! During these exciting days, numerous events and activities will be organised for, by, and with the LGBTQI+ community. From informative workshops to cultural highlights and the big Pride Parade on September 6th – this is your chance to celebrate diversity, connect with others, and stand up for equality. Don’t miss this colourful celebration of love and inclusion!

History of the Pride Festival in Salzburg

This year, the Pride Festival Salzburg is taking place for the fourth time in a row – and it continues to grow each year. Since it first kicked off in 2022, not only has the number of events increased, but also the number of participants. Today, the Pride Festival is a firmly established part of Salzburg’s event calendar – more visible, louder, and more colorful than ever before.

Pride Week Salzburg 2022

2022 marked a true milestone for Pride in Salzburg: for the first time, it wasn’t just a single parade day being celebrated – as it had been since the very first Pride Parade in 2019 – but an entire Pride Week was introduced, packed with events, workshops, parties, and political actions. And the new concept was a full success: around 5,000 people joined the parade – nearly twice as many as the year before. And we were right in the middle of it all!

We were especially impressed by the tour “In the Footsteps of Queer History through the City” – and discovering queer connections in the Salzburg Museum’s collection made the week truly unique. Sure, the planned moment of silence and rally fell through due to the weather, but the good vibes stayed strong. The parade carried on through the city as planned and ended on a high note with an unforgettable Pride Night.

Pride Night was without a doubt the highlight of the week for us. The moment Gigi La Pajette and her fellow drag queens hit the catwalk, it was clear: this night was going to be legendary. The atmosphere was electric – singing, dancing, cheering – pure queer joy all around. Later, the party moved downstairs to the ARGEStudio for the fetish and leather clubbing, where DJ Ambjörn Söderberg from Oslo shook the basement walls with his darkroom beats.

CSD Salzburg 2023

CSD Salzburg 2023 was just as unforgettable as the year before, once again transforming the city into a vibrant celebration of love, diversity, and equality. The Pride Week kicked off with a spectacular brunch, where Gigi La Pajette and her fellow drag queens wowed us with a dazzling show on the 14th floor of the arte Hotel. From there, the colorful program continued: the queer pub quiz brought laughter, lively debates, and plenty of fun, the Pride Night Kitchen Club invited everyone to cook together, and comic legend Ralf König gave a fascinating talk about queer emancipation and his body of work.

The absolute highlight was the Pride Parade on September 2nd, when we marched through Salzburg’s city center alongside thousands of others. Even a brief fire alarm towards the end couldn’t disturb the mood and we danced the night away at the Pride Night in full spirit. CSD Salzburg 2023 was another powerful statement for a colorful, diverse, and inclusive society.

Delicious food meets glam - meets glam – drag performances are included at the Queer Brunch! ©queersalzburg.at

Pride Festival Salzburg 2024

From August 30th to September 8th, 2024, Salzburg hosted its third consecutive Pride Week. Some of our personal highlights included the Pride Picnic in Hans-Donnenberg-Park, the moving queer opera by British composer Iain Bell, and the Queer Lounge on the rooftop of the arte Hotel. One moment that really stayed with us was the ecumenical queer church service in the Kollegienkirche. It was deeply moving to witness representatives of different churches coming together in a shared prayer for acceptance – a powerful symbol of unity.

Of course, the grand finale was once again the Pride Parade and Pride Night on September 7th. Together with thousands of people, we marched through the city to make a strong statement for equality and visibility. Afterwards, the celebration continued at Pride Night in the ARGEkultur – a joyful evening that embodied everything this incredible week stood for.

How can you celebrate Pride Month in Salzburg?

Pride Month is the perfect time to join other open-minded, joyful people in celebrating diversity – and Salzburg is no exception! Whether it’s parties, workshops, or political actions, you’ll find all the latest info about CSD Salzburg 2025 events at queersalzburg.at/events and on the Pride Festival Salzburg Instagram page.

But you can also celebrate Pride Month in your everyday life: add some color to your world – and your wardrobe! A little rainbow always works, whether it’s on a shirt, button, or flag.

Another way to support the community is by getting involved. Donate or volunteer! Organizations like HOSI Salzburg welcome all kinds of support – whether financial or through your time and energy.

Want to learn more about queer history in Salzburg? Sign up for a queer city tour and discover the traces of LGBTQIA+ life throughout the old town. Queer literature, films, music, and art are also great ways to engage with LGBTQIA+ topics and give queer voices the attention they deserve.

Colorful, loud, and full of love – that’s how the Pride Parade marches through Salzburg! ©HOSI-Salzburg/Roclo Escabosa

Pride Parade: A key event in the year 2025

On September 6th, 2025, it’s happening again: for the seventh year in a row, the Pride Parade will fill the streets of Salzburg with color, energy, and visibility. You are allowed to celebrate and it is going to be joyful, vibrant, and full of life. But above all it’s so much more than just a party, it’s a demonstration for acceptance, equality, and tolerance.

The parade winds its way through the city, making several stops along the way – including iconic spots like Schloss Mirabell and the Staatsbrücke. You don’t need to register to join: just show up, bring your friends, dress in rainbow colors, and carry your signs or statements to make visibility count!

Meeting point: 4pm at Salzburg Main Station
Parade starts: 5pm
Closing rally: 7pm at ARGEkultur, followed by the start of Pride Night

You can find all the latest updates on the route and the full program here!

Colorful, loud, and full of love – that’s how the Pride Parade marches through Salzburg! ©HOSI-Salzburg/Roclo Escabosa

Pride Night: A night full of diversity

After the Pride Parade on September 6th, 2025, the queer joy continues into the night with Pride Night lighting up Salzburg’s nightlife! If you were there last year, you know what might be in store: In 2024, ARGEkultur turned into a pulsating stage for queer performances, infectious DJ sets, and a crowd that danced into the early morning hours.

A true highlight was drag icon France Delon – at 75 years old, with dry wit and irresistible charm, she created an unforgettable atmosphere. For those needing a breather in between, the outdoor garden offered a relaxed space to chat or meet new people. And down in the basement? Things got steamy: DJ Ambjörn Söderberg from Oslo brought the heat to the fetish clubbing floor with his driving darkroom beats.

Whether you’re into drag, electro, or just looking for a safe space to dance, express yourself, and celebrate – Pride Night is for everyone!

For all the latest updates and highlights on Pride Night 2025, follow the Pride Festival Salzburg Instagram page.

LQBTQI+ Bars & Clubs in Salzburg – Community friendly Hotspots

Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxed drink, a wild night of dancing, or connecting with the queer community – Salzburg has plenty to offer even outside of Pride Week. Especially around the Andräviertel, you’ll find some of the city’s top LGBTQIA+ friendly spots:

Academy Bar
Creative decor, a lively student vibe, and a wide beer selection – this bar is a popular hangout for live events, concerts, and laid-back conversations.
Café Wernbacher
A charming old Viennese-style café with flair and an open spirit. Artists, intellectuals, and curious minds all come together here for inspiring encounters.
Dark Eagle
Salzburg’s classic fetish and cruising club – the go-to spot when things are meant to get a little hotter. Entry usually requires a specific dress code.
Fungo’s Bar
A cosy, alternative bar with living-room vibes – home to a colorful, queer-friendly, and creative crowd and laid-back vibes.
HOSI Bar
Run by the Homosexuelle Initiative Salzburg (Homosexual Initiative Salzburg), this bar hosts regular events like karaoke nights, pub quizzes, women’s parties, and monthly fetish evenings. It’s also a key info hub for all things queer in Salzburg.
Mexxx Gaybar
Arguably the most well-known gay bar in town – colourful, loud, and a true safe space for queer night owls. Sometimes they also host fun theme parties!

For a full overview of queer bars, clubs, and restaurants in Salzburg, visit queersalzburg.at.

The Pride Festival in Salzburg is more than just a colorful parade – it’s a powerful statement for acceptance, diversity, and queer visibility. Year after year, the program grows – and so does the number of participants. Salzburg proves that queer culture belongs at the very heart of the city.

If you’re questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity and need someone to talk to, you’ll also find LGBTQIA+ support services listed there. You’re not alone.