Rotterdam Pride 2026: Queertopia takes over the city, 17–27 September

Rotterdam is about to turn every colour of the rainbow. From Thursday 17 to Sunday 27 September, Rotterdam Pride Week takes over the city under this year's artistic vision, Queertopia — eleven days of visibility, connection, art and culture, with more than 130 parties, talks, exhibitions and club nights spread across the city. The week kicks off on 17 September with the launch of Qtopia, a brand-new queer magazine about Rotterdam nightlife, culture and creative activism. The big day is Saturday 26 September. Under the international motto "Pride is still a protest", the Pride March gathers from 10:30 at Stationsplein (Rotterdam Centraal), with speeches at 11:00 and the walk starting at 11:30 — a peaceful 3.5 km route through the heart of the city, arriving at Willemsplein around 13:00. That's where the party starts. The free Rotterdam Pride Festival runs from 13:00 to 23:00 at Willemsplein, right at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge. The full line-up was announced earlier this month: Berget Lewis, JEA, Mandy McCandy, WINE., Gavin Reijnders and Mika Akela, joined by Babs, Yaro Mila, Child of Destiny, Daniel Matthix, Kahorsa and BassBtch — live music, queer talent and the Rotterdam club scene on one stage, plus a Queer Market and the Queer Campus for panels and talks. It caps off a historic Pride summer in the Netherlands: in August, Amsterdam hosted WorldPride for the first time, celebrating 25 years since the world's first same-sex marriage — and Rotterdam gets the last word. See you at Willemsplein.