Zug der Liebe 2026 cancelled – Rave The Planet responds to CSD attack

According to the organisers, the background is an attack on the margins of the CSD that has changed the security situation in the capital. The atmosphere has been noticeably more tense since the incident, it was said. The organisers stressed that they did not want the cancellation to signal resignation, but rather were responding to the changed conditions.

Background: Attack on the margins of the CSD

With the cancellation, one of Germany's most tradition-rich techno parades falls through this year. The "Zug der Liebe" had regularly attracted several hundred thousand participants in recent years and was regarded as one of the largest electronic music events in Europe.

The organisation Rave The Planet also pointed to logistical challenges. The RAW site, which in earlier years served as a meeting point and endpoint of the parade, is not available this year in its usual form. This, too, played a role in the organisers' assessment, the Abendschau reported further.

Reactions from politics and the scene

Spokesperson Ellen Dosch-Roeingh stated that the safety of participants was the top priority. She emphasised that the decision had not been an easy one. At the same time, the organisation announced plans to aim for another edition of the "Zug der Liebe" next year.

Political reactions also followed swiftly. Berlin's Senator for the Interior Iris Spranger expressed understanding for the cancellation and pointed to the particular burden on the police caused by the attack on the margins of the CSD. The security authorities remain on heightened alert, it was said from the Senate administration.

Police union representative Jens Schwan, on the other hand, criticised the conditions under which major events take place in Berlin. The cancellation is also a signal that the city urgently needs to improve safety at large-scale events. „Wenn selbst eine traditionsreiche Parade wie der Zug der Liebe abgesagt wird, zeigt das, wie ernst die Lage ist", said Schwan.

Reactions also came from the electronic music scene. Several DJ collectives and club operators regretted the cancellation, while at the same time emphasising the necessity of the decision. Spontaneous alternative events were called for on social networks, though these are not considered a substitute for the actual "Zug der Liebe."

The significance of the "Zug der Liebe" for Berlin

The CSD in Berlin is one of the largest demonstrations for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people in Europe. The attack on the margins of the event caused dismay nationwide and triggered a debate about the safety of such major events.

The organisers announced that ticket holders would receive a full refund of the ticket price. In addition, it will be examined whether and in what form smaller actions in the spirit of the "Zug der Liebe" could take place, such as solidarity events in clubs.

Overall, the cancellation makes clear how strongly external security situations now affect the planning of major events. For Berlin, which sees itself as a cosmopolitan and tolerant city, the loss is a severe setback – and a warning signal at the same time.

The "Zug der Liebe" was created in 1996 as a symbolic response to xenophobic attacks. Since then, the event has developed into a fixture of Berlin's summer culture, with appeal far beyond the electronic music scene. Whether and how the format will return in 2027 is currently open.