Luxembourg Pride Week: celebrate LGBTIQ diversity

Pride Week is an iconic event for the LGBTIQ+ community in Luxembourg. Luxembourg will celebrate the 27th edition of Luxembourg Pride Week. Once again, it promises to be a highlight of the year, combining festivities, awareness-raising, advocacy, and solidarity.

Whether you are a long-time resident or a newcomer to Luxembourg, this event is the perfect opportunity to discover an open society that respects differences. Show your support for a cause that is still relevant today: equal rights for all.

An unmissable event for the LGBTIQ+ community

Organized mainly in Esch-sur-Alzette and Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Pride Week brings together several thousand people every year around strong values: inclusion, respect, visibility, and freedom to be yourself.

For one week, numerous free events are offered to the public: concerts, debates, artistic performances, awareness-raising activities, as well as moments of reflection and protest. The goal? To celebrate diversity in all its forms and to make the voices of those who are still fighting for equality heard.

Pride Week highlights

Here is an overview of the key events to note in your diary now. Dates to be confirmed.

Commemoration ceremony – July 4

Location: National Resistance Museum, Esch-sur-Alzette Time: 7:00 p.m.

This ceremony pays tribute to the LGBTIQ+ community's fight for equal rights. Held in a place steeped in history, it serves as a reminder that social progress is the result of collective and constant commitment.

Pride Run – July 10 in Luxembourg City

Start: Place Guillaume II Time: 7:00 p.m. Kids Run and from 7:30 p.m. for the 5 and 10 km

The Pride Run is the sporting and solidarity event of the week. Open to everyone, even the youngest participants aged 6 to 12, the Pride Run offers 1, 5, or 10 km courses. Whether you run alone, with your family, or with your colleagues, you will be supporting an essential cause in a spirit of good humor and kindness. In 2024, more than 2,300 participants answered the call.

Register at www.luxembourgpriderun.lu

Pride Street Festival – July 11 and 12 in Esch

A festive weekend is planned to bring Pride Week to a spectacular close. On Place de la Résistance in Esch-sur-Alzette, the public will be able to enjoy:

• concerts and DJ sets,
• drag shows,
• association stands,
• a variety of food trucks for refreshments
• and lots of entertainment for young and old alike.

All in a joyful, friendly, and committed atmosphere.

Equality March – July 11

Departure: Esch-sur-Alzette city center Time: departure at 1 p.m.

The Equality March is known as "GayMat" in Luxembourg. It is a highlight of Pride Week. Participants affirm their pride and their desire to live in a more just society. The colorful and joyful floats of the gay community and its supporters send a strong message: equality is non-negotiable.

Musical entertainment, dancing, all kinds of shows, and appearances by politicians are all part of this major festival dedicated to queer people. Organized by the Rosa Lëtzebuerg association in support of the LGBTIQ+ community, this event promotes tolerance and the fight against all forms of discrimination. The Center LGBTIQ+ Cigale also participates in the event. Pride Week is not just for LGBTIQ+ people. It is for all citizens committed to greater tolerance and inclusion. By participating, everyone shows their support for a more open, fair, and humane society.

The rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Luxembourg

Luxembourg is often cited as one of the most progressive European countries in terms of LGBTIQ+ rights. In 2024, it ranked 7th in the Rainbow Europe Index established by ILGA-Europe.

What has already been achieved in Luxembourg in terms of rights:

• Homosexuality has been recognized in Luxembourg since 1974.
• Marriage for all has been legal since 2015. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister from 2013 to 2023, was the first European Prime Minister to marry his partner in 2015.
• Joint adoption is open to all couples
• Ass isted reproductive technology (ART ) is authorized for female couples.
• The law prohibits any discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

These are significant advances that make the country a safe haven for many LGBTIQ+ expatriates.

Today , all discrimination is prohibited in Luxembourg, including on the basis of sexual orientation, in various areas of daily life: employment, health, social security, education, access to goods and services, etc.

Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette are members of the Rainbow Cities Network, an international network of inclusive cities. Since 2021, the City of Luxembourg has also declared itself an LGBTIQ+ Freedom Zone.

An inclusive society and active support structures

Living abroad often means questioning and adapting. For LGBTIQ+ people, or their loved ones, it can also raise specific questions: how can I live my sexuality in a new country? What local protections are in place? Where can I find support?

Beyond one-off events, Luxembourg has several support structures dedicated to the LGBTIQ+ community:

The LGBTIQ+ CIGALE Center

Based in Luxembourg City, this center offers:

• confidential counseling services,
• legal and social information,
• support groups,
• cultural and prevention activities.

It is supported by the Ministry of Family Affairs and is open to anyone who has questions or is looking for support.

Rosa Lëtzebuerg a.s.b.l.

An iconic association in Luxembourg's LGBTIQ+ scene, Rosa Lëtzebuerg has been campaigning for the rights, equality, and visibility of LGBTIQ+ people for over 20 years. It is also behind Pride Week.