Queer Vienna: diversity, history and Pride feeling in the rainbow capital

Vienna Pride

The Rainbow Parade on June 14, when Vienna's magnificent Ringstrasse becomes a stage for love, diversity and acceptance, is the highlight of Pride Month. But Vienna is not only queer in June. The city offers you a lively, colorful and proud LGBTIQ+ scene all year round - from legendary drag shows to historical sites of queer history. And ever since Johannes “JJ” Pietsch won the ESC with his emotional song “Wasted Love”, one thing is clear: Vienna is back on the European queer map - with glitter, emotion and plenty of empowerment!

1. Queer history of Vienna
2. Pride Month 2025 in Vienna
3. Meaning of “Pride”
4. Queer hotspots in Vienna
5. ESC: Conchita Wurst & JJ Pietsch

1. Queer history in Vienna - between persecution and diversity

Vienna can look back on a long, eventful queer history. As early as the 19th century, there was a certain degree of queer visibility in the artistic milieu - think of personalities such as Princess Sisi, whose friendships with women still provide material for speculation today, or Gustav Klimt, whose circle included many queer artists.

The Türkis Rosa Lila Villa, founded in 1982, is still a symbol of queer resistance and commitment today. You will also find the aforementioned Villa Vida Café here.

The Rainbow Parade, which has been taking place on the Ringstrasse since 1996, has sent out a strong signal: visibility where emperors once strolled. Today, Vienna is one of the most progressive cities in Europe when it comes to LGBTIQ+ rights - and celebrates this with pride.

Photo: McCutcheon, Pexels

2. Pride Month 2025 in Wien – More than just a parade

If you come to Vienna in June 2025, you will experience a city under the sign of the rainbow. The entire month will be dedicated to visibility, solidarity, and pride, with a diverse program that goes far beyond the legendary Rainbow Parade.

What you can expect:

🌈 Vienna Pride (31 May - 15 June 2025)Two weeks full of events - organized by the HOSI Vienna association - turn the city into a Pride stronghold. The program includes:

• Pride Village on Rathausplatz (June 11-14): With information stands, stage program, food trucks, concerts and talks - free of charge and in the middle of the city.
• Pride Run Vienna (June 13): The sporty Pride run for everyone, which is not about times, but about participation.
• Queer film screenings, readings & workshops in cooperation with local cinemas, cultural centers and museums.
• Community events such as drag brunches, queer pub quizzes and networking events.

🌈 Rainbow Parade (June 14, 2025), the crowning finale: thousands dance and demonstrate along Vienna's Ringstrasse. Numerous trucks, music, speeches, and lots of positive energy make the parade a unique experience.

🌈 Rainbow shopping, specials & moreMany Viennese stores, hotels and museums offer special deals and promotions during Pride Month.

💡 Tip: Check the Vienna Pride website regularly for the current program and short-term event highlights.

Photo: Stephan Magloire

3. What does “Pride” actually mean?

The term “Pride” stands for the self-confidence and visibility of the LGBTIQ+ community. It was deliberately chosen as an alternative to the socially mediated shame that has long been imposed on queer people.

The origin: The term was coined after the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969. The first “Christopher Street Liberation Day” in 1970 became the forerunner of today's Pride parades worldwide.

Meaning today: Pride is more than a party - it is protest, remembrance, and empowerment. It is about the right to live openly and be loved for who you are. In Vienna, this becomes particularly clear at the Rainbow Parade: it goes against the direction of travel along the Ringstrasse - a symbolic act of resistance and change.

Photo: Rdne, Pexels

4. Queer hotspots in Vienna

If you're exploring Vienna, you shouldn't miss these queer locations:

• Villa Vida Café (Linke Wienzeile 102, 1060 Vienna): The queer café in the Türkis Rosa Lila Villa is more than just a meeting place - it's a safe space, a cultural venue and an institution in Vienna's LGBTIQ+ community.
• Why Not Club (Tiefer Graben 22, 1010 Vienna): The classic among Vienna's gay clubs. A fixture in nightlife for decades - perfect for dancing, flirting, and partying.
• Kisss Bar (Luftbadgasse 19, 1060 Vienna): Cozy, charming, and open to all - an ideal place for a relaxed drink.
• Felixx Bar (Gumpendorfer Straße 5, 1060 Vienna): Stylish bar with a large LGBTIQ+ audience, regular drag shows and DJ nights.

If you not only want to explore the city in comfort, but also want to benefit from exclusive discounts with queer partners, we recommend our sister ticket, the QueerCityPass Vienna! In addition to free use of public transport, you will also receive discounts at numerous LGBTIQ+-friendly locations, such as bars, cafés, stores, and museums. You can find a complete overview of all QueerCityPass Vienna discount partners here.

Photo: Shkraba Anthony, Pexels

5. ESC history from Vienna - From Conchita Wurst to JJ Pietsch

With his song “Wasted Love”, Johannes “JJ” Pietsch brought Austria victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 - with a powerful ballad about queer love, heartbreak and healing. The queer singer and countertenor from Vienna touched millions with his performance - and made his hometown a little more queer.

But JJ Pietsch is not alone: Vienna has already made ESC history, with none other than Conchita Wurst. Conchita won the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in 2014 with “Rise Like a Phoenix” and became an international icon of the LGBTIQ+ community overnight. Conchita's message of tolerance, diversity, and self-determination was far more than just a show - it was a cultural milestone.

Since then, Conchita has not only been active as an artist, but also as a voice for queer rights - in Austria, Europe and beyond. She lives in Vienna and continues to shape the city today as a symbol of an open and proud queer culture.

Photo: eurovision.tv/EBU, Sarah Louise Bennett