We at Unleashed.Berlin are beyond excited for the upcoming Zug der Liebe in Berlin. This annual open-air techno parade isn’t just about dancing in the streets. It’s about dancing for a cause. On Saturday, August 30, 2025, thousands of music lovers and activists will unite for the tenth edition of Zug der Liebe, a demonstration that blends booming electronic beats with powerful messages of social change . As passionate contributors to Berlin’s nightlife and community, we’re not only attending the parade – we’re marching in it! Here’s an in-depth look at what Zug der Liebe is all about, why its mission matters to us, and how Unleashed.Berlin will be part of the action both on the street and later that night.
What Exactly Is Zug der Liebe?
Zug der Liebe is a full-fledged techno demonstration with participants carrying banners for causes like fairness, compassion, and equal opportunity, all amid throbbing beats and dancing crowds. Founded in 2015, “Zug der Liebe” (German for “Train of Love”) was created to bring people together through music while advocating for social good. The core mission of the event is to protest for more compassion, altruism, and social engagement . In practice, it feels like a mini version of Rave the planet(Love parade) with a conscience: around 15 sound trucks roll through the city streets, each hosted by different DJ collectives and social initiatives, pumping out techno and house music as crowds follow along . But unlike the purely commercial mega-parades, the organizers emphasize that Zug der Liebe is explicitly a political demonstration. The parade provides a platform for community groups and causes that often fly under the radar, giving them visibility in the most Berlin way possible: with glitter, bass, and a united crowd moving to one rhythm .
One thing that sets Zug der Liebe apart is its activist spirit. You’ll see protest signs and art alongside the DJs and dancers – slogans about social justice, environmental responsibility, and love for our neighbors are just as integral to the parade as the music. In fact, the event’s very name and ethos echo a message of togetherness and empathy. The result is a vibe that’s equal parts party and protest. As the official Berlin city events page describes it, Zug der Liebe is “ein lautes Zeichen für mehr soziales Engagement, Mitgefühl und Nächstenliebe” – a loud symbol for more social engagement, compassion, and love of thy neighbor . In concrete terms, that means tens of thousands of people dancing in the streets in the name of community and solidarity. Indeed, organizers expect tens of thousands of participants to turn out on August 30 , making Zug der Liebe one of the biggest open-air events of the Berlin summer alongside giants like the new Love Parade reboot and the CSD pride march . The atmosphere is electric and optimistic – it’s Berlin rave euphoria channeled toward positive social change.
10 Years of Love: The 2025 Edition
This year’s Zug der Liebe is extra special because it marks 10 years of Love. The motto for 2025 says it all: 10 Years of Love – Together for a Fairer Future . Reaching a decade is a big milestone, and it comes with a spirit of both reflection and renewal. As the organizers note in their 2025 statement, this anniversary is a chance to look back on what’s been achieved and to celebrate the power of activism and unity. The past ten years have shown just what’s possible when people raise their voices together for a more just and solidaric society . At the same time, the work isn’t finished – far from it. Key issues that Zug der Liebe champions remain front and center: better public transportation and environmental policy, social justice, and affordable housing are all still pressing concerns in Berlin . By hitting the streets, the parade shines a spotlight on these causes and gives various grassroots initiatives a chance to be heard . The theme bass connects also underlies this year’s event, highlighting how music can unite diverse people toward common goals . In short, the tenth Zug der Liebe is both a celebration of how far the community has come and a rallying cry for the challenges ahead.
Logistically, Zug der Liebe 2025 kicks off at 13:00 on August 30 at the Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg . A initial rally or opening speech will get things started at Bernauer Straße 48 (by the Mauerpark flea market entrance) before the trucks start rolling . From there, the parade wends its way through the city along a now-traditional route. The procession will cruise down Danziger Straße into Friedrichshain, then head along the grand Karl-Marx-Allee to Alexanderplatz, and continue through Berlin’s historic center (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße and Unter den Linden) past Friedrichstraße . Finally, it will cross into Kreuzberg – ending around Oranienstraße/Ritterstraße in the heart of the Kreuzberg scene . By the time the march reaches its end point in the early evening, we’ll have danced across multiple districts. And while the official afterparty hosted by the Zug der Liebe team kicks off at club Ritter Butzke around 21:00 , we at Unleashed.Berlin have some of our own plans for the night – but more on that in a moment.
What matters most about this 10th anniversary parade is the message it sends: Berlin’s party community stands for love, inclusion, and positive change. Even though Zug der Liebe is smaller in scale than the massive city-wide events like the Pride parade, its impact is huge in the hearts of those who attend. It’s a grassroots labor of love by a non-profit association (Zug der Liebe e.V., which consists of event organizers, musicians, media folks and other enthusiasts ) that simply want to keep Berlin’s spirit of togetherness alive. We’re thrilled that in year ten, the mission hasn’t lost any steam. Ten years of love is a legacy worth celebrating, and supporting, for many more years to come.
Why Zug der Liebe’s Goals Matter to Us
As a crew deeply involved in Berlin’s nightlife, we care about more than just throwing parties. We care about the values that make this city’s scene so special. Zug der Liebe’s goals of compassion, community, and social justice resonate strongly with what Unleashed.Berlin is all about. Our events are founded on principles of inclusivity, freedom of self-expression, and respect. We believe that the dancefloor can (and should) be a safer space where people of all backgrounds come together – much like the parade aims to create a safe public space for advocacy and unity. The parade’s focus on Nächstenliebe (loving one’s neighbor) and giving a voice to the marginalized aligns with our own sex-positive and queer-friendly ethos. In our world, everyone is welcome and no one should feel left out or judged. That’s exactly the kind of environment Zug der Liebe promotes on a city-wide scale .
Moreover, Berlin’s club culture has always been intertwined with activism and social progress. From the revolutionary energy of the Love Parades in the ’90s to today’s initiatives for safer spaces and diversity, the act of partying in Berlin often carries a message. We see Zug der Liebe as carrying that torch in the 2020s: it uses the power of music and collective joy to shine a light on issues like equality, climate change, and anti-discrimination. Those issues affect all of us. For example, the campaign against hate and antisemitism was a big theme in last year’s parade , as was the push for GHB-free clubs to keep nightlife safe. By joining this demonstration, we aren’t just having fun; we’re standing up for the kind of world we want to live and party in. Unleashed.Berlin is proud to be part of a community that dances its way toward positive change. We want Berlin’s nightlife to thrive in a city that is compassionate, inclusive, and fair . That’s why you’ll find us out there on the streets on August 30, adding our energy to the cause.
Marching with the Parade (Our Plan for August 30)
So, how will Unleashed.Berlin be participating in Zug der Liebe this year? Consider this an open invitation to march with us if you’d like! We’ll be gathering at the starting point by Mauerpark around midday, ready to dance and walk when the music trucks fire up at 13:00. Look out for some of our crew in their Unleashed t-shirts mingling in the crowd. Our plan is to join the parade from the very beginning at Mauerpark and walk at least until the parade reaches central Berlin. By the time we get to the Friedrichstraße area in Mitte. We intend to soak up as much of that atmosphere as we can, dancing alongside everyone through Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and into Mitte.
Unfortunately, we won’t be able to walk the entire route all the way to Kreuzberg – duty calls for us in the evening. Sometime around when the procession hits the Friedrichstraße/Leipziger Straße vicinity, we’ll have to bid farewell to the parade and make our exit. We’ll be hopping on the U6 subway line at Friedrichstraße Station and zipping straight down to Alt-Tempelhof. Why the rush? Because Alt-Tempelhof is the stop for Insomnia Club, and we’ll need to get there on the early side to start the build-up for the night. Think of us as Cinderella at the ball – we have to leave before the clock strikes (in our case, before the parade ends) to get ready for our own magical midnight affair. While we’re a bit sad to miss the last leg of Zug der Liebe, we know the evening’s festivities will be worth it. And don’t worry, we’ll be marching with full enthusiasm for every kilometer we are there. The spirit of the parade will be coming with us on the U6 and straight into the club.
After the Parade: Unleashed.Berlin’s Night of Freedom
When the daytime dancing wraps up, the fun is only just beginning. On the night of 30 August 2025, Unleashed.Berlin is hosting a spectacular afterparty at Insomnia Club (Alt-Tempelhof 17-19) to cap off the Zug der Liebe celebrations. Now, to be clear, this is not an official Zug der Liebe afterparty. It’s our own independent event, but it’s perfectly timed for anyone who wants to keep the vibe alive after the parade. In fact, as of this writing, we’re the only sex-positive party listed on Resident Advisor in Berlin for that night, so if you’re seeking an afterparty with an open-minded twist, we’ve got you covered! Unleashed.berlin starts at 22:00 and goes on until dawn. Two dancefloors will be in action, each with its own flavor: expect one floor of driving techno beats and another in the intimate downstairs dungeon space for darker, harder sounds and kinky vibes. As always with Unleashed.Berlin, we have some surprises planned throughout the night.
Our lineup this time around is truly special – we’ve brought together four DJs from four different continents to spin for you, symbolizing the global unity and diversity that we love:
- BadWolf (Mexico) – bringing Latin American heat and techno energy from across the ocean.
- Boho (Germany) – our local hero representing the Berlin/Cologne scene with his gangster techno.
- Arīna M (UAE) – straight from the Middle East underground, ready to deliver hard beats.
- Tyla Allen (South Africa) – coming all the way to Berlin for one night of pure harder techno.
It’s not often you get a mix of America, Europe, Asia, and Africa all in one night, and we think that fits the inclusive spirit of Zug der Liebe perfectly. Each of these artists will unleash their distinct sound to keep you moving nonstop. We’ve curated this lineup to ensure that from the first kick drum to the last encore, the energy never lets up. And in true Unleashed.Berlin style, all attendees can express themselves freely. Wear your kinkiest outfits or just your dancing shoes, everyone is welcome as long as they come with an open heart and respect for others. Our dress code is all about the iconic Berlin techno look mixed with a healthy dose of kink – latex, leather, harnesses, or whatever makes you feel great (we encourage creative self-expression!).
Tickets for Unleashed.Berlin on 30th of August
We offer tickets on 2 platforms, Rausgegangen and Resident advisor for this event. All to make it as easy as possible for you on the platforms you can find all the exact details about the event. If you already sure then you can buy directly here below.
Thank you for our CSD Afterparty
We also want to give a shout-out to everyone who joined our CSD (Christopher Street Day) afterparty on July 26, 2025. What a event. It was simply wow, and we were blown away by the positive feedback from all of you. The dancefloors were packed until morning and the crowd’s energy was off the charts. People told us they loved the vibe, the music, the inclusivity. Basically everything that makes Unleashed.Berlin special. It was one of those nights that reminds us why we do what we do. Now, even though Zug der Liebe is a much smaller event than the CSD parade, we’re aiming to replicate that CSD afterparty energy on August 30. If you come to Insomnia that night, expect a wild night of uninhibited dancing, friendly faces, and that unique Berlin decadence. We’ll bring the lasers and pounding bass, you bring your awesome self and whatever is left of your stamina from the parade (we believe in you!). Together, we’ll turn this 10th anniversary day into an unforgettable night. After all, what better way to honor a “Train of Love” than by riding that momentum straight into a rave where love and freedom rule the dancefloor?
So if you’re looking for an afterparty once Zug der Liebe’s last truck has rolled to a stop. Unleashed.Berlin is the place to be. We’re proud to be waving the flag for Berlin’s sex-positive nightlife on this special night. Come recharge, release, and revel with us. In the spirit of Zug der Liebe, our doors are open to all who come in peace and playfulness. Let’s show that whether under the open sky or in a dark club, Berlin beats as one heart when it comes to music, love, and community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you and keep the positive vibes going strong!
Disclaimer: Unleashed.Berlin’s event at Insomnia is not an official afterparty of Zug der Liebe, and this article is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Zug der Liebe organizers. We’re simply enthusiastic participants sharing our own plans and excitement.
