Berget Lewis, JEA, Babs, Kahorsa and WINE at the Rotterdam Pride Festival

From 17 to 27 September, Rotterdam Pride will once again take over the city, focusing on visibility, connection, art and culture. Under the artistic vision of ‘Queertopia’, creators, cultural institutions, organisations and the queer community are working together to create a Pride Week that will get the whole city moving. Queertopia is a vision of the future in which queer creativity, freedom and inclusivity are not sidelined, but form an integral part of cultural life in Rotterdam.

The highlight of Pride is the free Pride Festival on Saturday 26 September. Amongst others, Berget Lewis, one of the Netherlands’ most beloved soul singers, will be performing on Willemsplein. DJ JEA has quickly made a name for herself internationally with energetic sets that blend afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall, amapiano and R&B. Having performed from Barbados to Berlin, she will now take to the stage at Rotterdam Pride.

Daniel Matthix kicks things off on the decks. The Rotterdam-based DJ and producer is known for his pulsating house sets, built around catchy melodies and an unerring feel for the dance floor.

Kahorsa, ambassador for Rotterdam Pride, has been given the important task of bringing the Pride Festival to a close. A fixture on Rotterdam’s nightlife and club scene and founder of PAARDENRAVE, Kahorsa is known for her boundary-pushing, genre-fluid sets that blend hard house, trance, techno and donk. In addition, Kahorsa is actively committed to inclusive line-ups and creating more space for queer, POC and femme creators.

BassBtch, a well-known name on the Dutch queer scene, is a regular fixture at venues such as Club NYX and FERRY, as well as at various Pride events across the Netherlands, thanks to her energetic, pop- and house-inspired sets.

Babs, a rapper, producer and songwriter from Leiden, is returning to Rotterdam Pride. Since her debut in 2021, she has been challenging stereotypes surrounding gender and sexuality with her danceable blend of rap and pop. She has previously performed at festivals including Paaspop and the Zwarte Cross.

Yaro Mila brings her infectious energy to Willemsplein. The Amsterdam-based pop artist creates avant-garde pop that blends punk guitars, pounding beats and digital synths. Her sound draws on pop icons such as Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, whilst she has built a reputation as an energetic live act through performances at events including Eurosonic Noorderslag and the Popronde.

Child of Destiny, comprising Sharon Doorson, Raffaëla Paton and Altagracia Norton, pays tribute to Destiny’s Child. The three powerful voices breathe new life into classics such as ‘Say My Name’, ‘Survivor’ and ‘Independent Women’ in a show centred on femininity and empowerment.

Also appearing are Rotterdam-based drag queen Mandy McCandy, known for her appearance in the latest series of *The Voice of Holland*, WINE., a Rotterdam-based queer pop artist who combines hyperpop, techno and electronic pop into a unique sound centred on freedom, self-expression and queer identity, Gavin Reijnders and the versatile DJ Mika Akela.

The festival will be hosted by Faye Ferry and Lotte van Eijk. House of Holographic Hoes is once again curating the drag programme, and PrideCast is also returning. Ambassador Sharvin Ramjan will be chatting to special guests during a live podcast about topics such as identity, culture, representation and social change.

More than just a festival

Over the course of eleven days, cultural institutions, civil society organisations, creators, entrepreneurs and community initiatives will jointly organise a wide-ranging programme across the city. Last year, Pride Week featured nearly 90 events.

Once again this year, Rotterdam Pride is calling on organisations, creators and residents to become part of Queertopia. From exhibitions and talks to sporting activities, club nights, workshops and community gatherings: anyone who wants to contribute to raising awareness, bringing people together and fostering connections is welcome to submit an event and help shape Rotterdam Pride.

Events now confirmed include PEACH CLUB – Queer Indie Party at Rotown, Rainbow Garden Rotterdam, the ‘Pride in Practice’ conference organised by IDEM/RADAR, and Proud Supporters by Intersections.nu.

On 17 September, Qtopia magazine – founded by Rotterdam Pride ambassador Chantal van der Putten – will be launched; this evening will also serve as the official start and kick-off of Rotterdam Pride.

Pride March 

A key part of Rotterdam Pride is the annual Pride March on Saturday 26 September. Under the international slogan ‘Pride is still a protest’, participants march together through Rotterdam to draw attention to equality, safety, visibility and human rights. The March forms the activist heart of Rotterdam Pride and demonstrates that the fight for acceptance and equal rights is still very much a current issue. Following this, the Pride Festival on Willemsplein provides a festive finale to the day, where visitors come together to celebrate diversity, love and queer culture.

 Nico Musebrink, artistic director of Rotterdam Pride: “Queertopia is not some distant utopia; it is a vision of the future that we are building together every day. With Rotterdam Pride, we’re not just organising a party; we’re building a city where everyone can be visible, safe and themselves. That is the future we are already setting in motion today. Pride is still a protest."