SchwuZ Berlin
The queer heart of the capital is making a comeback
Hardly any other place epitomises the development of Berlin’s queer scene quite like the SchwuZ. Since the late 1970s, the ‘SchwulenZentrum’ has been a meeting place, dance floor, cultural space and political mouthpiece all in one. Following the insolvency and closure of the Neukölln venue, a new chapter begins in 2026: the SchwuZ lives on – with parties, concerts and community events at various venues across Berlin.
A place that has shaped Berlin’s LGBTQ+ history
The SchwuZ – short for “SchwulenZentrum” – was founded in 1977 and is considered Germany’s oldest queer club. Emerging from the Homosexuellen Aktion Westberlin (HAW), the SchwuZ quickly developed into one of the most important meeting places for the LGBTQ+ community in Berlin.
Unlike many scene venues of the time, the SchwuZ saw itself from the outset as an open, political and cultural space. The motto “Out of the clubs, onto the streets”, inspired by Rosa von Praunheim’s film “It is not the homosexual who is perverse, but the situation in which he lives”, defined the early years.
Over the decades, the SchwuZ became far more than just a club: it was a stage for concerts, a home for subculture, a venue for protests, readings and queer self-empowerment.
Join us on our podcast Berlin Unboxed for a tour of the former premises on the KINDL site in Neukölln’s Rollbergstraße (in German language):
Description
The video belongs to the episode "SchwuZ & queer" of the podcast Berlin Unboxed, which is run by visitBerlin. The podcast presents queer clubs in Berlin. The video features a still image of an artist and audience members in a club and the visitBerlin logo in the bottom left corner. The subtitles of the video can be switched on and off in the YouTube player under settings. For a transcription, the video should be watched directly on YouTube.
What to expect today
Even after the closure of its permanent venue on Rollbergstraße, the SchwuZ remains part of Berlin’s nightlife. Since May 2026, the supporting association has once again been organising regular parties and events at various locations.
The relaunch was celebrated at the historic Metropol on Nollendorfplatz, right in the heart of Berlin’s historic queer centre. Further events are set to follow, including, of course, plenty of parties, but also concerts and drag performances, community events, and cultural and discussion forums. The SchwuZ thus remains a meeting place for Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community and international guests.
From the student movement to a cult club
The roots of the SchwuZ go back to the political spirit of optimism in the 1970s. At the HAW, activists campaigned for the abolition of the then Paragraph 175 and for the social visibility of homosexual people.
In 1977, the SchwuZ finally opened on a factory floor in Schöneberg. The club quickly became the focal point of the queer scene.
It wasn’t just parties that were held here – Berlin’s first Christopher Street Day in 1979 was also largely organised by the SchwuZ community.
Artists, culture and subculture
Over the decades, numerous international artists performed at the SchwuZ, including Blondie, Boy George, Erasure and Rick Astley. Berlin-based cultural projects such as the Siegessäule, Rosenstolz and Die Tödliche Doris were also closely linked to the SchwuZ.
The years in Neukölln
In 2013, the SchwuZ moved to the former Kindl Brewery on Rollbergstraße in Neukölln. The larger premises made the club one of Europe’s most significant queer venues.
However, rising costs and financial difficulties led to insolvency in 2025. The club was forced to close on 1 November 2025.
In 2026, it is now relaunching as a flexible series of events – with the long-term aim of creating a permanent queer home in Berlin once again.
What makes the SchwuZ special
- Germany’s oldest queer club
- A historic meeting place for Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community
- A mix of club, cultural centre and political space
- Legendary drag and pop parties
- Close ties to Berlin’s subcultural history
- Community-led relaunch following insolvency
Other queer venues in Berlin
SchwuZ events are currently taking place at various venues. If you’d like to delve deeper into the scene, however, it’s definitely worth a visit to the area around Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg – ideally on a KiezTour, where a genuine Berlin drag queen will introduce you to the scene.
- Motzstraße & Fuggerstraße
- Gay Museum (Schwules Museum)
- Café Berio
- Neues Ufer & Harbour
Neukölln also remains closely linked to the recent history of the SchwuZ – particularly the Schillerkiez and the former Kindl site. If you’d like to find out more about Berlin’s queer scene, why not go on a discovery tour of Berlin’s rainbow neighbourhoods?
Berlin’s Rainbow Neighbourhoods
FAQ
Why did the SchwuZ have to close?
From 2023 onwards, the SchwuZ found itself in increasing financial difficulties. Following a failed attempt to save it, the supporting association filed for insolvency in 2025.
Does the SchwuZ still exist?
Yes. Since 2026, the association has been organising parties and events again at various venues across Berlin.
Will there be a permanent club venue again?
In the long term, the association plans to find new permanent premises for the SchwuZ.
