About us

Live Love, love Zürich

We dance for Love, Peace & Tolerance

This is us

The world's most colorful house and techno parade fascinates hundreds of thousands of dance enthusiasts from all continents year after year. Around 30 Love Mobiles, colorfully decorated trucks equipped with large music systems, DJs and party people, drive at walking pace through the crowds around Zurich's lake basin. In addition to these «moving stages», eight stages along the route round off the contemporary electronic music offering with top DJs, live acts and multimedia. The Street Parade and Zurich's techno culture have been part of Switzerland's intangible UNESCO cultural heritage since 2017.

The most colorful techno & house parade

Values & Associa­tion

The Street Parade is a non-profit event and is regarded as a political demonstration for love, peace, freedom and tolerance. This is enshrined in the statutes of the organizing «Verein Street Parade Zürich». As a free event, the Street Parade relies on many volunteers and the support of sponsors and partners. All DJs, whether world stars or rookies, share the spirit of the Street Parade and perform free of charge. This is the only way the Street Parade can be realized with a relatively small budget. The organizing committee has around 20 members, while around 2,500 helpers ensure that everything runs smoothly at the event itself.

Respect

Tolerance

Acceptance

Freedom

Peace

Joy

Love

Inclusion

Diversity

Historie

This is where it all began

1992

Birth

1'000 Visitors

18° C

Zurich maths student Marek Krynski founded the Street Parade in 1992, inspired by the Berlin Love Parade. On 5 September, seven Love Mobiles paraded through Zurich - only one worked properly. The final event was the ‘Energy’ party. With 1,000 participants, the event was a great success.

1993

Dr. Motto as a guest

100000 Visitors

27° C

January 1993: The Street Parade is only granted a permit with conditions - dancing on Bahnhofstrasse is banned, but it still becomes a mega-event. With techno greats such as Sven Väth and Dr. Motte, it attracts over 10,000 people. For the first time, “Energy” takes place in the Hallenstadion - Zurich is now officially on the techno map.

1994

City of Zurich bans Street Parade

40'000 Visitors

18° C

Police chief Robert Neukomm bans the Street Parade in 1994 - too loud, too big, too dirty, they say - but the public outcry is huge: the media, political parties and citizens protest together. Under pressure, the ban is lifted. 30,000 ravers dance through Zurich on August 13, 10,000 more line the streets - a complete success.

1995

Biggest demo in Zurich

120'000 Visitors

25° C

The Street Parade gets even bigger: 120,000 ravers. The police call it the “biggest and most peaceful demonstration Zurich has ever seen”. In record time, 11.1 tons of garbage are removed. The Street Parade is covered worldwide in countless radio and television reports and over 1000 newspaper articles.

1996

Foundation of the association

350'000 Visitors

28° C

The «street parade authorities» association is founded in April. And another record: 350,000 participants attend the fifth Street Parade on August 10. Once again, the Street Parade goes off without incident or problems. In November, Marek Krynski steps down due to time constraints. Herby Leodolter (previously responsible for medical services) is unanimously elected as the new President of the Street Parade Association.

1997

450'000 Visitors!

450'000 Visitors

29° C

Once again, the Street Parade is growing - the exact number of participants is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate. According to various estimates, it is between 450,000 and 500,000 people. Once again, the event takes place in perfect weather and without any unpleasant incidents.

1998

It's all in your hands

450'000 Visitors

28° C

The Street Parade was set for August 8. Three months before the event, the Street Parade receives the special prize of the ADC Art Directors Club Switzerland, a gold cube. The “Verein street parade authorities” is renamed the «Verein Street Parade Zürich». Around 450'000 visitors danced to the beat of the 30 Love Mobiles under the motto «Its all in your hands».

1999

More than words

550'000 Visitors

30° C

For the first time, the Street Parade, which took place on August 7, had its own radio station. Radio Street Parade - the official station broadcast 24 hours a day during the entire Street Parade week. A panel of historians declared the founding of the Street Parade to be one of the “most important 100 Swiss events of the century” in a SonntagsBlick article. At over 30 degrees in the shade, the parade creeps through the large crowd, which is likely to number around 550,000.

2000

Believe in Love

750'000 Visitors

32° C

In April 2000, President Herby Leodolter resigned for health reasons. Michel Loris-Melikoff was unanimously elected as his successor at the extraordinary general meeting, as was a new three-member board. On August 12, around 750'000 people celebrated the Street Parade in 32 degree temperatures under the motto «believe in love» - broadcast live for the first time by SF1, 3SAT and Tele24. VIVA Germany broadcast two-hour highlights a week later. There was even a wedding on a Love Mobile.

2001

Love, Freedom, Tolerance

1'000'000 Visitors

21° C

For its anniversary, the Street Parade returned to its roots with the motto “Love, Freedom, Tolerance” - and attracted around 1 million ravers from all over Europe. Zurich danced peacefully and exuberantly in the sunshine and a cool 21°C. The ADC awarded bronze for the creative implementation of the website. The event concluded with an official birthday party with star DJs and visuals - the party continued until midnight on Bürkliplatz and Bellevue.

Continuous rain

2002

Peace!

650'000 Visitors

17° C

After ten sunny parades, the weather gods had no sympathy for the dancing crowds this year: it rained cats and dogs all day and the thermometer read a chilly 17 degrees Celsius. Despite these miserable weather conditions, the Street Parade visitors' joie de vivre was unbroken. Around 650,000 people danced their feet off on the wet asphalt to this year's motto “PEACE!” and brought a lot of joie de vivre and color to cloudy and wet Zurich. For the first time, Radio Street Parade was unable to enjoy a view of the lake, broadcasting for the first time from the “Movie” bar at Zurich main station from mid-July 2002.

Heat record of all parades

2003

Let the sun shine

900'000 Visitors

37° C

«Let the sun shine» was the slogan. The weather gods were serious about the motto and let the sun beat down on the streets of Zurich in boiling 37 degree temperatures. 900,000 people celebrated the “hottest parade of all time”. For the first time, the tried-and-tested route was followed in the opposite direction. The first Love Mobile set off from Utoquai (near the Frascati restaurant) at 3.15 pm sharp and this time drove via Bellevue and Bürkliplatz to the finish line at Mythenquai. Star DJ Carl Cox transformed Bürkliplatz into a madhouse. He played the best vinyls at the official closing party on the main stage and played his way into the hearts of around 25,000 house freaks.

2004

Elements of Culture

950'000 Visitors

27° C

With the motto “Elements of Culture”, the Street Parade put the spotlight on creators of electronic music and digital art. At 27 degrees and with a mix of sun and clouds, around 950,000 visitors danced peacefully through Zurich. For the first time, a Russian Love Mobile made a surprise appearance. Delegations from Lisbon, Belgium and Moscow were also guests. The route introduced in 2003 proved its worth once again - a spectacular countdown opened the event.

2005

Today is tomorrow

900'0000 Visitors

23° C

The sun celebrates its «coming out» just in time for the Street Parade. The day before and after the Street Parade, however, it rains cats and dogs. The world's elite DJs are all over Zurich. The top 5 in the DJ rankings spin their best records at the parade. In addition, a gigantic laser show in front of the Opera House causes a sensation at night. Radio Street Parade broadcasts directly from Lake Zurich again after being banished from the studio on the lake basin for several years. Every day, around 35,000 fans tune in to the radio program of the official ether voice of the Street Parade.

2006

Move your mind

800'000 Visitors

19° C

With a cool 18 degrees, the day took a while to get going, but the sun broke through just in time for the start of the parade - the rain waited patiently until after midnight. DJ legend Sven Väth opened the parade at Frascati to thunderous applause. Q-Dance transformed Bürkliplatz into a show stage with a fairy-tale, orange-colored castle. Even before the first beat at 1 p.m., the square was packed and streetcar traffic came to a standstill.

2007

Respect!

800'000 Visitors

23° C

This edition began with rain, but just in time for the ceremonial opening by Street Parade founder Marek Krynski, the skies cleared - the sun came out and the streets of Zurich were transformed into a sea of dancing people. Dr. Motte was absent due to illness, and a Love Mobile broke down due to a broken axle - 23 others slowly rolled through the city. After the start with Loco Dice, international stars such as Richie Hawtin and Paul van Dyk, who also had his own Love Mobile, provided musical highlights.

2008

Friendship!

820'000 Visitors

24° C

Around 820,000 people celebrated the Street Parade in sunny 24-degree weather under the motto «FRIENDSHIP!», which called for peaceful and respectful coexistence - and was also lived out. For the first time, live bands performed alongside top DJs. Zurich City Council backed the parade: Police Commissioner Esther Maurer described it as a cultural asset, comparable to Dadaism.

2009

Still have a dream

600'000 Visitors

22° C

At the 18th Street Parade, around 600,000 fans braved the rain, cold and warnings of swine flu - which fortunately did not materialize in the end. The motto “Still have a dream” was a reminder of the power of dreams. Due to the weather, there was an increase in hypothermia, Paul van Dyk canceled at short notice. New stages compensated for construction sites and the line-up featured top international and local DJs.

2010

Celbrate the Spirit of Street Parade

650'000 Visitors

23° C

After a dry start, continuous rain follows – but around 650,000 visitors refuse to let it spoil the mood. For the first time, two Zurich city councilors take part, including Mayor Corine Mauch. In memory of the Love Parade victims, the stages and Love Mobiles fall silent for a moving minute. New this year: the Zurich Clubbing Stage as a sign of club solidarity. Performing on stage: Paul Kalkbrenner, Eric Prydz, DJ Hell, and many more.

2011

20 Years love, Freedom, Tolernace & Respect

900'000 Visitors

26° C

For the 20th anniversary, the focus was on young people - with targeted support for young DJs and producers. Highlights: the lovingly recreated retro mobile, the Jubilee Stage with long-standing acts and a cross-generational line-up from Carl Cox to Avicii. At 7 p.m., a minute's silence with John Lennon's “Give peace a chance” gave goosebumps. In perfect weather, hundreds of thousands danced until the big laser show at the finale.Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

2012

Follow your heart!

950000 Visitors

25° C

The 21st Street Parade thrilled 950,000 visitors in perfect sunshine and 25 degrees. A Chinese Love Mobile was there for the first time, and Ferry Corsten led the parade. Under the motto “Berlin meets Zurich”, Berlin DJs such as Anja Schneider brought the scene to Zurich. At the same time, the Rietberg Museum showed parallels to the Street Parade with over 300 Indian sculptures.

2013

Dance for Freedom

950'000 Visitors

25° C

In sunny weather, the Street Parade once again attracted around 950,000 dancers to 27 Love Mobiles and eight stages on Zurich's lakefront. Due to major construction work at Bellevue, the legendary “Mainstage” was moved to the large parking lot at Hafendamm Enge. Thanks to a top line-up featuring Fedde le Grand, Nervo, and Nicky Romero, the square became the new hotspot. Zurich graffiti pioneer and rapper Redl, who also designed the artwork, provided the cultural balance. 
At Bürkliplatz, DJs such as Luciano and Andrea Oliva celebrated a spectacular anniversary party with their label Caldenza, while WESTBAM rocked Bellevue. The 2013 Street Parade was broadcast live on TV by the channels 3+ (Switzerland) and the ARD digital program “EinsPlus” (Germany/Austria/Switzerland).

2014

Enjoy the Dancefloor - And Save it!

950'000 Visitors

25° C

The 23rd Street Parade attracted around 950,000 visitors in 2014 and went down in history as a peaceful and exuberant festival, taking place exceptionally on August 2 due to the European Athletics Championships. 27 Love Mobiles rolled around the Zurich lake basin and despite gloomy forecasts, the weather cleared up just in time for the start - a light thunderstorm only arrived in the evening. The parade was opened by the BigCityBeats Love Mobile with star DJ ATB. Robin Schulz, Paul van Dyk and Luciano set the mood on the stages. Danny Avila and Deniz Koyu set the highlight at the mainstage closing at Bellevue.

2015

Magic Moments

1'000'000 Visitors

32° C

The 24th Street Parade took place at the end of August for the first time due to the major construction site at Bellevue. Around 1 million people celebrated peacefully at Zurich's lakeside basin in 32-degree sunshine. Thanks to numerous helpers, the event was able to take place at all – they were honored with an aperitif. Robin Schulz opened on the first Love Mobile. The strong line-up thrilled audiences on six stages, and for the first time, the parade was broadcast live on MTV.

2016

Unique

900'000 Visitors

27° C

In sunny weather and temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius, around 900,000 people celebrated the 25th Street Parade under the motto “Unique.” To mark the anniversary, a stationary Love Mobile from 1992 was turned into a stage at Hechtplatz, decorated with decorations from the early days and sets by the original DJs and Dr. Motte. Due to political unrest, security measures were tightened and there was a strong police presence – who were happy to pose for selfies. Carl Cox gave everyone goosebumps with a spectacular closing performance at the opera house. For the first time, the clubs Hive (“Rakete Party”) and Bellevue (“Daydance”) also took part.

2017

Love never ends

900'000 Visitors

22° C

The Street Parade followed its tried-and-tested route around Zurich's lake basin, now featuring “zone towers” for food and chill-out areas. Five Love Mobiles from top dance labels and a total of 25 trucks provided music ranging from deep house to hardstyle. With the “environmental franc,” every beverage purchase was environmentally friendly, including waste separation, green electricity, and climate-neutral trucks. For the first time, the parade was broadcast live worldwide on be-at.tv for eleven hours, with 4 million viewers. TeleZüri broadcast four hours live and a “best-of” show.

2018

Culture of Tolerance

950'000 Visitors

25° C

Techno stands for tolerance – the Street Parade 2018 emphasized this message with the motto “Culture of tolerance.” Paul Kalbrenner opened the packed Sechseläutenplatz with a two-hour set. For the first time, there were stage fireworks to accompany Pan-Pot's DJ set as the finale. The Spanish label Elrow transformed Bürkliplatz into a colorful spectacle with shows and DJs. Zurich clubs returned with their own Love Mobiles, supported by the communication platform @night.

2019

Colours of Unity

850'000 Visitors

22° C

Heavy rain made setting up difficult, but it cleared up in time for the warm-up and around 850,000 visitors danced in 24 degree temperatures. Under the motto “Colors Of Unity”, the focus was on diversity and cohesion. The artwork was created by Zurich artist Demian5. International labels such as Elrow, Ants and Katermukke were present with Love Mobiles. ARTE Concert broadcast the parade live for the first time, and Amelie Lens' closing reached over 1.7 million views on youtube.

2020

Abgesagt

The Street Parade had to be canceled by order of the authorities due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

2021

Abgesagt

The Street Parade had to be canceled by order of the authorities due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Feggy Min war die Künstlerin

2022

Think

900'000 Visitors

28° C

After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the Street Parade returned - despite late approval and a lack of staff. The 29th edition was successfully organized with a lot of effort and new staff. It was unclear how many people would come, but in the end 900,000 danced peacefully and exuberantly. The route was already well filled before the first beat. Under the motto «THINK.», the parade called for reflection, supported by a poster by Zurich artist Feggy Min.

2023

I Wish.

920'000 Visitors

29° C

Die 30. Street Parade stand unter dem Motto «I wish» – ein Wunsch als Saat für Grosses. Trotz anfänglichem Regen tanzten rund 920 000 Besucher friedlich zu den 29 Love Mobiles. Zum ersten Mal überhaupt nahm ein Schweizer Bundesrat am Umzug teil. Bundespräsident und Kulturminister Alain Berset mischte sich unters Publikum und war begeistert. Es gab erstmals ein Getränke-Depotsystem, das aufgrund inoffizieller Stände sowie den Detailhändlern an der route jedoch nur teilweise wirkte.

2024

Prefer:Tolerance

920'000 Visitors

30° C

An estimated 920,000 visitors found their way into Zurich's city center and danced to the beat of the 26 Love Mobiles. Due to the sunny and hot weather, many people sought shade in the «urban canyons» in the afternoon. Nevertheless, the festival grounds were filled early on, which can certainly be attributed to the top-class line-up: the motto «Prefer:Tolerance» called for more tolerance in society.

2025

Live Love, love Life

Die Geschichte wird hier Bald erzählt

Sus­tainability

  • So that the party has a future

    Street Parade and the environment: is that even possible? Yes, green once again plays a decisive role. The Street Parade is the first major event in the world where all waste is 100% separated and recycled. The Street Parade has always been committed to sustainable processes and refines its concepts every year to ensure that Switzerland's biggest event has as little impact on the environment as possible.

  • Recyclable packaging

    All drinks sold at the Street Parade stands are packaged in 100% recyclable PET or aluminum.

  • Depot system for beverages

    Depot system for beverages made from the recyclable materials PET and aluminum - return of empty containers to the corresponding recycling cycle.

  • Sorting waste

    All waste is sorted into PET, aluminum and metal in a complex process, while glass and cardboard are collected separately. This means that all the waste from the Street Parade is recycled. The combustible waste is sent to the waste incineration plant and converted into CO2-neutral heat and green electricity. (100 tons of waste = approx. 35,000 liters of heating oil)

  • Collecting food waste

    Food waste is collected immediately after the event, processed in a biogas plant and fed into the gas network.

  • Plates at the food stands

    All plates at the food stands are environmentally friendly.

  • CO₂ emissions Love Mobiles

    CO₂ emissions Love Mobiles: The Street Parade has always been committed to sustainable processes and refines its concepts every year to ensure that Switzerland's biggest event has as little impact on the environment as possible.

Show some Love!

The Street Parade is free - with Love Mobiles, DJs and a unique atmosphere. This is made possible by a non-profit organization. If you want to celebrate: get a voluntary ticket and support the parade directly.

Freiwilliges Ticket kaufen