CSD Afterparty in Insomnia (2025)

Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) – the city’s annual Pride celebration and protest – has always been a highlight of the year, but in 2025 it carries extra weight. With rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment across Europe and even officials pulling back support (the German parliament’s president refused to fly the Pride flag this year, citing “neutrality” context.news), the community is determined to stand its ground. Pride in Berlin is both a celebration and a demonstration: hundreds of thousands march each year for visibility and rights. This year’s motto, "Never silent again!" ("Nie wieder still!"), is a defiant response to those who would prefer a quieter, more invisible queer community. And despite challenges – including the loss of major corporate sponsors leading to a €200,000 funding shortfall – Berlin’s CSD organizers have vowed the 47th annual Pride will go on "defiant, loud, and visible". In this charged atmosphere, the CSD Afterparty at Insomnia club takes on profound importance: it’s more than just a night of dancing, it’s a statement that Berlin’s Pride spirit cannot be subdued.

A Kinky Celebration in Uncertain Times

One might not immediately associate Berlin’s Insomnia club with Pride – after all, Insomnia is famed as a hedonistic fetish, sex-positive and swingers’ nightclub, known for a predominantly straight clientele. Yet Insomnia has always prided itself on being a sex-positive playground open to all orientations. The club hosts a variety of events – from techno raves to tantra nights – and many weekend events see a diverse mix of guests. This year, Insomnia is opening its arms to the LGBTQIA+ community like never before by hosting a kinky CSD afterparty organized by the up-and-coming party series Unleashed.Berlin.

Unleashed.Berlin only launched in March 2025 as a monthly techno-oriented kinky party, but it has quickly built a dedicated following. From the very first event, the organizers made inclusivity their top priority. "Everyone is welcome, and we have no room for homophobia, transphobia, racism or any form of hate at our events" they affirm. In a nightlife scene that can sometimes feel divided, Unleashed.Berlin aims to unite – bridging the gap between incredible music and the freedom to express yourself fully. Each party blends high-quality techno with a liberated, consent first, anything-goes atmosphere, so attendees never have to choose between dancing and being their authentic selves. The result is a safer space for connection and exploration, echoing the same ideals of diversity and respect that Pride stands for.

Kinky CSD Afterparty: Unleashed.Berlin biggest event of the year

This will be the biggest Unleashed.Berlin event of the year, a marathon 10-hour party on Saturday, July 26, 2025 (the night of the Pride march). In fact, it’s only the 5th edition of Unleashed.Berlin ever, yet it’s already being hailed as the top CSD afterparty in Berlin’s alternative scene. The organizers are pulling out all the stops to make it special. The day of Pride, you’ll spot the Unleashed.Berlin crew in the CSD parade crowds, handing out free "Unleash Your Pride" nipple stickers adorned with rainbows and playful invitation for later. It’s a small gesture with a big message: we’re here, we’re proud, and our doors are open to you. Many people are curious about the fetish/techno scene but hesitant. By showing up at the march, the Unleashed.Berlin team wants to signal that anyone curious will be welcomed that night.

When the march and rally wind down, the party is just beginning. Insomnia will open its doors early at 20:00 (8 PM) on Saturday, so participants can roll in straight from the parade while the energy is high. (Most Berlin clubs start at midnight, so this early start is a rare treat.) Inside, attendees will find two dance floors – the main floor and the infamous downstairs “dungeon” floor – each with its own DJ lineup and vibe. In total 7 DJs are scheduled. The music will range across techno subgenres to keep everyone moving "from dusk till dawn" as the team promises.

Beyond the music, Unleash.Berlins Kinky CSD Afterparty is going to be an over-the-top sensory experience. Insomnia is already a fantastical venue – it boasts not just dance areas but also lounge beds, intimate corners, and a fully equipped BDSM dungeon play space. For this night, all areas of the club will be open. "Insomnia is the perfect playground for our kinky nights" the Unleashed team says. Expect naughty shenanigans, and creative self-expression everywhere you look. The organizers have hinted at surprises and gifts for early arriving partygoers but also trought the night. And true to their sex-positive ethos, consent and respect will be vigilantly maintained by an awareness team on site. The house rules are clear: "No means no. Maybe means no. Only an enthusiastic yes means yes" – ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves safely. Phones are left at the warderobe and judgment is left at the door.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect is the dress code. Unleashed encourages all guests to "come as your sexy techno, kinky, fetish, confident self". This means dressing to express your most uninhibited alter-ego: latex, leather, lingerie, harnesses, pup masks, drag, glitter – anything goes so long as it’s imaginative and within the erotic theme. Don’t worry if you’re new to this – the atmosphere is supportive, and people go out of their way to compliment creative outfits. By having everyone dress up (no casual clothes allowed), the party creates a feeling of unity and freedom. There’s something powerful about a room full of people of all genders and ages, all dressed in kinky outfits – it visibly erases the differences between us. We’re all equally unconventional in our fishnets or leather, and that’s incredibly liberating. That shared vibe and mutual acceptance is the essence of Pride, translated onto a dance floor.

Why This Afterparty Matters

Berlin has no shortage of Pride afterparties – from giant events, to women-only pool parties, to Berghain’s marathon 36-hour Pride clubnight. Yet Unleashed.Berlin at Insomnia stands out for bringing the LGBTQIA+ Pride spirit into the heart of the city’s Kinky scene. In a year where some governments and companies have wavered in their support, the Berlin queer community is turning to itself and its allies to keep the Pride flag flying high. Unleashed.Berlin’s CSD afterparty is a perfect example of this DIY Pride spirit. "Our opponents may hope we become smaller, quieter, or even invisible. The opposite will happen" vowed Berlin Pride’s board when faced with funding cuts. 

On July 26, after the rainbows have paraded through the Brandenburg Gate and the speeches have echoed “Never silent again,” an afterparty at Insomnia will keep that momentum going in a blaze of kinky, sex-positive glory. It’s going to be a night to remember – not only for the pounding music and wild outfits, but for what it stands for. It stands for unity across different communities, for the idea that openness and freedom should extend to all aspects of life, including nightlife and sexuality. It stands for the refusal to be pushed back into silence or closets, whether by lack of sponsors or lack of understanding. As the Unleashed.Berlin team put it, "it’s not just an afterparty, it’s the culmination of Pride itself for us". In the early hours of Sunday, with sweat, glitter and smiles all around, Berlin’s queer and kink communities will be dancing together – loud, proud, and unleashed.

So if you are intrested in the afterparty check out more event details here.