CSD 2026: From a First Participation to a Growing Movement

More visibility after a successful premiere

The truck was not simply a response to an already larger group of participants. The idea emerged from the experience of the previous year. “The feedback after last year was so positive that we said: we want to be even more visible and show even more,” explains Loichinger. Once the decision had been made, participation was promoted throughout the company and received strong interest. On the truck, Alex Boldt provided music and a great atmosphere as DJ.

At the same time, the walking group remained an important part of the company’s presence. Behind the truck, NürnbergMesse’s cheerleading squad added even more energy to the parade. The group, which regularly supports the company’s football team, brought additional enthusiasm to the event.

And the parade itself was larger than ever before. On August 8, more than 20,000 people took part in the demonstration through Nuremberg. Under the motto “Nürnberg liebt” (“Nuremberg Loves”), more than 60 groups marched through the city. Among them, carrying start number 14, was NürnbergMesse.

Why employees choose to show their support

The larger group was not only about visibility. Behind the approximately 70 participants were just as many personal reasons for joining the march.

For Rebecca Renn, Head of Customer Success, participation is closely linked to the values her employer represents publicly. “I identify not only with my work, but also with the company’s values and how the company is perceived in society,” she says. For that reason, it is important to her not only to support social issues in the background but also to “raise the flag” and actively participate.

Andreas Müller from Legal, Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance goes even further and describes an impact on his relationship with NürnbergMesse itself: “For me personally, it creates a stronger connection to the company when I know it is committed to the right social and political issues.” He summarizes his motivation for participating with three words: diversity, tolerance, and showing support wherever possible.

Nadiska Beer from Sales sees particular value in doing this together with colleagues. “We all have a voice,” she says. Yet standing together in a large group makes it easier for many people to express themselves. For her, one of the most important reasons for participating is that NürnbergMesse provides a framework that allows employees to engage and make their position visible.

When values become personal

The event was not just about broad social concepts. For Hanna Schneider, Head of Customer Success, the motivation is deeply personal. “My personal belief is that love comes before everything else,” she says. This is a value she also wants to pass on to her daughter. On the morning of the parade, her daughter asked where she was going. Schneider explained why she was taking part and why it is important to her that all people are treated equally.

Later, she stood on the truck, handed out lollipops and gummy bears, and enjoyed the ride through the city. One particular memory stayed with her: two people in striking trouser suits who seemed inspired by the positive atmosphere of the NürnbergMesse group and walked alongside them for part of the route.

For Lennart Preuß, Customer Consultant at NürnbergMesse subsidiary Yontex, participation was also deeply personal. “My flatmate Georg encouraged me to join,” he explains. What remained with him from the day were above all “diversity, joy, passion” and the importance of standing up for who you are.

Together through the city

As the parade continued, the distinction between the truck, the walking group, and the spectators gradually faded. People danced, waved, and celebrated while music accompanied the procession through the streets of the City of Human Rights.

While around 17,500 people participated in Nuremberg’s Christopher Street Day in 2025, attendance exceeded 20,000 in 2026. Yet numbers alone cannot explain the atmosphere of the day. Andreas Müller summarizes it with one lasting impression: people were able to show who they wanted to be through their clothing, their behavior, and their gestures. Things that, in many other places, are still not always possible to express openly in public.