Schwuz in Berlin: Last party for the city's queer legend!

Schwuz in Berlin: Last party for the city's queer legend!

After almost 50 years, one of Berlin's most famous queer nightlife icons is closing its doors: Club Schwuz. On November 1, 2025, a Saturday, the big farewell party entitled “The Last Cheers, Queers!” will take place. instead of. This celebration is not only a final welcome for the loyal guests, but also a bittersweet moment for the entire queer community, which has found an important retreat in Schwuz. The club filed for bankruptcy in July 2025 to forestall impending insolvency daily news reported.

Schwuz's economic problems began at the beginning of 2024. A significant deficit was foreseeable at the time, but the full extent of the crisis only became clear in May 2025: between 30,000 and 60,000 euros were missing for months. Declining sales and structural difficulties in administration made the situation more difficult. Despite several cost-cutting measures and an increased search for investors, the club was not spared from bankruptcy and in May 33 employees were laid off in order to maintain operations.

A place for the queer community

Founded in 1977 in Berlin-Schöneberg, Schwuz is considered one of the oldest and largest queer clubs in Germany and was a central point of reference for the LGBTI+ community. For example, the club was instrumental in organizing the first Christopher Street Day in Berlin in 1979. After moving in 2013 to the former Kindl brewery building in Neukölln, which offers space for over 1,000 guests, Schwuz was able to set new standards once again.

The last few years have been marked by many challenges. The new management, which took over in March 2025, initiated a review of operations, but hopes for a turnaround remained unfulfilled. Crowdfunding to modernize the club, with a goal of 150,000 euros, had only raised 50,000 euros by the end of October. The community has now been called upon to show solidarity in order to preserve the legacy of Schwuz RBB24 has illuminated.

A farewell in community

Although the closure of Schwuz is perceived as a painful loss, many are planning to attend the farewell party on November 1st and enjoy the club's unique atmosphere one last time. The Schwuz wasn't just a nightclub; it was a place of encounter, expression and support for queer culture. The end of Schwuz is seen as a sign of the need for several new approaches in the queer community to keep cultural institutions alive.

Many in the community emphasize that successful alternatives must be found. The charter that accompanies the end of Schwuz could also serve as a starting point for discussions about the future of queer culture in Berlin Gay.ch reported. In this sense, the farewell party is celebrated not only as the end, but also as the beginning of new paths.