Hundreds of rescue operations at Berlin's techno parade: rave with consequences!

Hundreds of rescue operations at Berlin's techno parade: rave with consequences!

On Saturday evening, July 12, 2025, the techno parade “Rave The Planet” took place in Berlin. This event, which is considered the successor to the legendary Love Parade, attracted around 200,000 partygoers to the streets of June 17th in rainy weather. Police counted over 100,000 participants, a notable drop from last year when about 300,000 people gathered in the city. Managing director Timm Zeiss said the cooler weather and lower visitor numbers meant fewer medical treatments were needed, despite a total of more than 600 treatments last year.

The fire and medical services treated several hundred people during the parade, with the majority of cases treated being due to alcohol or drug-related problems. In some cases there were even serious injuries, some of which were life-threatening. The organizer's medical service announced that over 50 people were taken to hospitals. Incidents of physical harm were also reported, but overall the event was described as “low-disturbance and peaceful.”

Big event with a political background

“Rave The Planet” was not only a celebration of electronic music, but also a political demonstration under the slogan “Our Future Is Now”. The parade began at 2 p.m. and led over the Victory Column to the Brandenburg Gate. The centerpiece of the parade were the colorful music trucks, which were designed by various clubs and collectives from the techno scene. In addition to music from the genres techno, (tech) house, trance and more, there were also speeches from well-known personalities in the scene, such as Marcel Weber and Dave Groeneveld.

The event aimed to draw attention to various political demands: including legal clarification of assembly laws and the protection of electronic music culture as a UNESCO-protected cultural heritage. Other concerns included revising soundproofing regulations and abolishing legal bans on dancing in order to give the community a voice.

Drug use and safety concerns

Debates about drug abuse in Berlin's nightlife scene were recently reignited by tragic incidents. After the drug-related death of a young American woman who died in “Berghain,” critical voices have become loud about the responsibility of clubs and politics. A documentary discusses drug use in Berlin's nightlife and the risks for partygoers. Emergency medicine experts and experts emphasize the importance of education and prevention, especially through projects such as drug checking, in order to avoid drug-related deaths. This topic raises questions that are crucial for a safe party culture in the heart of Berlin.

After the big event, organizers expect a clean-up day on Sunday, July 13th, starting at 11 a.m. at March 18th Square. Here volunteers can help to free the city from the traces of the celebration and make their contribution to the community.

Once again, Berlin has proven that Rabatz and rave go hand in hand - but the safety and well-being of all participants must remain the priority in order to preserve the freedom of electronic music culture. Preparations for future events should keep these challenges in mind and work together with the city, police and clubs to find suitable solutions.

For more information about the event and future initiatives, visit the website Radiowuppertal, Tip Berlin and the documentary ZDF.