With the annual Dyke* Festival just around the corner, we had the pleasure of speaking with the crew behind the multidisciplinary event, Berlin’s collective allesbien. What began as a small group of passionate individuals in 2022 has evolved into a dynamic collective fueled by their shared enthusiasm. There are no formal memberships; instead, they warmly welcome anyone who wishes to join—be it a lifelong activist, a baby dyke*, or simply someone who cares deeply about the cause, all are invited to participate. Behind the scenes, a dedicated organisational team works diligently to craft a diverse range of events and activities tailored to every interest. Find out more about how to support the festival and contribute to the crowdfunding campaign below!
What inspired the creation of allesbien and how has your journey shaped its mission?
Charlotte: allesbien was born from a longing for a diverse lesbian* community whose culture felt invisible. Even though we were based in Berlin – the epicenter of queer culture – it felt like most of the queer life was centered around partying and cis-gay men. Our journey has been shaped by that need—to create a space grounded in community and lesbianism. Many of us are interested in art of many forms, so this naturally became a large part of allesbien as well. With time, we’ve been through a lot while building the festival and raising funds to make our events happen. We’re a collective with no natural sources of funds or revenue, so sometimes things were not easy to pull of. With time we’ve really learned the importance of building kind human connections, the importance of being able to rely on your community, and the beauty of lesbian* culture and friendships!
Can you share some highlights from previous events you’ve organised, and what made them special?
Deny: Our events are all about community and creating a space to feel comfortable. We know how overwhelming it can be to find queer friends, so we create the kind of events we miss ourselves. May it be activities like embroidery, drawing or knitting, photo workshops or movie nights and the occasional party. allesbien events are a great place to get to know new people and connect through our identity as dykes*, long established or just dipping toes in the water. Rumors tell several long lasting friendship groups have formed since the first Dyke* Festival edition. Anyone joining an allesbien event will notice how it feels like a big, warm dyke* family hangout. It gives village vibes in an otherwise so often anonymous big city. And we are just getting started, with the allesbien team expanding, more diverse interests will be covered. In july we will host our very first allesbien football tournament, specifically for the FLINTA* community.
What unique experiences can we expect at this year’s Dyke Festival?
Deny: The Dyke* Festival focuses on connection through daytime activities. Expect artsy workshops, input sessions centering underrepresented queer experiences, exploring diverse landscapes of artisanship in music, fashion, entertainment, a buddy system to welcome those joining on their own. Activities center introverts as much as extroverts. Expect a bit of chaos and a lot of charm. And after two days at the Dyke* Festival, you might leave with the feeling that the world can be pretty cute after all.
How does your collective focus on inclusivity and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community?
Sophia: We are a lesbian* and bi collective, our target group are Dykes* of diverse backgrounds, we try to make sure our events are as accessible as possible. And we switch between different kinds of events to offer a variety of events for different interests and needs. We want to offer a Safer Place for Dykes* of all genders and identities. What we don’t accept are TERFs, racists, ableists… or any form of discrimination.
How can supporters get involved beyond financial contributions?
Sophia: For us it’s important to create a festival for and with the community, so there are many ways to get involved: Like offering a food or market stand, helping us with knowledge on accessibility and laws, being a volunteer at the festival and by sharing our posts and donation link with friends and on social media will help us make the festival possible.
What messages or values do you hope to convey through the festival?
Charlotte: We want to show that joy is an act of resistance. As a community, we can challenge social norms, disrupt power dynamics, and break free from the oppressions of the cis-tem. For this festival, we create a world rooted in kindness, generosity, and fluid love — a little bubble to breathe, an island to relax and enjoy. And the energy of that weekend will carry us through the winter, and stay with us forever.
Deny (she/they): late bloomer lesbian and activist at heart trying to create comfort and visibility while fighting systems of oppression. They joined allesbien in 2025 to distract themselves from a tough break-up only to find a place that appreciates their nerdy orga skills and diverse political interests.
Charlotte (she/her) As the initiator of the collective in 2022, she commits to preserve and shape lesbian culture in this unique way, she does it also for happiness, pride, and new friends :)
Sophia (she/her): is an intersectional feminist who is deeply involved in political volunteer work. She joined allesbien in 2025, driven by her desire—as a lesbian—to give back to the community and connect with new people within it.
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@allesbien
Support the Dyke* Festival crowdfunding here and head to Dyke* Night at Gretchen on June 20th!
Photos by @paulina_tamaracid
