At this year’s 2026 Street Parade in Zurich, the Drug Information Center (DIZ) was once again present with a drug-checking service, operating at two locations—Langstrasse 14 and Bürkliplatz—for the third time. Visitors could have their psychoactive substances tested for free, anonymously, and without an appointment. At both locations, they could also pick up safer-use information, condoms, and water, as well as take advantage of the Drug Information Center’s counseling and information services.
In collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Service of the Canton of Bern, a total of 102 samples were analyzed at Bürkliplatz from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. An additional 39 samples were analyzed at the Langstrasse 14 location between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
As usual, the substances most commonly distributed at this year’s Street Parade 2026 were MDMA (in both pill and powder form), cocaine, and amphetamine. The drug-checking lab analyzed a total of 46 pills declared as MDMA (ecstasy), 31 samples declared as cocaine, 22 MDMA powder samples, 6 amphetamine samples, and 6 LSD samples. In addition, 6 samples each of ketamine, 2C-B, and 4-MMC (mephedrone) were tested, along with a few other substances. Eight people also submitted a powder of unknown content for analysis.
10 of the 46 pills labeled as MDMA contained no psychoactive substances. Another pill consisted solely of the pain reliever acetaminophen, and yet another pill unexpectedly contained the psychedelic 2C-B instead of MDMA. Of particular concern this year was the detection of PMMA (4-methoxymethamphetamine) in four pills. Two of these pills contained only PMMA instead of MDMA, while PMMA and MDMA were detected in two others. PMMA and MDMA belong to the same family of substances and have similar effects. However, the risk of overdose is much higher with PMMA, and unlike MDMA, even a slightly excessive dose can lead to severe overheating, rapid heartbeat, and convulsions. PMMA also has a significantly delayed onset of action, which can tempt users to take another dose. The individuals concerned were informed accordingly when the results were communicated, and the samples were published in the form of an online warning.
18 of the MDMA pills distributed were high-dose, containing more than 120 mg of MDMA, and 5 of those were even extremely high-dose, containing more than 200 mg of MDMA. The average active ingredient content of the MDMA-containing pills at this year’s Street Parade was 140.1 mg, which is slightly lower than last year’s figure (167.3 mg). The highest active ingredient content measured in a single pill was 269 mg of MDMA—roughly three to four times the average dose. An MDMA overdose can lead to muscle cramps, circulatory problems, and hallucinations, and the risk is further increased by the summer heat and physical exertion from dancing at the event. Body temperature rises sharply in the event of an overdose, posing a risk of heatstroke. MDMA powder samples had an average purity of 72.4%, which was significantly lower than the previous year’s figure (94.9%). Two of the 22 samples contained no controlled substance. One sample sold as MDMA consisted primarily of the synthetic cathinone 4-MMC, while another sample consisted mainly of ketamine. Caffeine, the pain reliever metamizole, and the medication lisdexamfetamine were also detected in some samples.
The average cocaine content of the samples submitted—86.4%—fell between the figures for the two previous years (2024: 74.7%, 2025: 89.9%). Six of the 31 cocaine samples contained adulterants, including procaine, phenacetin, levamisole, and ephedrine. One sample contained no active ingredient, and one of the samples submitted consisted exclusively of metamizole. Misdeclarations also occurred with other substances. Both samples submitted as 3-MMC contained the analogs 3-CMC and 4-CMC, respectively, instead of the expected active ingredient; similarly, a sample declared as 4-MMC consisted mainly of 4-CMC. Another sample submitted as 4-MMC turned out to be a mixture of cocaine, procaine, and caffeine. A large proportion of the amphetamine samples were laced with caffeine, with the active ingredient content ranging from 8% to 100%. The sample sold as GHB contained GBL, which is dosed at lower levels and can therefore unintentionally lead to an overdose. Of the six LSD samples, three were LSD-soaked paper and three were liquid samples. The LSD-soaked paper contained between 32.3 µg and 71 µg of LSD per piece. The liquid samples, including one sample in the form of a microdose spray, contained between 3.2 µg and 147.9 µg per dispensed dose.
With a total of 141 samples, both locations operated at full capacity during their hours of operation. The highly concentrated and mislabeled samples that appear every year at large events such as the Street Parade highlight the importance of drug-checking services. As part of the “safer use” approach, partygoers are advised to obtain psychoactive substances from a source they trust as much as possible well in advance of the event and to have them tested in advance at a drug-checking service if they decide to use them. It is also recommended that they educate themselves about the substance beforehand and refrain from experimenting with it at large events.
