City of Cologne Ends Funding for ACHT BRÜCKEN Festival

The Cologne City Council has decided to completely withdraw funding for the ACHT BRÜCKEN festival starting in 2026.

For the past 15 years, the festival has brought new artistic energy to the city, fostering innovative projects and presenting top international ensembles alongside Cologne’s vibrant independent music scene. A key aspect of its work has been commissioning and producing around 150 world premieres, some of which have become part of the contemporary repertoire.

Without municipal support, the future of contemporary music in Cologne is now uncertain. Whether the festival will continue and at what scale remains in question.

The 2025 edition, themed Licht! (“Light!”), will go ahead as planned, paying tribute to the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Taking place from May 9 to 18, the festival will feature 31 concerts, 16 world premieres, multiple city-wide collaborations, and the traditional Freihafen event.