KOSMOS Chemnitz
75,000 people celebrate KOSMOS 2026
The date for 2027 has been confirmed
Around 75,000 people celebrated KOSMOS Chemnitz 2026 on Saturday. Hartmannplatz, Schmidtbankpassage, Kaßbergauffahrt and the areas around An der Markthalle and Fabrikstraße were transformed into the venue for the fifth edition of this free city festival, which has continued to expand its festival grounds within Chemnitz city centre. It was a resounding success for everyone involved: a new venue, a packed programme and a very high turnout.
New location, great variety
With the relocation of the festival site within the city centre, KOSMOS 2026 has reinvented itself spatially. Around Hartmannplatz, the school, the market hall, the laundrette and the power station, some 250 events spanning music, art, society, sport and business offered a packed programme to explore – ranging from large-scale stages to intimate venues.
Society: Keynotes with a Message
Particularly impressive was the openness of the guests, who filled the various stages right from the start of the event at midday, at times causing temporary admission holds. Speakers included climate activist Luisa Neubauer (“What if we were brave?”) and journalist and FragDenStaat founder Arne Semsrott (“On Counter-Power”) spoke to a large audience at the Oberschule am Hartmannplatz. The programme was rounded off with panel discussions on press freedom, migration, queerness in East Germany, KIEthik and financial education.
Sports for everyone
The sports programme included, amongst other things, inclusive table football, basketball, boxing, handball, Zumba and yoga, as well as the Salsatón dance competition, wrestling shows and breakdance battles – interactive physical activities for all age groups right in the heart of the city.
Initiatives Mile
On Fabrikstraße, the ‘Initiatives Mile’ provided an opportunity to engage with civil society projects. Meanwhile, around 40 companies, universities and research institutions showcased their work at the Business Hub.
Art between the stages
The arts programme ranged from the ‘Ostbronx’ hip-hop exhibition and photography exhibitions to drag performances and theatre installations in the spaces between the stages on the new festival site.
Music: from the local DJ scene to the headliners
KOSMOS’s musical diversity was on display across the large and small stages. On the Bass Stage and at Club Cabrio, DJs from Chemnitz and the wider region kept the day going; the Trailer Stage featured acts including Power Plush, Mika Noé and SALÒ, whilst the Rap Stage hosted acts such as Hinterlandgang, Mietze Conte and sarah4k. OK KID and Alexander Marcus bridged the gap to the KOSMOS Stage, before 01099 brought the evening to a close. Together, they made a powerful statement on democratic values, openness to the world and tolerance.
A first for KOSMOS REVUE
The evening before, on KOSMOS Friday, a new format called REVUE made its debut in the Main Hall of the Chemnitz Stadthalle. Curated by Club Atomino and von Welten, the approximately 90-minute evening combined music, comedy, conversation and surprising moments of pop culture.
75,000 guests
The date for 2027 has been confirmed
The date for KOSMOS 2027 has already been set:
The next edition of KOSMOS Chemnitz will take place on Saturday, 28 August 2027.
Over the coming weeks, we will first carry out a comprehensive evaluation of KOSMOS 2026, taking into account feedback, praise and criticism from guests and participants – whilst, at the same time, work on the next edition will begin. Further information will follow in the coming weeks.
KOSMOS online
For more highlights from this year’s KOSMOS and background information on the festival’s history, visit www.kosmos-chemnitz.de.