Eröffnungsfest der Bühnen

The programme for the Bühnen Köln Opening Festival has finally been announced! You can now find all information about the opening weekend on the Bühnen Köln website. Tickets for the Neustart Concert on Sunday evening featuring the Cologne Opera Ensemble, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and Kasalla are available exclusively through a ticket draw.

On 19 September the time has come: at noon, the Opera House, Schauspielhaus, and Offenbachplatz will reopen to the people of Cologne.

For two days, it’s all about coming together, exploring, and experiencing. Various parcours lead through the foyers, auditoriums, and across the stages of both the opera and the theatre. The brand-new stage of the Children’s Opera beneath Offenbachplatz also opens its doors. Technical shows demonstrate the capabilities of the new stage technology.

On the outdoor stage at Offenbachplatz, a nonstop programme features opera, theatre, and special guests. The districts of Cologne also actively participate in the programme of the street festival on the outdoor stage.

On 20 September at 6 pm, music once again fills the Opera House. The Cologne Opera ensemble performs alongside the Gürzenich Orchestra.

Special guest: Kasalla, performing their greatest hits arranged for band and orchestra.

On 19 September 2026 at 3 p.m., members of Cologne Opera’s International Opera Studio will present a varied programme of arias by Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Rossini, Puccini and Korngold at Kolumba. The performance marks the opening of the new annual exhibition “Have You Ever Fallen in Love with a Clock? – On Norm and Deviation” and the Bühnen Köln Opening Festival. Further information about the accompanying programme at Kolumba is available here.