Sommerblut

In the page's words:

show your solidarity

13.05.-24.05.2026

For 25 years, Sommerblut has been creating spaces in which people with diverse perspectives and realities of life work together artistically, listen to each other and try out new forms of social interaction. For Sommerblut, this lived solidarity means breaking down barriers, creating visibility for marginalized groups and creating spaces for shared vulnerability. Creating together is both an invitation and a practice and, in the form of lived cultural participation, constitutes the identity of the festival. Solidarity not only means sharing power, but also renegotiating accessibility.

With numerous projects, Sommerblut 2026 shows that art not only entertains, but also shakes up, connects and mobilizes - especially in times of crisis. The production The Wound of Europe asks what European solidarity looks like in times of international wars and conflicts. The Birds project looks at our immediate neighborhood in the Rhenish mining area and shows how a sustainable future can be shaped for everyone. For Sommerblut, solidarity also means collective resistance: both Generation Resistance, a project to empower young adults against the global shift to the right, and Balmy Army, a project to give visibility to young people with experience of psychiatry, create moments of solidarity.

With Idio Chichava's new production DZUDZA and Michael Turinsky's WORK BODY, Sommerblut wants to recognize different spaces and their challenges and create connections where there were none before. For Sommerblut, solidarity means visibility. This is why the festival will also focus on the experiences, barriers and rights of people with disabilities and people with psychiatric experience in 2026 as part of MAD PRIDE. The festival edition will be rounded off by an exhibition on the history of the Sommerblut cultural festival to mark its 25th anniversary at the Michael Horbach Foundation.

Sommerblut invites you to explore solidarity in all its facets: What does it mean today? Where does it reach its limits? And what does it really mean to show solidarity? With these questions, the festival would like to invite you to rediscover solidarity and reflect on what solidarity means in the here and now.

Join us, become part of our festival community and show your solidarity!

Our solidarity ticket system

The regular - 18 €
Regular - you think that's a fair price for a ticket to the Sommerblut Kulturfestival? We think so too. Thank you for supporting us with your visit!

Spendierhosen ticket - 24 €
Solidarity - you can and want to pay a little more? With this ticket you help us to continue to offer solidarity prices in the future. Thank you for your support!

Big gesture ticket - 38 €
Solidarity - With this grand gesture, you make it possible for someone who can't pay much to attend a Sommerblut event. Your contribution makes a real difference - thank you!

The small one - 12 €
Reduced price - You want to be there, but a normal price ticket doesn't fit into your budget right now? That's totally okay - this ticket is for you. Thank you for visiting the Sommerblut Kulturfestival!

Welcome ticket - 6 €
Reduced - This is our join-in offer: You can't pay much, but don't want to miss out on culture. We look forward to welcoming you to the festival - thank you for coming!

Why five prices?

With our solidarity ticket system, we want to invite everyone to be part of our events. The idea is: everyone pays what they can. That's why we offer tickets for 6 to 36 euros for all events where we can. Each ticket gives you the same access to the respective event. This means that the ticket you choose does not determine your seat, admission time or anything else. The price should be fair and based on solidarity.

We want to break down economic barriers and enable as many people as possible to visit the festival. If it is possible for you, we would be delighted if you choose a Spendierhosen ticket or a Große-Geste ticket. This will help us to create a fair and fair system for everyone. Thank you for helping to make culture accessible to everyone!

Note for people with disabilities

If the "B" mark is noted on the disabled person's ID card, the person accompanying the disabled person has Free admission to all events.

Das Sommerblut Kulturfestival findet vom 30.04. - 11.05.2025 in und um Köln statt.