KOSMOS Chemnitz

KOSMOS is an absolutely extraordinary festival. The locations of the festival are extraordinary; the number and diversity of events are extraordinary; and how the festival started most certainly is too. Even its claim to being a festival for democracy is extraordinary. KOSMOS was created in response to the far right-wing demonstrations in August 2018. Initially a spontaneous »Wir sind mehr« (»There are more of us«) concert organised in just a few days in the city centre (attended by 65,000 people), a big idea developed over the years that followed. Associations, initiatives, companies, institutions and private individuals from all walks of life would work together to create a city-centre festival with dozens of stages, bustling streets and beam- ing faces. The KOSMOS team provides the platform and infrastructure. People from Chemnitz and Europe provide the content. KOSMOS is therefore anything but ordinary: discussion groups at a bus stop, basketball at a crossroads, bands in shops, readings in launderettes – when Chemnitz sparkles, it’s KOSMOS time.