KOSMOS Chemnitz

KOSMOS is an absolutely extraordinary festival. The locations of the festival are, the density and diversity of the events are, the organisation even more so. And even its own claim to be a festival for democracy is. KOSMOS was created as a reaction to the right-wing demonstrations in August 2018. Initially launched as a #wirsindmehr concert in the city centre organised in just a few days (with 65,000 visitors spontaneously attending), a big idea developed in the years that followed: associations, initiatives, companies, institutions and private individuals from all walks of life joined forces to create an urban city centre festival with dozens of stages, packed streets and beaming faces. The KOSMOS team provides the platform and the infrastructure. The people of Chemnitz and Europe create the content. KOSMOS is therefore anything but ordinary: discussions in a bus stop, basketball at a crossroads, bands in retail outlets, readings in launderettes - when Chemnitz sparkles, it's KOSMOS.
 

As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025, 115,000 people celebrated KOSMOS 2025 in Chemnitz over the weekend of 13–15 June – more than ever before. This made the cultural festival the biggest event of the Capital of Culture year since its grand opening in January 2025. Over the course of three days, Chemnitz city centre – stretching from the Karl Marx Monument via the Schloßteich to Konkordiapark – was filled with over 300 programme items across more than 70 stages.