Cologne Summer Festival

From July 28 to August 23, the 37th Cologne Summer Festival at the Philharmonie invites you to experience international stage productions that move and connect. Three exceptional shows await you—never before seen in Cologne. Each tells its own story—powerful, moving, sometimes quiet, sometimes grand in gesture. Evenings that inspire you, make hope tangible, and remind you of the strength found in shared culture.

At a time when many questions arise, this is a space for new perspectives, for emotion, and for what unites us. Curtain up—your summer moment begins.

July 28 to August 2: Die Weiße Rose

The multi-award-winning musical by Alex Melcher and Vera Bolten tells the story of the student resistance group led by Hans and Sophie Scholl. Historical sources meet a contemporary, rock-influenced sound. At its heart are young people who form convictions—and find the courage to take responsibility.

August 4 to 9: Dance Me

The Canadian company pays tribute to Leonard Cohen. Set to 16 songs—from “Suzanne” to “Hallelujah”—a multifaceted evening unfolds, blending dance, music, and visual design. Three choreographers create a poetic homage between modern jazz and contemporary dance.

August 12 to 23: Romeo & Julia – Liebe ist alles

The musical by Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer launches its tour in Cologne. Shakespeare’s text, in the Schlegel translation, merges with new pop songs and emotional ballads. The well-known story emerges as a musical drama with a clear contemporary edge—between passion, conflict, and hope.

A festival summer that brings together diverse perspectives on memory, music, and great emotions—focused on three distinctive stage events at the Kölner Philharmonie.