Booking stress in Cologne's Carnival emphasized
In an unexpected turn of events, the booking phase for big live acts for the 2027 Cologne Carnival has been moved forward from September 2026 to July 2025. This change, which was announced in July 2025, has left many smaller carnival clubs feeling frustrated and at a disadvantage.
The decision to move up the booking phase was made by the influential Literary Table, a gathering of program organisers, who did not inform all parties involved. Carl Hagemann, President of KG Alt-Lindenthal, one of the smaller clubs, only learned about the date change during a presidents' evening.
The larger carnival clubs, aware of the change, secured their live acts for their events, while smaller clubs found out about it by chance. As a result, some smaller clubs did not get any live acts for 2027 at all, and many are upset about the situation.
The move was prompted by an unusually short session, with Rosenmontag on February 8, 2027. This early date necessitated a faster booking process, which smaller clubs, who may not have the same resources or connections, have found challenging.
The Carnival Committee, concerned about the situation, sees President Christoph Kuckelkorn of the Carnival Committee as a mediator. Kuckelkorn has stated that he is committed to finding a solution that ensures all clubs have a fair opportunity to secure live acts for their events.
It's worth noting that a limited number of artists in Cologne can guarantee a full hall, including Bläck Fööss, Brings, the Domstürmer, Kasalla, and a few others. These top acts are eagerly sought after by program organisers each year, and their early booking could have left smaller clubs without popular options.
In the 60th anniversary year of Alt-Lindenthal, they could only secure less attractive live acts due to the moved booking date. This predicament highlights the challenges smaller clubs face when competing with larger, better-resourced clubs for popular live acts.
As the Cologne Carnival approaches, the focus remains on finding a solution that ensures all clubs have a fair opportunity to secure live acts for their events. Local event calendars and news sources that cover Cologne's carnival scene may provide more detailed information on this specific issue.
The early booking of live acts by the larger carnival clubs, instigated by the moved-up phase, has intensified the competition for popular acts, leaving some smaller clubs struggling to secure entertainment for their events. The decision made by the Literary Table without informing all parties involved has been a source of frustration for many smaller clubs, who may not have the same resources or connections.
