Cologne Comedy Festival

Germany's biggest comedy festival

Since the early 1990s, the Cologne Comedy Festival has been considered Germany's largest comedy festival. It combines stand-up, cabaret, live podcasts, theatrical readings, and family comedy in a programme that draws tens of thousands of spectators to the cathedral city of Cologne every year. In 2026, the festival will run in two clearly separated phases — a summer open-air event and the main festival in autumn.

Open Air at Schloss Eulenbroich (July 3–5, 2026)

The Summer Open Air from July 3rd to 5th, 2026 at Schloss Eulenbroich in Rösrath (southeast of Cologne in the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis) will kick things off. The historic castle complex with its park and natural backdrop provides the perfect stage for the warm season — comedy under the open sky, picnic atmosphere, and a condensed selection from the main festival's programme.

Main Festival October 20 – November 8, 2026

The actual festival runs from October 20th to November 8th, 2026 at over 20 venues in Cologne — from the Gloria-Theater and the Stadthalle Köln to the COMEDIA-Theater, the Atelier Theater, and the Senftöpfchen-Theater. Several shows daily for three weeks — from sold-out galas in 1,500-seat halls to intimate performances on 80-seat stages.

Headliners and Highlights 2026

• Hazel Brugger — “Good Evening Europe” — the Swiss comedian is touring with her English-language programme
• Atze Schröder — “LOVEMACHINE” — the stand-up classic with wig and sunglasses
• The Female Club — Finale with top female comedians from the German-speaking scene
• Paula Lambert — Relationship and lifestyle comedy
• 1Live Comedy Night XXL — several dates in October with an open-mic feel and well-known acts
• NightWash Talent Award — Promoting emerging talent
• Pelemele — Farewell concerts for their 25th stage anniversary (children's comedy)
• Stromberg — staged reading
• Ulan & Bator, Frieda Braun, Fatih Çevikkollu, Timo Woop at the COMEDIA-Theater

COMEDIA-Theater — the Festival Hub

The COMEDIA-Theater in Cologne's Südstadt district (Vondelstraße 4-8) is one of the central festival venues. Over 20 different artists will perform there over the three weeks — from established names to international guests like Profesor Briceño (Venezuela). Younger audiences will also be entertained with programmes like WASIHRWOLLT.

Cologne — the Comedy Capital

For decades, Cologne has been the German hotspot for comedy. TV production companies for RTL and ProSieben are based here, as are the comedy stages Senftöpfchen, Atelier, Gloria, and Volksbühne. People study at the Cologne Film School and the ifs international film school. The festival leverages this natural density, turning the entire city centre into a comedy campus for three weeks. The cathedral city in North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany's fourth-largest city and the cultural centre of the Rhineland.

History Since 1991

The festival was launched in the early 1990s as a small programme series and gradually grew into a national industry meeting point. Today, it is not only a festival for the public but also for the industry — organisers, TV editors, and comedy managers use the three weeks for scouting and negotiations.