KDK Open Air 4.0 — Deutschrap Festival

Deutschrap at the Cologne Südbrücke

When the first warm summer evenings arrive in mid-June, the Südbrücke Cologne has been transforming into one of the most important meeting points of the German rap scene since 2023. On Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, 2026, the KDK Open Air 4.0 will enter its fourth edition — thus firmly established as one of the defining Deutschrap open-airs in West Germany.

Lugatti & 9ine as the Heads of the Festival

The initiator and curatorial focus is the rapper duo Lugatti & 9ine from Cologne. Their idea is programmatic: a festival that does not follow the usual mega-festival logic (large main stage, hundreds of thousands of visitors, consumer orientation), but focuses on closeness between artists and audience. The organizers describe it as: “closeness between artists and audience, with spontaneous moments on and around the stage”.

Line-up 2026

The 2026 line-up is a mix of established names and up-and-coming acts from the Deutschrap scene:

• Lugatti & 9ine (Festival organizers)
• Makko
• Boondawg
• Baran Kok
• Kwam.E
• OG Lu
• more artists will be announced

Südbrücke Cologne — Industrial Charm on the Rhine

The Südbrücke in Cologne-Poll/Deutz is a former railway bridge over the Rhine — today a venue with industrial charm. The location offers a spacious open-air area and at the same time the intimate atmosphere of a closed festival site — ideal conditions for the concept of KDK Open Air, which focuses on concentration and encounter rather than mass crowds. Address: Alfred-Schütte-Allee 34, 51105 Cologne.

Capacity and Ticket Info

The capacity is approx. 4,000 visitors per day. Opening admission on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 5:00 PM. Ticket sales via Hush Hush GmbH and the official festival channels. Day tickets from €50, weekend tickets as a bundle. More information via Instagram @kdkopenair.

Organizer Hush Hush GmbH

KDK Open Air is organized by Hush Hush GmbH Cologne — one of the central Deutschrap platforms in West Germany. Hush Hush handles booking, event management, and artist development in the hip-hop/rap scene, with a special focus on developing new acts alongside established names.

Cologne as a Hip-Hop City

Cologne, alongside Berlin, Frankfurt, and the Ruhr area, is one of Germany's most important Deutschrap cities. Artists like Eko Fresh, Massiv, Eko Fresh, Cro, and others have their roots here. The scene at Friesenplatz, on the Rhine promenade, and in the southern districts has been continuously active since the 2000s. KDK Open Air at the Südbrücke brings this scene to an established festival stage in the summer.