Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz 2026 – Opening in Kaiserslautern

35th Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz

The Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz was founded in 1992 and has since been one of the most important cultural events in the state. Every year, the Kultursommer focuses on a thematic annual motto and brings together hundreds of individual events in the state. 2026, the motto is “The Golden Twenties” – a reference to the 1920s with their cultural flourishing, their political ambivalence, and their relevance to current social debates.

Opening in Kaiserslautern

The annual opening of the Kultursommer travels through the state. In 2026, Kaiserslautern is the host – a special honor for the city, which is also celebrating its 750th city anniversary. The opening will be performed by the Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Alexander Schweitzer, and is part of the comprehensive 750kl program.

Cultural Mile in the City Center

The cultural mile for the opening includes the Pfalzgalerie Museum, Pfalztheater, Fruchthalle, Schillerplatz, and Stiftskirche – the five central cultural venues in Kaiserslautern's city center. This concentrated staging over three days transforms the city center into a festival campus, where a broad spectrum is presented, from classical to world music, from theater to performance.

Program Highlights 2026

The musical highlights reflect the motto: The Moka Efti Orchestra, known from the series “Babylon Berlin,” brings the music of the late 1920s to life. Nubiyan Twist from Great Britain combines Afrobeat, Jazz, and Soul into contemporary world music. DOTA & Band, the Berlin singer-songwriter, presents her engagement with literary modernism. This program line shows how the festival connects historical references with contemporary relevance.