When does Zett Emm_20_26 take place?

The festival will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 11 AM to 7 PM.

Where does the youth festival take place?

The venue is the Alte Feuerwache at Melchiorstraße 3, 50670 Cologne.

What is the admission fee?

Admission to the events is free. Workshops and open rehearsals can also be attended free of charge.

What is on the program?

Five half-hour concerts with contemporary music, premieres, choreographies, music videos, workshops, dance improvisations, sound art, electronic compositions, and discussion rounds are planned.

Who is organizing Zett Emm_20_26?

The organizer is the Rheinische Musikschule Cologne. The festival is being created with several partners from music, dance, higher education, and cultural education.

New sounds, young talents: Cologne experiences a festival full of surprising sound moments

Name: Zett Emm_20_26 – 14th Youth Festival for Contemporary Music
Start: 2026-11-07T11:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-07T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Alte Feuerwache

Zett Emm_20_26 brings young sound ideas to the stage

On November 7, 2026, the Alte Feuerwache Cologne will transform into a vibrant meeting point for contemporary music, dance, and creative experiments. At the 14th Youth Festival Zett Emm_20_26, young musicians, dancers, composition students, and ensembles will create their own program – by youth for youth and adults.

Five concerts full of surprises

The festival program features five short concerts that take you through the open world of contemporary music. The funny, interesting, entertaining, and unusual meets premieres, choreographies, music videos, and new sound ideas. Every half hour opens a unique musical universe.

Experimental music meets dance and sound art

The lineup transcends classical genre boundaries: improvisation, new music, electronic compositions, sound, videos, sound art, and dance improvisations come together for a diverse multi-day experience in a compact festival format. Workshops and discussion rounds create additional closeness between the audience and young artists.

New talent with their own artistic voice

Zett Emm_20_26 provides young creatives with a professional platform for their contemporary creations. Special attention will be given to the winners of the international youth composition competition Zett Emm-open. Their outstanding works will be presented during the festival, making the event an important forum for musical talent.

Festival atmosphere in the Alte Feuerwache

In the various rooms of the Alte Feuerwache, a concentrated, curious festival atmosphere is created: open ears, direct encounters, and an audience that discovers new forms together. The festival organization combines concerts, workshops, open rehearsals, and discussions into a sense of community that makes contemporary music immediately tangible.

Strong partners from the music and education landscape

Zett Emm_20_26 is organized by the Rheinische Musikschule Cologne. Partners include KölnMusik and the Köln Philharmonic, the Dance Academy of the Rheinische Musikschule, Studio Musikfabrik, the Institute for Computer Music and Electronic Media at the Folkwang University of the Arts, the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, as well as other music schools and educational institutions. The festival was awarded the Junge Ohren Audience Award and connected to the Ernst von Siemens Nachwuchspreis in 2026.

Conclusion: Discover new music live

Zett Emm_20_26 shows how exciting, humorous, and accessible contemporary music can be. Admission is free, and the program invites you to dive into new sound worlds without anxiety. Anyone who wants to experience young talents, unusual concert formats, and genuine festival atmosphere should not miss this day at the Alte Feuerwache Cologne.