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Booking chaos: Small carnival companies in Cologne are facing bankruptcy!
Cologne is experiencing booking chaos for the 2025/26 carnival, which poses major challenges for small companies.
Booking chaos: Small carnival companies in Cologne are facing bankruptcy!
The booking chaos for the upcoming carnival session in Cologne has bitter consequences for small companies. The hustle and bustle began at the end of June when the announcement of the literary regulars' table quickly brought forward the booking dates from September to July. This sudden change means that a number of smaller clubs are now struggling to hire their favorite artists, while large companies have already secured all the top acts such as Kasalla, Brings and the Höhner. There is something there, because many of these small clubs found out about the new dates too late, which means they feel enormous pressure to be able to plan their events properly.
Martin Zylka from the Go agency is sure that the sudden decision caught many artist agencies by surprise. These were literally flooded with inquiries. Creating such chaotic circumstances is a challenge not only for the agencies, but above all for the many small clubs that often form the heart of the celebrations in the Cologne carnival world.
The impact on the carnival scene
The Cologne carnival thrives on diversity and the numerous small companies that organize their festivals with a lot of heart and passion. Wolfgang Lutter, owner of the Kölschagentur, knows the challenges all too well. He has been closely linked to carnival since his childhood and has made a name for himself with his agency. The Kölschagentur not only sees itself as an agent for artists, but also embodies the passion and professionalism that is necessary for the carnival. Lutter himself has been active since 1978 and brings not only experience but also personal contacts to well-known artists to the event scene.
The family-run agency has established itself as an important support in the Cologne Carnival. Lutter, once “Papa's favorite,” is now a writer and program designer. His wife Margret Lutter is also active in the carnival and ensures that the tradition stays alive.
A call to the community
The situation of small companies is alarming and requires a rethink within the carnival community. The tradition maintained by the smaller clubs is of great importance for the large carnival family and the city of Cologne. It is time for everyone involved to pull together to fix the chaos and restore anticipation for the 2025/26 carnival session.
The coming weeks will show whether the Cologne carnival scene can face the challenges and whether there are ideas to help the small companies. Because one thing is certain: the Cologne Carnival needs diversity and the commitment of its many actors in order to be able to celebrate colorful and happy festivals in the future. In addition, everyone must work together, because a strong network helps to avoid such crises in the future.
t-online.de reports that ... and koelschagentur.de provides further insights into the history of Wolfgang Lutter, which shapes the Cologne carnival scene.