Culture coverage on film, music, literature, media and events in Germany, Europe and Ukraine.
Schlager star Freddy Quinn (94) is not dead, contrary to false claims. According to Bild newspaper, the entertainer is outraged by the hoax and is considering legal action.
The musical “Schmigadoon!” won multiple prizes at the Tony Awards, while “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe once again left the prestigious US theater gala without a win.
Two theater festivals are starting in Bavaria, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung. In Wasserburg, productions from Bavarian private theaters will be showcased over ten days, while in Oberammergau, the open-air season begins with 'TYLL,' based on Daniel Kehlmann's novel.
The award-winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi continues to fight a conviction for alleged 'propaganda against the system' – but a court in Tehran has rejected his appeal, as Spiegel reports.
The Cologne auction house Van Ham is offering modern and contemporary art in its evening sale, including four Goethe portraits by Andy Warhol and a lakescape by Lovis Corinth.
After a dispute over the venue, political activist and author Arne Semsrott held readings in Magdeburg. According to FAZ, both events were sold out.
In a narrow cave near Hagen, archaeologists have stumbled upon remnants of a lost culture. According to Spiegel, the fate of this culture must now be reinterpreted.
Chilean writer Daniela Cartileo and German author Sonja M. Schultz will each receive 12,500 euros as winners of the Anna Seghers Prize. The award ceremony takes place this evening in Berlin, according to Deutschlandfunk.
Detlef Köhler, a long-standing member of the Theater Grüne Soße in Frankfurt, is retiring. According to the FAZ, he had been with the house since 1991.
The classical music competition Eurovision Young Musicians 2026 kicks off tonight. Germany is represented by violinist Moë Dierstein, as reported by NDR.
A second live-action adaptation of “Masters of the Universe” has hit theaters. According to a review by Spiegel, the film impresses with an unexpected amount of humor.
The Beatles and Apple Corps are making the Global Beatles Day official. According to Euronews, the first official edition will take place later this month.
The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. has instructed its employees to immediately remove Donald Trump's name from email signatures and letterheads, following a court ruling that deemed the inclusion unlawful, as reported by Zeit Online.
The Film Academy plans to hold a discussion in September about the controversial nude scene in Wim Wenders' film 'Wrong Move'. The director had temporarily withdrawn the film due to the scene featuring then-13-year-old Nastassja Kinski.
The Rock im Park festival begins Friday in Nuremberg with 73 acts and an expected 80,000 visitors per day, according to Bayerischer Rundfunk.
The Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT) is commemorating the founding of Weihenstephan Abbey over a thousand years ago with its 'Klostersommer' festival. As reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the choir 'Cantus München' will perform music by Orlando di Lasso, which the Renaissance composer wrote specifically for the abbey.
Farin Urlaub, frontman of Ärzte, appears as a singer on the latest album by Toten Hosen. According to FAZ, he opens the record as the vocalist of the first track.
The documentary 'Silenced' about violence against women opened the Sydney Film Festival on Wednesday. In it, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins explains why she did not change her name after her 2024 wedding.
Cologne Cathedral is set to charge tourists twelve euros for entry, as reported by "Welt." The cathedral administration justifies the move by stating that 99 percent of visitors are tourists.
Michelle Obama advises young people to stick with frustrating jobs. The former US first lady emphasizes that such experiences prepare them for leadership roles.
Trip-hop pioneer Tricky is set to perform in Berlin-Neukölln. The British musician, who had a residence in the German capital long before Harry Styles, calls Berlin his temporary home.
German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer has been temporarily barred from describing the operators of a Berlin bookshop as extremists, following a court injunction.
Zeit Magazin presents a risotto that combines broad beans (fava beans) with asparagus, calling it the last spring risotto.
The wrapping of the Pont Neuf in Paris as a tribute to Christo has been damaged. According to Spiegel, the opening of the installation by French artist JR has been postponed.
Munich's oldest open-air cinema, 'Kino, Mond & Sterne', begins its new season on the lake stage in Westpark. The program includes hits, fan favorites, and arthouse gems, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The Freisinger Asam has announced its 2026/27 season with more than 80 events, including Shakespeare under the stars, Pumuckl for children, and jazz and classical concerts, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The third season of the Netflix documentary series “Kaulitz & Kaulitz” will premiere on July 23. The streaming service made the announcement, as reported by Bild.
After an out-of-court settlement, actress Blake Lively is again demanding money from her former film partner Justin Baldoni, according to Spiegel.
After the jewel theft at the Louvre, investigators have reportedly discovered new clues. According to Zeit, they found images from inside the museum on suspects' phones.
Facebook manager Sarah Wynn-Williams had to sit mute on stage at the Hay Festival after lawyers advised her not to say a word due to a lawsuit by Meta. According to the Guardian, during the hour-long discussion between Carole Cadwalladr and Tim Wu, she could neither speak, nod, nor shake her head.
The German government plans to legally classify nightclubs as cultural venues. According to Guardian, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet has initiated a corresponding amendment to the building use ordinance.
A concert by Kanye West scheduled for July 18 in Reggio Emilia has been canceled. According to Guardian, Salvatore Angieri stopped the event for reasons of public order and safety.
Shortly after his 80th birthday, Udo Lindenberg was admitted to hospital. According to ZDFheute, an event was canceled; the musician himself speaks of an 'annoying gastritis'.
From June 3 to 9, the Turkish theater festival will take place in Frankfurt. Tiyatro Frankfurt expects up to 3,000 spectators, as reported by FAZ.
Due to the renovation of its glass roof, the Germering Town Hall will remain closed until October. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, a summer culture program with parties and concerts outdoors is intended to keep the audience engaged.
According to FAZ, Frankfurt galleries around Fahrgasse have joined forces for "Spring View" and are presenting new exhibitions of figurative painting.
The drama 'Fjord' about a deeply religious family whose children are taken away by child protective services won the Golden Palm at Cannes. Sandra Hüller left empty-handed at the awards ceremony, while another German filmmaker took a prize.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened with little star power, long films, and cold wind, but Ukraine took center stage. According to the BBC, Russia's war of aggression was a constant backdrop not only in Ukrainian screenings but also in many other films.
Andrey Zvyagintsev's new film 'Minotaur' is among the favorites for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, set against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
The organization HateAid fights against online hate – and has long since become a target of political attacks itself. A visit with its controversial CEO Anna-Lena von Hodenberg shows how existential the culture war has become for the NGO.