Paradise Lost
21.–30. Mai 2026
With 21 experiments welcoming events spread over 10 days, the zamus: early music festival 2026 invites you to discover ever-new answers. As in every year, scholarly analysis and connections to other art forms play a central role.
The zamus: early music festival takes place at venues across Cologne. A symposium on current socio-political issues is also a regular part of the annual programme. Another tradition is the early music marathon, which presents a series of short concerts in a relaxed atmosphere. The zamus: academy programme supports emerging talent and enables young musicians to perform at one of the leading festivals for early music. The festival concludes each year with a big in-house production; past editions have featured artists such as Juan Kruz Diaz De Garaio Esnaola, Midori Seiler, Alexandra Waierstall, Leonhard Bartussek, Folkert Uhde, Griet de Geyter, Liza Dieckwisch, Aischa-Lina Löbbert and Laura Remmler.
Image: Good Enough Studio (Quang Nguyen, Silvan Händeler)
Order the programme booklet free of charge
The programme booklet for zamus: early music festival reflects the festival’s annual theme. In addition to the detailed festival programme, it includes a photo spread, an interview with Midori Seiler and Mélanie Froehly, and an essay on the festival’s theme. The booklet – like all zamus printed materials – can be ordered free of charge.
Venturing off the beaten path of frequently performed repertoire works, zamus: early music festival aims towards creating unexpected experiences. The festival's hallmarks are innovative concepts and building bridges between curious minds and professionals.
Tickets
Tickets are available from 19 March via zamusfestival.de, by telephone or at the Neumarkt theatre box office. A festival pass grants access to all events – we’re giving away three of them! Early bookers receive a 25 percent discount on individual tickets. We are working with Kulturliste Köln to make attendance possible for people with low incomes. If a person requires a companion, they will be granted free entry. Please find detailed information on each point on the right.
Advance ticket sales online
Up to two hours before the concert start time via zamusfestival.de. Advance booking fees and a service charge from ticket.io will be added to the ticket price. You will receive your tickets as a PDF. These can be printed or shown on your smartphone.
Reserving and purchasing tickets by phone
Please call 0221 9874 38 21 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10am–2pm). Reserved tickets must be paid by bank transfer in advance (no later than 4 days before the event), otherwise the reservation will be cancelled. Same booking fees as for Eventbrite apply. Your tickets will be available for collection at the box office at the venue (open one hour before the concert starting time). No refunds will apply.
Early-bird discount
Discount of 25% apply on all tickets purchased online by 21 April.
Price categories
Price categories vary, the relevant information can be found on our website or under the details of individual events. Discounts apply to school pupils, students and trainees (up to and including 28 years of age) as well as recipients of unemployment benefits, those performing voluntary social service (BFD), voluntary social year (FSJ), voluntary ecological year (FÖJ) or voluntary foreign service (FWD), holders of a disability card B, KölnPass holders and members of zamus/KGAM e.V. Proof of eligibility must be provided upon admission. If a holder of a disability card B requires an accompanying person, the latter will be granted free admission.
We allocate free tickets for our events via Kulturliste Köln. Registration is possible via kulturliste-koeln.de. All information on eligibility can be found at: kulturliste-koeln.de/gaeste
Gift certificates
Gift certificates are available for all zamus events. To purchase, please, send an e-mail to tickets [at] zamus.de
Box Office
The box office opens one hour before the start of each concert at the venue. Tickets may be purchased with cash or a debit/credit card (EC/Mastercard/Visa). Availability at the box office, if not reserved in advance, is not guaranteed. To inquire box office reservation, please send an e-mail to tickets [at] zamus.de.
Reimbursements
Please check tickets immediately upon advance purchase to verify accuracy. Complaints filed at a later time will not be considered. As a general rule, neither ticket exchanges nor returns are possible. Changes of the program, cast, or venue do not entitle the ticket holder to a refund. In the event of a cancellation, the purchase price (excluding additional fees) will be refunded.
During the concert
All events presented by zamus have free seating. We kindly ask for your understanding should you need to be relocated to a different seat by a staff member for any reason.
In case of late arrival, please contact a staff member. Please be aware, however, that there is no guarantee of late admission nor of ticket exchange.
We kindly ask for your understanding that the taking of photographs and audio recordings at an event is prohibited due to reasons of copyright. By entering the grounds of any event, you agree to your image being potentially recorded and published for promotional purposes.
Accessibility
Holder of a disability card B receive discounted admission. If a holder of a disability card B requires an accompanying person, the latter will be granted free admission.
We allocate free tickets for our events via Kulturliste Köln. Registration is possible via kulturliste-koeln.de. All information on eligibility can be found at: kulturliste-koeln.de/gaeste
Festival Pass
Access to all events at the zamus: early music festival. The pass can be ordered for €100 via tickets [at] zamus.de or purchased at any box office. We kindly ask festival pass holders to register and cancel their attendance for events via tickets [at] zamus.de.
Win a Festival Pass
zamus is giving away 3 zamus: early music festival passes to volunteers on a voluntary social year, apprentices and students. The pass grants free access to all events at the 2026 festival. To enter, please email proof of eligibility to info [at] zamus.de by 10 May 2026; winners will be notified by email. Cash alternatives and legal recourse are excluded.