Cologne’s ITALIANA festival: four free concerts still to come

Tango and jazz one Saturday, Italian songs and migration stories the next: Cologne’s ITALIANA festival has four free concerts still to come this November, plus a neighbourhood photography trail.

The tenth ITALIANA KULTURBRÜCKE AM RHEIN runs in the Südstadt until 30 November 2026. Its programme connects Italian culture with life in Germany, giving newcomers and long-standing residents several ways to explore the neighbourhood through music.

Four free concerts to choose from

The remaining programme includes these dates. All times are local to Cologne.

• Saturday 14 November, 8pm: Last Tango in Cologne. Italian-Argentinian pianist Sebastian Rodríguez joins Alessandro Palmitessa for tango and jazz at Mondo Aperto / Offene Welt, Zugweg 22.
• Saturday 21 November, 8pm: Trito e Ritrito Trio. Italian songs and personal stories explore migration, identity and arriving in another country, also at Mondo Aperto.
• Sunday 22 November, 4pm: Malaparata. Roberto Pappalardo and Stefano Arrigo combine spoken words, voice, guitar and sound design, with a focus on Italy and Naples, at Mondo Aperto.
• Thursday 26 November, 7pm: MenschenSinfonieOrchester anniversary concert. The orchestra celebrates 25 years at Lutherkirche, Martin-Luther-Platz 4. Guests include Peppe Voltarelli, Klaus der Geiger and Senegalese musician Aladji Mbaye Tama.

The anniversary concert’s organisers describe a programme of folk music, blues, songwriting and international influences, led by Palmitessa. They ask visitors to reserve a place.

Peppe Voltarelli performing in Paris, 14 May 2022. © Danilo Samà / CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped for display.

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How to reserve and plan your visit

Admission is free. The festival recommends booking because spaces are limited: email festivalitaliana@googlemail.com, naming the event you would like to attend. Check availability before travelling.

For Lutherkirche, the organisers describe step-free rear access via the car park, but no wheelchair-accessible toilet. Contact them in advance if you need a suitable seat for yourself and a companion.

Prefer to visit during the day? Mostra Diffusa continues until 30 November at Vringstreff, PL678 Café und Plattenladen, Café Sur and Mondo Aperto, during each venue’s normal opening hours. Use the festival’s venue list to plan your route.

Featured photo: Lutherkirche, Cologne, 19 April 2020. © Superbass / CC-BY-SA-4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons).