German regional festivals Cosy and Elbenwald attract audiences amid cultural and financial challenges

The third edition of the Cosy Festival took place in Dornburg, a village in Saxony‑Anhalt, where volunteers transformed a historic baroque castle into a venue for electronic music, contemporary art and workshops. Programme manager Robert Westphal said the event aims to make a cultural‑political statement in the rural area and has faced right‑wing hostility, while hundreds of volunteers helped keep the festival running.

In Cottbus, Brandenburg, the Elbenwald Festival gathered around 10,000 ticket‑buyers for a weekend of fantasy, comic and sci‑fi activities, including concerts, workshops and quizzes. Co‑founder Alexander Lapeta warned that rising artist fees, personnel, energy and transport costs have pushed the festival into a severe financial deficit, raising doubts about the continuation of the event in its current format.

Both festivals illustrate the vitality and the growing economic pressures facing regional cultural events in Germany.