Wolf Biermann: New documentary and biography celebrate singer's 90th year

As German singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann approaches his 90th birthday, several new works are commemorating his life and political legacy. A new documentary film by Jens Meurer, titled ‘BIERMANN’, is set for cinema release on October 29, 2026. The film utilizes 16mm analog film to bridge Biermann’s past and present, exploring his origins, his life in the GDR, and the historic 1976 Cologne concert that led to his expatriation.

In addition to the film, a new graphic novel biography by author Julian Voloj and illustrator Magdalena Adomeit has been released. The book traces Biermann’s journey from surviving the bombing of Hamburg as a child to his role as a provocative political figure in East Germany.

Commemorative events are also planned, including a musical evening on November 26 featuring Ekkehard Maaß, a long-time companion of Biermann, to mark the 50th anniversary of Biermann’s expulsion from the GDR.