This was Impulse 2026!
Three weeks on the road across North Rhine-Westphalia, four partner cities, an expansion to Duisburg for Theatre on Rails, a wide range of venues, and countless encounters: the 2026 edition of Impulse has come to an end.
From 3 to 21 June, 5,025 visitors attended a total of 55 performances and 26 accompanying events in Düsseldorf, Bochum, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Cologne, and Duisburg. With an attendance rate of 88.5 per cent, the festival once again demonstrated the strong public interest it continues to attract.
What remains are memories of intense days and nights: of the festival opening at FFT Düsseldorf, with sold-out performances, standing ovations, and inspiring encounters. Of the Ruhr region, where poetic, political, and unexpected perspectives unfolded between the Theatre Train, drag performances, harp music, and debates on cultural policy. And of the finale in Cologne, with powerful images shaped by heat and ice, shared conversations, and a joyful festival celebration that continued late into the night.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all the artists, partners, supporters, volunteers, professional guests, and the teams at our venues. Above all, we thank you—our audiences—for your openness, your attention, and for joining us on this journey. Thank you for three extraordinary festival weeks. We look forward to seeing you again in June 2027!
The Impulse Team
