Three days. Free of charge. Accessible.
When? Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 to Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026
Where? Orangery Theater, Volksgartenstraße 25, 50677 Cologne
About the festival:
For the last two and a half years, the EcoLit project has explored how we might come to learn with and through a world of wondrous relations. For us, to wonder is to consider carefully and to be touched by awe. And to be in relation means to confirm a condition that underlies the history of all life on Earth and one that continues to shape its future. What does this mean for the arts, for education, and for ecological thinking? We believe that the best way to share our findings and enter a conversation with other researchers, artists, educators and citizens is through mutual learning – and through celebration.
We cordially invite you to the final conference of the EcoLit project: Wondrous Relations – A Festival for Arts, Education and Ecologywhich will take place from September 7 to 9, 2026 will take place at the Orangerie Theater in Cologne. Curated lectures, performances and workshops as well as an exhibition will take place on three different days, giving you the opportunity to talk to artists, educators, activists, researchers and committed people. You can purchase day passes or a festival pass for the entire duration via the registration link, all tickets are free of charge.
Due to limited capacity, we are releasing tickets in three waves:
from June 1; from July 1; from August 1
We kindly ask you to reserve tickets only for the days you expect to be able to attend. If you are a speaker or exhibitor, you do not need to register.
Click here to register!
Festival Line-Up:
Festival Artwork by Elena Landinez
Organizing Team: Tanya Gautam, Sara Walther, Martha Steinhoff, Linus Eusterbrock, Roman Bartosch & Christian Rolle
Project Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
FAQ
I can only be there for one day. Which ticket do I buy?
We have four ticket options: Day tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday or a festival pass for all three days. Via our ticket store you can choose whether you only want a day ticket for Monday and Wednesday, for example, or whether you want to be there on all three days. All tickets are free of charge, but we ask that you only purchase tickets for the days on which you can actually be there so that we have enough tickets for all visitors.
Can I bring children with me?
Yes, bringing children is possible. Our events are not designed for children, but we try to make it possible for children to participate. Unfortunately, we cannot offer childcare, but there will probably be opportunities to paint and play on the premises.
Is there catering on site?
Yes, we offer drinks such as water and coffee during the conference as well as small snacks. Food trucks will be on site for lunch and dinner, but you are also welcome to bring your own food, as we cannot cater for specific intolerances and allergies.
Is the site accessible?
Yes, the premises of the Orangerie Theater are fully accessible. You can find more information about this on the theater’s website: https://www.orangerie-theater.de/barrierefreiheit/
In which languages does the event take place?
The event will mainly be held in English, but individual panels will also be held in German.
I am only interested in individual events. Can I come along spontaneously or do I need a ticket?
To ensure that we do not exceed our hall capacity, please register in advance for the conference or purchase a (free) ticket. Unfortunately, we cannot offer extra tickets for individual events; they are always linked to the respective day ticket. Otherwise, you can also try spontaneously on the day itself, but we cannot guarantee that there will still be places available.
I would like to return my ticket. What can I do?
Bookings can be managed independently via our ticket store and booked tickets can also be returned. We recommend using this function so that people on the waiting list have the opportunity to move up.
Did something go wrong with your booking or do you need further assistance? Please contact us at info@ecolit.cologne.
Downloads
Program booklet as PDF –> coming soon
Recommendations for Hotels –> Download PDF
Code of Conduct as PDF –> coming soon
