Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
The 2026 edition of the Moto Moto Music and Arts Festival has been cancelled just days before it was scheduled to take place in Cologne, Germany, following a decision by city officials to prohibit events at the festival grounds.
The festival, which was set for July 25 at Südbrücke, was expected to bring together music lovers, artistes and creatives for a celebration of African culture, music and the arts. However, organisers were forced to call off the event after the City of Cologne issued an emergency order banning all activities at the venue due to ongoing disputes surrounding operating permits.
The cancellation comes after a prolonged dispute over the use of the Südbrücke festival grounds, where venue operators have been seeking a permanent permit to host events and music festivals.
The application, which was submitted more than two years ago, faced delays after concerns were raised by the city’s building authority over whether protected sand lizards inhabited the site.
Following inspections of the grounds, those environmental concerns were eased. However, new challenges emerged after residents raised objections over possible noise pollution linked to events held at the venue.
Festival organisers questioned the validity of the complaints, arguing that the closest residential areas are located hundreds of metres away from the site and that the stage layout was designed to direct sound away from nearby homes.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the venue, 22 events were successfully held at Südbrücke last year under a decree issued by North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in 2024.
The decree allowed up to 25 events annually at the venue, with each event attracting close to 5 000 attendees. However, the City of Cologne later revoked the decree, creating uncertainty over whether festivals and other large-scale gatherings could continue taking place at the site.
In a statement shared on social media, Moto Moto Festival director Plot Mhako expressed his disappointment over the cancellation, explaining that the decision had come unexpectedly.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Moto Moto Festival 2026, which was scheduled for 25 July 2026 at Südbrücke, Cologne, has been cancelled. On Monday 13 July, we received devastating news that the City of Cologne had issued an emergency order prohibiting all events at our festival venue, Südbrücke, due to ongoing disputes over the site’s operating permits. This decision affects every organiser at the venue and came without prior notice,” said Mhako.
Mhako said his team immediately explored alternative venues capable of accommodating the festival’s scale but could not secure a suitable replacement within the limited timeframe.
“Since receiving this devastating news, my team and I have worked around the clock to find another venue. We explored every option available to us, but with only days remaining before the festival, we were unable to secure a suitable alternative. It is heartbreaking that, despite all our efforts, we have no choice but to cancel this year’s edition,” he said.
The festival director also apologised to artistes, fans, vendors, partners and supporters who had already invested time and resources in preparing for the event.
“I want to sincerely apologise to every artiste, DJ, vendor, partner, volunteer and supporter who believed in this vision. To everyone who bought a ticket, booked flights or accommodation, or made plans to be with us in Cologne this month, I am truly sorry. I know how much time, money and emotion many of you invested in this festival,” he said.
Moto Moto Festival has become a significant platform for showcasing African creativity and connecting artists with international audiences. The cancellation marks a major setback for this year’s edition, but organisers remain hopeful about the festival’s future.
Among the artistes who were scheduled to perform were Macala Macala, Sylent Nqo, Intotal Band, Mbeu, Derrick Mpofu, Mr Brown, Mavengeni, Cimba and Vimbai Zimuto.
