Cultural Attendance in Germany Rises Sharply Post-Pandemic

Visitor numbers for cinemas, museums, and theaters show significant recovery in 2023, but remain below pre-pandemic levels.

German cinema attendance increased by 23% in 2023, reaching 95.7 million visits, though still below the 2019 figure of 118.6 million.
Museum visits in 2022 rose by 110% compared to 2021, with 81.4 million visits recorded, approaching pre-pandemic averages.
Theater attendance saw the most dramatic recovery, with a 300% increase in the 2021/2022 season compared to the previous season, totaling 11.6 million visits.
Saxony reported higher-than-average cultural engagement, with strong investments in arts funding and ranking second nationwide in per capita cultural spending.
While cultural participation is rebounding, overall attendance levels for all sectors remain below their pre-COVID-19 peaks, underscoring the ongoing recovery process.