Overview
- The opera and Schauspielhaus in Cologne formally reopened on Thursday, September 24, 2026, after a 14-year renovation that cost well over one billion euros.
- Project leaders report ongoing reliability problems in core stage systems, naming the stage podium, turntable, and sub‑ and upper‑machinery as the components that are still failing under use.
- Officials say some technical equipment was installed and accepted years earlier then left largely idle, and that long idle periods made real‑world operation reveal faults that tests had not shown.
- Artistic directors decided not to delay scheduled premieres and adjusted productions on short notice; they describe restrictions as minimal and expect performances to go ahead.
- City and theatre leaders frame the issues as a warning about oversight of long, costly public builds and say the coming weeks of regular operation will be used to fix faults and draw accountability lessons.