Playing Soccer Instead of Troublemaking
partizipative Projekte mit Besuchenden - Demokratie und gesellschaftlicher Zusammenhalt
Participation is what the Buntmacherinnen stand for—at KOSMOS and all over Chemnitz. In 2026, the motto is: Play soccer instead of causing trouble!
At KOSMOS 2025, the Buntmacherinnen proved that getting involved brings people together—whether through playing, building, or embroidering. In 2026, needle and thread will turn into a soccer ball. The highlight will be a human foosball game where two teams of five people each compete against one another—open to everyone, regardless of age, background, or skill level. During set time slots, there will also be dedicated rounds for specific groups. We’ll take special care to make the game as inclusive as possible.
Those who’d rather not play are still very welcome: cheer on the teams as spectators, make “anger balls,” or eat cotton candy—that, too, is a way to put an end to the bickering. And of course, there will be balloons. 🎈
Supporting Program & Sustainability:
On the eve of the festival, the Buntmacherinnen will decorate the entire festival grounds with a spray-chalk art project: terms like tolerance, solidarity, and togetherness will appear on the ground—making visible what the KOSMOS Festival stands for.
The project is self-funded: We handcraft new, one-of-a-kind items from old KOSMOS banners—and they’re available for purchase right on site. All proceeds go back into our efforts.
What we want to convey:
Team spirit isn’t created through talk, but through working together. When people play together, they get to know one another—across all differences. That’s democracy in action.