Organizers of a benefit concert for the people of Gaza and the West Bank, modeled after the successful “together 4 Palestine” event held at Wembley Arena in London in September 2025, are struggling to secure a new venue. The Lanxess Arena in Cologne has since withdrawn its commitment for the date of March 29, 2026.
A musician involved in the project, Maidline Aurie, questioned the reasons for the cancellation, suggesting that intervention may have occurred. Aurie is part of a four-person team that has spent months planning the event. According to organizers, a prospective German lineup included artists such as Peter Fox, Nico Santos, the band Bonaparte, the female trio Monrose, and supporters including Jan Delay, Emilia Roig, and Kübra Gümüsay.
Responding to the press, a spokesperson for the Lanxess Arena stated that the event was “never confirmed at any time”. However, the report indicates that communication from the venue management to the artists mentioned potential security risks and fears of accompanying demonstrations as the reason for canceling the show on the originally planned date. When asked if rescheduling was possible at the same location, the company declined to comment, asking for understanding regarding their private booking communications.
Aurie noted that the search for replacement locations is proving difficult, stating that even the backup venues they planned to use have suddenly canceled. Despite these setbacks, the artists remain committed to holding the solidarity event. Rapper Chima expressed confidence in the group’s appeal, suggesting that the lineup should normally be enough to secure any major arena.
Chima also addressed the difficulties of organizing such an event in Germany, explaining that the topic frequently meets with reservation. He suggested that many German artists are hesitant to participate due to fear of being accused of antisemitism. He noted that assembling the various artists was not simple, observing that people rarely offered a direct refusal; instead, excuses were frequently given, such as being on tour, resting, or taking a vacation.
The outlet reported contacting numerous musicians, including Herbert Grönemeyer, the Toten Hosen, Nina Hagen, Sebastian Krumbiegel of Prinzen, the Antilopen Gang, Tocotronic, and Sterne, regarding participation. To the end of the deadline on Monday, April 27, 2026, no response had been received from these artists.
Peter Fox, who stated he is a politically interested citizen rather than an activist and was approached by the organizers, highlighted the urgency of the cause. He noted that since the media attention surrounding Gaza dwindled, the situation for the people on the ground has not improved. Fox stated his intention to perform with parts of his band, Seeed, at a benefit concert in Cologne. He pointed out that children in Gaza still cannot attend school and that a functioning infrastructure is virtually non-existent there. Furthermore, he emphasized that German Israeli settlement policy remains aggressively advanced in the West Bank, making it painfully clear that the Palestinians are being completely displaced and driven out by Israel using every means available.
