Newsletter November 2025
Dear Fusionists of all nations,
Now that the days have shortened and damp cold creeps into our daily lives, we want to take a moment to look back at summer - those wild and wonderful days at this year’s Fusion Festival. Maybe this little cognitive flashback will chase away your winter gloom, at least for a moment.
One thing’s for sure: the next Fusion is happening. What happens after that, however… Well, that’s another story. More on that later.
First, let’s stop the rumours that Fusion is not happening: Fusion certainly is happening. Back in our Berlin office, the workflow curve is climbing fast, because ticketing kicks off again on December 1st! (More info at the end under “Fusion 2026 Tickets”.)
Before diving into this year’s festival topics, we can honestly just copy-paste a paragraph from last November’s newsletter. Not because we’re too lazy to write something new, but because the shitholes of this world have not improved one bit - quite the opposite. In many places, the madness has only intensified.
Despots, autocrats and fascists everywhere. War, hunger, displacement… and we have to be careful not to become numb and indifferent in the face of all this suffering and injustice.
That’s why we need to keep checking and recalibrating our moral compass - something we tend to do best at Fusion - and remember our privileges.
The real question right now is:
What do you do when the world’s on fire? Party and blast yourself into oblivion until the AfD comes knocking?
Not the best plan. Because if the AfD ever takes power, our parties - and the future of our favourite festival - will be in very real danger.
A quick look across the Atlantic tells you everything about the kind of madness that awaits when fascists get into power. We’re not there yet, but it’s on all of us to make sure we never get there to ensure that we can keep celebrating and partying freely in the future.
Quick Fusion 2025 Feedback
“So, how was Fusion?”
Easily the most asked question in July, from those who were there and those who weren’t.
In short, for us, and for nearly everyone we spoke to, it was either super beautiful or just downright amazing.
And the important question isn’t “who invented it?” but “who made it possible?”
And this brings us back to everyone in our extended Fusion network who once again created the unbelievable. A massive thank you to all of you.
Also hats off to all Fusionists who came from near, far, and across the world, celebrating those five days with full power. You’re the cream on top of the Fusion sorbet.
Arrival
Deutsche Bahn had the brilliant idea to start construction work on the Berlin–Neustrelitz line right during Fusion week.
This sparked the worst fears, resulting in more people driving or taking Bassliner, which in turn caused traffic jams and arrival chaos. In the end, the trains were half empty, and everyone still made it there and back.
We’ll rethink the camping and arrival/departure concept again, aiming to make things smoother in the future. Expect updates in the new year.
Bike Dismount Zone - FSZ
This was controversial. It even triggered some creative protest performances during build-up.
But in the end, we weren’t the only ones who saw the effects of this. The festival’s main paths were much more relaxed. Fewer bikes, more pushing, less chaos, more breathing room. Emergency routes and gates stayed surprisingly clear. Many loved the FSZ and you could genuinely feel the difference.
Huge thanks to everyone who accepted it and helped make it work. FSZ stays!
No Photo Policy
No Photo Policy
Once again, we’ve seen real progress in sensitising guests to the needs of many Fusionists on the dancefloor. More and more clubs and festivals now have their own No Photo Policy. We continue to pursue ours without banning snapshots taking for memories, or taping over everyone’s camera lenses.
Four Years of Pfandraising
Thanks to the removal of bottle deposits and the introduction of Pfandraising we raised another €148,000 this year.
The Solitaler - a 50-cent add-on whenever someone arrives at the bar without a bottle - contributed €120,000. Kulturkosmos added another €28,000 (10 cents for every bottle ending up in the broken glass container).
Because the bottle system has worked so well, next year we want to expand Pfandraising to cups too, meaning cup deposits will also be abolished.
This year’s donations went to:
● €100,000 to the Safe Passage Fund
● €20,000 to Medico International for emergency aid in Gaza
● €28,000 still in the pot for small grassroots projects supporting refugees and people on the move
Trouble Zone
In last November’s newsletter, we wrote:
Fusion 18+ was something we introduced under pressure from authorities. But now we see more and more young people voting for the fucking AfD and falling for racist, homophobic, and queer-hostile ideology.
So we asked ourselves whether it might actually be more sensible to allow under-18s back into our parallel society, to give them a space other than right-wing demagogues and social media rotting their brains.
But there’s an elephant in the room - a topic we’ve been avoiding, which completely undermines this idea.
We are referring to consumption. Not in general terms, but more the open, aggressive blasting and dealing happening everywhere, which more and more Fusionists find disturbing instead of enriching.
What used to work through shared etiquette in free spaces is now often happening openly and without hesitation. It has become annoying.
We’re lucky to live in the most open society ever, and Fusion is an even more open parallel society, a unique free zone where people can be who they want, do what they want, consume what they want. There are very few rules.
But that freedom is exactly why some now seem to confuse Fusion with a lawless vacuum. They see it as a place to make a quick buck while endangering our free space and making it impossible to reopen for minors.
The increasingly open consumption of white powder, everywhere, without any regard for etiquette, is not only irritating for many who don’t consume, but also threatens our shared freedom and the future of the festival.
We want to drag this topic out of the taboo zone and open a real conversation ahead of the next festival. Together with you all, we need to act, before someone else forces their “solution” onto us.
Nipple-Free Festival?
One major forum debate was, once again, whether people are allowed to go topless at Fusion.
What started 10 years ago as “no shirt, no service” at a few bars (aimed at shirtless cis men) is now being revived at other festivals under the hashtag #nippelfrei. Some want to expand it to all genders and the entire festival and, unsurprisingly, it causes drama every year.
What we once regarded as a debatable but understandable attempt to raise awareness about male privilege is now increasingly criticised. Some activists seem less interested in awareness and more in policing, even to the point of harassing Fusionists for being shirtless.
Since there’s a recurring assumption that we, the Kuko, introduced these rules or that they express the majority opinion of crews or guests, we want to restate what we’ve said years ago and still stand by:
“We support the idea of highlighting male privilege and raising sensitivity, but reject the sometimes heavy-handed approach of this action. For us, the principle remains: as diverse as the people here are their experiences and desires. What unites them is the freedom to be who they want to be. We don’t want to force anyone to put on a shirt. We want everyone, regardless of gender, to feel free to be as naked as they feel comfortable. If that doesn’t seem possible for some, the problem isn’t solved by limiting others. We solve it only by creating a shared safe space where everyone feels free. A space where sexism is not tolerated, and where being topless is no longer a male privilege.”
That’s about all related to the last festival. Now we’d like to acknowledge our history and address our future.
30 Years of Bass in Lärz!
In summer 1996, under the name U-Site, some of us brought bass to Lärz for the very first time. From that “U-Site Gathering” emerged Fusion Festival the following year. Over the next three decades, this unique free space grew and evolved.
2026 marks our 30-year anniversary at the former Soviet airbase.
“30 Years of Bass in Lärz!” We’re already looking forward to celebrating big.
But we must also announce that the year after, in 2027, Fusion Festival will take a break and
2027 will be a Fusion- and at.tension-free year.
The short version is that, in 2017, after 20 years of Fusion, we took a year off.
Back then, we thought: every 5 years, or at the very least every 10 years, there should be a break. A time to stop the hamster wheel, breathe, reflect with our teams and network, tidy up what’s been piling up, and envision what needs to evolve.
Anyone who knows the annual workload behind Fusion and at.tension can imagine why these breaks are essential.
So: 2027 is the next one.
But in 2028, both Fusion and at.tension will be back. More info next year.
at.tension 2026
For those who need to request vacation in December already: at.tension returns in 2026!
Dates: 3 - 6 September.
Lärz once again becomes a stage for spectacular theatre and this will be the 11th edition.
To not miss the presale, sign up for the newsletter (LINK).
The Russians Are Coming!
One more topic that could threaten Fusion’s future is the absurd militarisation being pushed by a growing alliance of belligerent voices in politics and media, preparing society for a war with Russia.
The reintroduction of compulsory military service practically overnight and with barely any resistance says it all.
The Bundeswehr now needs endless new weapons, boosting not only Rheinmetall and friends but the whole economy. And it needs cannon fodder: young people willing to die for “Volk und Vaterland” or fight for cash.
Before that, they’ll need barracks, training grounds, airfields… everything that was dismantled or repurposed during decades of peace.
We’re being told we’re “already at war”, and time to “shoot back” is just a question of equipment, soldiers, and - crucially - infrastructure.
This means that former military sites will be reclaimed, and the Bundeswehr will grab whatever they can get.
What’s safe from this militaristic land grab? Not much.
Make no mistake: military priorities override civilian interests. Strategists in the Bendlerblock are already eyeing what they can snatch quickly. If necessary, it will happen through expropriation.
Our response is that we will fight “to the last cartridge” for art, culture, freedom, and against war and fascism.
Create one, two, three, many Ritterbuschs. You’re not getting our land.
Tickets 2026 and Supporters
Back at the Berlin office, keyboards are clattering and preparations for ticket presale have begun.
The good news is that the ticket price for 2026 remains the same. €220 including €10 waste deposit.
How to get a ticket
Registration is Dec 1 - 14 through the Fusion Ticketshop. You can form groups, as usual. The first ballot is on Dec 18 and payment for those successful begins on Jan 1, 2026.
The second ballot will take place on Feb 5. We wish you the best of luck!
Should you miss out on both of these ballots, you can try the ticket exchange or pick up a Sunday ticket from Feb 5 in the Ticketshop.
Important to note: your December registration counts for both lotteries and later registrations are not possible.
Supporters: Those who would like to support the festival can apply to become a Supporter between Dec 1 - 10. You will receive notification if this has been successful by Dec 12, leaving enough time to register for the main lotteries. More info: https://supporter.kulturkosmos.de/ In Spring, there will once again be vehicle tickets available and those who have gotten a ticket will be informed about this in good time. We’re crossing our fingers for all of you. And remember: losing once doesn’t mean missing out forever.
End
Finally, once more, we would like to express our deep gratitude to all our crews, artists, supporters, employees, and everyone who makes this festival possible. Thank you also to the authorities who support us each year, and to the residents of the region for their tolerance and warmth they show towards the festival.
With rhythm and change,
Kulturkosmos
