Christmas market at the cathedral in danger: dispute over award escalates!

Christmas market at the cathedral in danger: dispute over award escalates!

The anticipation of the Christmas market at the cathedral in Cologne could be at risk. The city administration has suspended the procurement process for the years 2026 to 2030, which puts the future of the popular market in question. Every year around four million visitors flock to Roncalliplatz to be inspired by the festive atmosphere. However, serious deficiencies in the procurement process prompted the decision to take this step Cologne City Gazette reported.

The focus is on the conflict over the suitability of Kölner Weihnachtgesellschaft mbH, which has been running the market since 2010. The city council's main committee decided to restart the process after the contract was awarded on June 13, 2023. One point of contention is alleged flaws in the concept, including a carousel that blocks the escape route to the Roman-Germanic Museum. Lawyers for the competitors also accuse the city administration of trying to subsequently remove obstacles for the Cologne Christmas party.

A crisis meeting is called

Mayor Henriette Reker has already called a crisis meeting with the parliamentary group leaders of the council parties in order to avert the impending embarrassment, similar to the Deutz fair, which had to be canceled due to a similar procurement dispute. The public order office has now admitted errors in the procurement process that could invalidate the entire process. It was discovered that the tender documents contained false information about the sales area and inaccurate site plans.

The Kölner Weihnachtgesellschaft mbH was surprised by the new situation as they had only heard rumors about the award. Managing director expresses concerns about the confidentiality of the application documents, especially in view of the impending new award, which could potentially lead to legal disputes. Because there is more money involved than at the Deutz fair.

Announcement of the Christmas market 2026–2030

The city of Cologne is now looking for a new concessionaire for the Christmas market at Roncalliplatz for the period from 2026 to 2030. The tender covers a usable area of ​​4,700 m² and requires various proof of the suitability of the bidders, such as an extract from the commercial register and clearance certificates. Requirements from the North Rhine-Westphalia Collective Bargaining and Procurement Act must also be met. (ausstellen-deutschland.de)

The deadline for submitting offers ends on May 26, 2025. If the concerns and objections are not considered in detail, this could lead to increased uncertainty and endanger the ongoing preparations for the Christmas market.

Looking forward to the Christmas market 2024