photo_cameraTorburg owners Martin and Hülya Wolf with their team - Photo: Christian Hedel
Venues
GEMA Names Cologne`s Torburg Music Pub of the Year
Germany`s music rights organisation GEMA has named Torburg in Cologne the country`s "Music Pub of the Year 2026", recognising the role of smaller venues in supporting live music, emerging artists and local music communities.
Around 1,000 pubs and bars were nominated for the nationwide audience award, with 155 venues actively participating in the competition. Torburg secured the most public votes and received the €5,000 prize.
The award ceremony took place on 9 November at Marie & Johann in Cologne, a brewery operated by German band Kasalla. Around 200 invited guests attended, including musicians, GEMA representatives and live music industry professionals.
Recognising Small Music Venues
Located in Cologne`s Südstadt district, Torburg is known for its blues and rock`n`roll programming, presenting live performances on a small stage.
"Music pubs create space for encounters, new talent and shared musical experiences. The audience award highlights how much these places contribute to cultural life while recognising those who run them with great passion," said Christian Seitz, Director of LiVe AR at GEMA, in a statement translated from German.
Torburg owner Martin Wolf welcomed the recognition.
"Of course, we hoped to win the title, but with such strong competition, you never know. So it was all the more wonderful to get the call," said Wolf. "For us, this title is not only a great honour, but it also shows us that we`re on the right track with Torburg. And it is also a huge confirmation of what we do culturally."
Wolf described the venue as a meeting place for audiences of different ages and backgrounds, with live music playing a central role in its identity.
Artists Support Grassroots Music
The 2026 award was supported by several German artists, including Ina Müller, Bosse, Silbermond, Milky Chance, Zartmann, Deine Cousine, Ennio and LOI.
Artist Bosse recalled his own beginnings in small venues, having spent years working behind bars before eventually performing on small stages.
Deine Cousine also highlighted the importance of grassroots venues as stepping stones for developing artists, stating: "Without these small stages, the big ones wouldn`t exist later on."
Second Year of the Award
GEMA introduced the Music Pub of the Year award in 2025 to recognise pubs and bars where music is a central part of the venue`s identity, including live concerts and open-mic events.
The inaugural award went to Das Töpfla in Höchstadt an der Aisch, Bavaria. Participation increased from 144 venues in 2025 to 155 in 2026.