Open letter to CTM workers, artists, performers
Dear CTM workers, artists, performers,
Antifascist Music Alliance is a group of people who are fighting fascism, far right activity and white supremacy in music. Since the escalated genocide, we have also prioritized Palestinian solidarity work. We have written multiple articles for the Left Berlin about the music scene in Berlin where we've discussed CTM Festival's complicity.
Specifically, in an Instagram statement, CTM used passive voice for Israel's actions while vilifying Palestinian resistance. To this day, CTM still has not retracted and stands by this statement. We wrote more about this here. In complete contrast, they dedicated an entire page in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance, even encouraging people to donate to the Ukrainian military.
CTM also continues to violate a community-led boycott of Berghain. The boycott is due to Berghain's repression and cancellation of artists in solidarity with Palestine and of Arab artists. The boycott began in March 2024, leading to many artist withdrawals from CTM in 2025 and for the 2026 edition. We wrote more about the ongoing boycott here. This again clarifies CTM's refusal to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian liberation movement.
We are reaching out to workers, artists, and/or performers who are booked at CTM who might care. We felt it was important to inform you about this in case you were unaware. CTM uses "giving a platform" to radical and progressive artists and art initiatives as a way to whitewash and distract from their deep complicity, which is very much in line with the fascist German government and Berlin Senate.
We hope you will join others who have already withdrawn from CTM 2026 when they were made aware of CTM's complicity.
Link to the statement by C R R D R about their withdrawal: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSzvsGUiDHl/
With solidarity,
Antifascist Music Alliance
For community members
If you have tickets: request a refund from CTM via contact@ctm-festival.de. CTM's website says that tickets are nonrefundable. However their ticket platform Stager.co does have a way to refund individual tickets!
Reach out to others you know on the lineup with this open letter
Share about CTM's complicity with your community
Consider direct action that challenges and raises awareness of CTM's continued stance of vilification toward Palestinian resistance
