Will the Culture Pass survive? What the current political debate tells us

The Culture Pass , which initially provided young adults with €200 and later €100 for cultural activities since 2023, may be facing discontinuation. Despite its popularity—by the end of 2023, 285,445 18-year-olds had already registered and unlocked their budget—its future is currently being hotly debated.

In the two years since its launch, more than €100 million has been spent on the Culture Pass. Although many young people apply for and use the free funding, by February 2025, around 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of €53.5 million had been reserved. Nevertheless, the Federal Court of Auditors questioned the funding of the program on constitutional grounds. In fact, the Court of Auditors states that the Culture Pass is not constitutionally supported.

While Germany ranks behind Denmark in reading literacy in the latest PISA study , the end of this funding program could have far-reaching consequences for cultural education. But what exactly is the Culture Pass, what successes has it achieved, and what are its chances of being continued?

What is the Culture Pass and how does it work?

The Culture Pass for 18-year-olds in Germany is a very good idea. It's an opportunity to make it easier for young people who are less culturally aware to enter the cultural world. However, it's important that the Culture Pass is integrated into cultural education programs to achieve greater cultural participation."

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— Olaf Zimmermann , Managing Director of the German Cultural Council *

In June 2023, the German Federal Government introduced the Culture Pass – an initiative of the German Bundestag and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media . This program is specifically aimed at young people living in Germany who will turn 18 in the year in question. Initially, those born in 2005 received a budget of 200 euros * , while those born in 2006 will receive 100 euros * .

The Culture Pass, announced by Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth at the end of 2022, was intended to kill two birds with one stone, according to a recent press release from the German Cultural Council . Firstly, following the example of its French counterpart, it was intended to offer 18-year-olds a cultural offering. In the year they come of age, they would receive a kind of "culture check" to purchase cultural offerings on their own or to enjoy a live experience. Secondly, it was intended to draw attention to physical cultural venues. The motto was: Get off the couch and into the bookstore, the cinema, a concert, or the theater. This was intended to help boost sales after the slump during the coronavirus pandemic.

Registration is done via a free app or website . Young people need an electronic identity card with online functionality, an eID card for EU citizens, or an electronic residence permit for non-EU citizens * , the budget will be unlocked.

What could the credit be used for?

With this credit, young people can take advantage of various cultural offerings: concerts, cinema visits, theater performances, museum admissions, and the purchase of books, recordings, or musical instruments. However, major online platforms and mail-order retailers like Amazon are excluded. Reservations are made digitally, while pickup takes place in person * .

The budget is non-transferable Terms & Conditions remains valid for two years * . The Culture Pass pursues a dual goal: On the one hand, it is intended to inspire young people to embrace cultural offerings; on the other, it supports the cultural sector, which has been weakened by the coronavirus * .

Cultural providers, such as cinemas, theaters, concert organizers, bookstores, etc., are responsible for making their offerings available in the KulturPass app. In August 2025, 3.3 million offerings were available. Games, streaming services, and online retailers were excluded from the outset. This was deliberately intended to strengthen the physical cultural offering.

Successes and challenges since the introduction

Since its launch, the Culture Pass has recorded impressive usage figures. By the end of 2023, 285,445 18-year-olds born in 2005 had already registered and activated their budget. More than 211,000 young people born in 2006 followed suit by the end of 2024, and they can still use their €100 until December 31, 2025 ( Source: PR release from the German Cultural Council * ).

Young adults actively used the service. By February 2025, around 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of €53.5 million had been reserved. Books and comics, cinema tickets, and theater and concert tickets were particularly popular. According to an analysis by ZEIT around 330,000 young people used the Culture Pass, financing nearly 850,000 book purchases, nearly 480,000 cinema visits, and nearly 160,000 concert or theater visits.

However, usage fell short of expectations in some areas, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) a few days ago. Of the 1.5 million eligible users, only about a third took advantage of the pass. Furthermore, IT costs rose to over €30 million, which the Federal Audit Office criticized as excessive in a recent report.

The Culture Pass initially faced several challenges. User registration initially presented a hurdle, and due to privacy concerns, direct contact with young people was not possible. Following criticism, workshops, courses, library cards, and museum season passes were later added to the offerings.

Despite these difficulties, many cultural associations view the Culture Pass positively. The book and cinema industries actively promoted the pass, seeing it as an opportunity to reach a young audience. According to MDR an average increase in sales of €800 per month.

Political debate and the future of the Culture Pass

The federal government's budget of €100 million for the 2023 Culture Pass is just enough to provide a €200 cultural credit to all 750,000 birthday children."

Olaf Zimmermann predicted this

The current controversy surrounding the funding instrument is escalating after the Federal Audit Office declared that the federal government has no constitutional authority to finance this project . * Wolfram Weimer (independent) took this assessment seriously and consequently sees little chance for a revival of the program. *

From now on, we will intensify other projects to promote culture for young people,”

Weimer told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) . The "traffic light" government had already set the Culture Pass at zero in its budget, effectively shutting it down. Since its introduction, expenditures have amounted to more than €100 million, with IT costs rising to over €30 million. Furthermore, usage has fallen short of the expectations of the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media. *

This decision, however, has met with fierce criticism. The Green Party calls the end of the Culture Pass a "serious mistake ," while the German Publishers and Booksellers Association calls it a "sad signal for culture and education ." Sabine Uehlein, Managing Director of the Stiftung Lesen (Reading Foundation), instead calls for:

We need to invest more in children, youth and education, not less.”

Former Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth had originally hoped to expand the funding project across Europe and work more closely with France . * Whether this wish will now be realized in a different form remains to be seen.

Inconclusive argumentation of the Minister of State for Culture and feared domino effect

The German Cultural Council considers the Federal Audit Office's statement that the federal government has no jurisdiction and that cultural funding is a matter for the states to be more serious, and potentially with implications that extend beyond the Culture Pass, to be more serious. This objection ignores the fact that the Culture Pass can and should contribute to equal living conditions.

Furthermore, the Culture Pass also aims to support companies in the cultural and creative industries. The Culture Pass is also an instrument for economic development, an area in which the federal government undoubtedly has competence. It should not be forgotten in this context that the €100 currently available to 18-year-olds will trigger further expenditures, the German Cultural Council continues.

This seems more than logical to us. After all, anyone who has shopped in a bookstore once, received good advice, and perhaps even discovered a new passion for reading is highly likely to return. In this sense, the Culture Pass can certainly be seen as a low-threshold introductory offer for young people and, ideally, be rewarded with a lifelong affinity for cultural offerings.

The press release continues:

Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that the Federal Government has competence by virtue of the nature of the matter, which is the case with cross-border projects or pilot projects.

Should Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer follow the Federal Audit Office's argument and question the funding authority for the Culture Pass, this could trigger a domino effect and call into question further federal cultural funding projects. For example, with the Federal Cultural Fund, the question is repeatedly raised as to whether funding artists isn't actually a matter exclusively for the federal states. Funding programs such as "Jugend erinnern" (Youth Remembers) and others could also be in jeopardy. Nor is it reassuring that Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer wants to launch a separate program for young people. Does the Federal Audit Office's fundamental criticism then no longer count?

Our conclusion

Although the Culture Pass has undoubtedly reached young people with cultural offerings since its launch in 2023, its continued existence is now on shaky ground. In fact, around 330,000 young people have used the program, purchasing 850,000 books and financing nearly 480,000 cinema visits and 160,000 concert or theater visits. Nevertheless, the fact remains that only about a third of eligible young people have actually taken advantage of the offer.

However, the Federal Audit Office's constitutional concerns outweigh the successes achieved so far. Consequently, Minister of State for Culture and the Media Weimer sees little chance of a continuation and has instead announced other funding programs for young people. The high IT costs of over €30 million, out of total expenditures of more than €100 million, have contributed to the critical assessment.

However, the widespread rejection of this decision by cultural associations, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, and the Stiftung Lesen (Reading Foundation), demonstrates that the Culture Pass, despite its weaknesses, is seen as an important tool for young people's cultural participation. Especially in times of declining reading literacy, as demonstrated by the latest PISA study, the end of the program seems to many to send the wrong signal.

The debate surrounding the Culture Pass ultimately raises fundamental questions: How much does Germany value the cultural education of its youth? What alternatives can be developed to continue inspiring young people about culture? And, last but not least, how can constitutional hurdles in such projects be overcome? And are there efforts at the state level to continue the project?

The answers to these questions will significantly shape Germany’s cultural landscape in the coming years.

The fact is: The high initial expenditures, especially for IT infrastructure, have already been incurred, and the figures show that young people are taking advantage of the program. Burying the project would mean simply writing off the €100 million in previous expenditures, instead of viewing them as a start-up investment for a long-term cultural development tool that is also an investment in our cultural and creative industries. In our opinion, ending the Culture Pass would be wrong in two respects."

Frequently asked questions about the Culture Pass answered quickly

Q1. How long is the Culture Pass valid for the 2006 class?

The Culture Pass for those born in 2006 is valid until December 31, 2025. Young people have until this date to use their budget of 100 euros for cultural activities.

Q2. Will the Culture Pass continue to be available in the future?

The future of the Culture Pass is currently uncertain. The Federal Audit Office has raised constitutional concerns, and Minister of State for Culture and the Media Weimer sees little chance of its continuation. Instead, alternative funding programs for young people have been announced.

Q3. What cultural offerings can be accessed with the budget?

The Culture Pass allows you to take advantage of various cultural offerings, including concerts, cinema visits, theater performances, museum admissions, and the purchase of books, recordings, or musical instruments. However, major online platforms like Amazon are excluded.

Q4. How many young people have used it so far?

By February 2025, approximately 330,000 young people had used the Culture Pass. Around 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of €53.5 million were reserved, including 850,000 books, almost 480,000 cinema visits, and nearly 160,000 concert or theater visits.

Q5. Why is the Culture Pass being criticized?

The Culture Pass has been criticized because usage has fallen short of expectations in some cases, with only about a third of those eligible taking advantage of it. In addition, IT costs have risen to over €30 million, which is considered excessive. The Federal Court of Auditors has also raised constitutional concerns about its funding.