Warning, not suitable for children: In Cologne, a full exhibition will soon devote itself to the True Crime phenomenon. With virtual reality elements and reconstructions of crime scenes, the stories behind well-known serial killers will be illuminated. Visitors must be at least 16 years old to enter — the organizers say the material can be disturbing. The exhibition will run from May 8 to October 25, 2026, at the former car dealership at 99 Oskar-Jäger Street in the Ehrenfeld neighborhood of Cologne.
In 90 minutes, more than twenty international biographies of perpetrators and investigations will be presented — those who binge many True Crime formats will recognize many names, such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Also from the German-speaking world are well-known cases represented by Jack Unterweger or Armin Meiwes, the so‑called Cannibal of Rothenburg.
“With this opening in Cologne, we dive into one of the most popular phenomena of our time: True Crime — a topic that is deeply rooted in human nature and in the art of storytelling,” says John Zaller, Creative Director at the production company behind the exhibition.
True Crime is a genre in which real crimes are retold and presented across media formats such as podcasts, TV programs, magazines, books, or series. Yet these formats are often criticized: the focus tends to be mainly on the perpetrators — victims and their families frequently feel overlooked, retraumatized, or exploited to generate attention.
