The first week of 2026 arrived in Frankfurt with a chaotic mix of New Year's Eve violence and severe winter weather that snarled regional travel. Yet beneath the turbulent surface of sirens and snowplows, the city's economic and cultural engines churned ahead, signaling a new year of high-stakes challenges and even higher ambitions.
MONEY MOVES 💰
Ausblick 2026: Cautious Optimism for the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
After a stellar previous year that saw the DAX deliver a 23 percent gain, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange began 2026 within striking distance of its all-time high of 24,771 points. Forecasts for the year ahead are cautiously optimistic, though analysts are divided on where the best opportunities lie.
The most bullish outlook comes from DZ Bank, which projects the DAX could reach 27,500 points by year's end, driven by continued profit growth and a stable macroeconomic environment. However, other major institutions are urging restraint. Helaba expects a more modest "sideways movement," arguing that much of the positive news has already been priced into the market.
Meanwhile, LBBW is sounding a note of caution, warning of a significant "clumpenrisiko" (cluster risk) created by the heavy concentration of market capitalization in a few US tech giants—a risk that disproportionately affects global indices like the DAX, which often follows Wall Street's lead. A consensus is emerging among experts that the most promising opportunities may no longer be in the "US-dominated mainstream." Instead, analysts suggest that undervalued European and Asian markets present more attractive growth potential for 2026.
Why it matters: While Frankfurt's market shows continued strength, local experts are advising investors to diversify their portfolios toward European and emerging markets to mitigate the risks associated with an overvalued US tech sector.
Also in business:
Frankfurt's vacancy rate hits 0.1%: A new report from Empirica and CBRE reveals that Frankfurt now has one of Germany's tightest housing markets, with only an estimated 400 residential units available for rent. In response, the city is preparing a new ordinance to penalize vacant properties, expected by mid-2026. However, the property owners' association Haus & Grund is challenging the move, arguing the legal basis for the ordinance is invalid.
City enacts new property tax rate: The new property tax rate ("Hebesatz B") of 854.69% is now in effect. While designed to be revenue-neutral for the city as a whole, the new calculation model will shift the tax burden, meaning individual homeowners will see changes—costs that will likely be passed on to tenants through ancillary costs (Nebenkosten).
Private health insurance premiums rising: The Verbraucherzentrale Hessen has issued a warning about significant premium hikes for private health insurance (PKV) in 2026. Affecting a large segment of Frankfurt's professional population, the increases are being driven by rising costs for outpatient care and pharmaceuticals.
CITY PULSE 🏙️
City Grapples with "Uninhibited Violence" Against Emergency Services on New Year's Eve
Frankfurt's New Year's celebrations were marred by what officials have condemned as "uninhibited violence" against emergency personnel. The city's Branddirektion reported a total of 11 incidents, including six cases where first responders were shot at with pyrotechnics. In total, emergency services responded to 555 calls between 7 PM and 6 AM on the busiest night of the year.
The most severe incident occurred near the Eiserner Steg, where a German Red Cross (DRK) ambulance was blocked by a large group that was attempting to force the paramedics to treat an injured person. Instead of following instructions, several individuals violently gained access to the vehicle, assaulting the paramedics and heavily damaging the ambulance. One paramedic was kicked in the back, pushed against the vehicle, and injured on his head before the crew was ultimately able to transport the woman to the hospital while being shot at with pyrotechnics.
The attacks drew sharp condemnation from city leaders. Lord Mayor Mike Josef stated, "Whoever attacks emergency forces, attacks our community of solidarity." The Head of Public Order, Annette Rinn, added that "for a minority, uninhibited violence... is apparently acceptable," and called for stronger measures to protect emergency workers.
The bottom line: The alarming violence against first responders on New Year's Eve has exposed a serious societal issue, prompting urgent calls from city leadership for accountability and better protection for those who work to keep the city safe.
Around the city:
Proposal to create a Loriot Museum: The association "Stadtbild Deutschland e.V." has proposed housing the vast artistic estate of the legendary German comedian Loriot in the currently vacant Steinerne Haus. The proposal aims to solve the pressing spatial challenge announced by the Caricatura Museum, which acquired Loriot's massive estate but lacks the room to display it. The historic building is located just a five-minute walk away, creating the potential for a new "art square" in the city center.
Controversy over Berta-Jourdan-Schule relocation: A political clash has erupted over plans to move the Berta-Jourdan vocational school into the former Deutsche Bahn headquarters. The Green Party is fiercely opposing the move, labeling the building "completely unsuitable" and excessively expensive. They have proposed using the city-owned, empty former Postbank building on Eckenheimer Landstraße as a more viable alternative.
"Digital coercion" raises concerns: Hesse's Data Protection Commissioner Alexander Roßnagel has warned that the growing trend of requiring apps for essential services—from parking to specialist medical appointments—is creating a digital barrier. He noted this "digital coercion" effectively excludes the 18% of adults without a smartphone and the 4-5% without internet access from key aspects of daily life.
Preserving rare fruit trees on Heiligenstock: In a move to secure the region's biodiversity, the city has planted 145 young trees of rare heritage varieties, including the 'Heiligenstocker Uralte,' on the protected meadows of the Heiligenstock. The initiative aims to preserve a vital part of Frankfurt's cultural landscape for future generations.
LIVING HERE 🥨
The Dune's Debut Signals New Era for Frankfurt Fine Dining
A new benchmark for fine dining has arrived in Frankfurt with the opening of The Dune. Located in The Florentin by Althoff Collection, the luxury hotel that has taken over the iconic former Villa Kennedy, the restaurant is poised to shake up the city's culinary hierarchy.
At the helm is Chef Niclas Nußbaumer, a rising star who had already earned two Michelin stars at his previous restaurant in the Black Forest. His arrival in Frankfurt has been a subject of intense anticipation, and his opening menu demonstrates why. The Dune offers a unique dual concept: guests can choose between a formal, multi-course tasting menu or "The Dune Selection," a more flexible offering of small plates designed for sharing in the restaurant's modern, lounge-like atmosphere.
Early reviews suggest Nußbaumer is delivering on his promise. His Asian-influenced cuisine features standout dishes like the "Gamba Blanca XO," a composition of fresh prawns, yuzu-marinated carrots, and crispy tempura pearls described by one critic as a "work of art" with three-star potential. Another highlight is the top-grade Wagyu beef (Kagoshima Grade 5), showcasing an uncompromising commitment to quality. With this ambitious opening, The Dune immediately enters the conversation as a top competitor to established powerhouses like Lafleur and Rausch.
TL;DR: A highly anticipated fine-dining restaurant, led by a two-star Michelin chef, has opened in the former Villa Kennedy, aiming to reshape the city's culinary top tier with its creative, Asian-influenced cuisine.
Worth knowing:
New Korean restaurant "Sogum" opens in Nordend: Located on Glauburgstraße, Sogum is earning praise for its authentic Korean cuisine rooted in local ingredients. Its homemade Sundä (Korean blood sausage) and the rich, warming Mäun Galbizim (braised beef short ribs) are already becoming local favorites.
2026 Grüne-Soße-Festival is officially on: After its future was in doubt, the beloved Green Sauce Festival has been saved by city funding. The celebration of Frankfurt's signature dish will take place from May 2nd to 9th on the Roßmarkt, and tickets are already on sale.
BEYOND THE SKYLINE 🌍
Trump Orders Military Strike on Venezuela, Captures President Maduro
In what President Trump called "one of the most stunning displays of American military might" in history, U.S. forces conducted a major assault on Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, January 3rd, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The operation targeted Venezuela's largest military complex, where Maduro was seized and transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.
Trump announced the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily until a "safe transition" can occur, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overseeing the effort. The president stated that American oil companies would enter Venezuela to "fix the badly broken oil infrastructure" and extract wealth as reimbursement for damages. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president.
The operation drew swift international condemnation. Colombian President Gustavo Petro deployed military forces to the Venezuelan border and rejected "aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela." Cuba and Chile issued strong statements condemning the strikes, while Chile called for dialogue over violence. Democratic Senator Mark Warner questioned the precedent: "Does this mean any large country can indict the ruler of a smaller adjacent country and take that person out?"
Quick takes:
Deadly Swiss ski resort fire claims 40 lives: A New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 119 others, many with severe burns. Investigators believe sparklers atop champagne bottles ignited the ceiling, causing the blaze. Switzerland declared five days of mourning as victims from multiple European nations were identified. Hospitals across Europe took in the injured, with intensive care units overwhelmed by the scale of the tragedy.
Berlin blackout from suspected arson attack: Tens of thousands in southwest Berlin lost power after a fire at a critical cable link. Police are treating it as a politically motivated attack by the left-wing extremist "Vulkangruppe." Hesse's Interior Minister Roman Poseck warned that left-wing extremism is becoming "ever more dangerous," noting a 30% increase in related crimes in Hesse between 2022 and 2024.
Winter chaos hits Frankfurt Airport: Widespread snow and ice caused severe disruption across the continent, with Frankfurt Airport at the center of the logistical gridlock. The airport was hit with dozens of cancellations and over a thousand delays as runways were cleared and planes de-iced. The local disruption was part of a wider European paralysis, which included over 1,000 kilometers of traffic jams in Paris and a near-total shutdown of the Dutch national rail network.
Solar power outpaces coal nationwide: In a major milestone for Germany's energy transition, official figures for 2025 confirmed that for the first time, photovoltaic systems generated more electricity than lignite coal plants. Solar's share of domestic power production rose to 18%, a significant step in the country's shift toward renewables.
THIS WEEKEND 📅
January 9 – January 11, 2026
1822 New Year's Concert at the Alte Oper: The traditional first classical concert of the year at the Alte Oper, this sold-out performance on Sunday features the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and world-renowned Swedish trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger in a program of Haydn, Strauss, and Prokofiev.
Also happening:
Fake Freuds: English Stand Up – An interactive self-help comedy show where comedians use your anonymous problems as fuel for hilarious, off-the-cuff advice at Kulturhaus Frankfurt (Sat, Jan 10).
TrauDich Wedding Fair – One of Europe's largest wedding fairs returns to Messe Frankfurt, showcasing the latest in bridal fashion, planning, and trends (Sat-Sun, Jan 10-11).
Der Große Rap Contest 2026 – The region's best up-and-coming rappers battle for the title in the grand finale of this competition in nearby Mainz (Fri, Jan 9).
HYPERTRANCE – A night of high-energy electronic music at the legendary Tanzhaus West club (Fri, Jan 9).
DJ Workshop: Vinyl with Perla Nera – Get hands-on and learn the classic art of DJing with vinyl records from a pro at the Museum of Modern Electronic Music (MOMEM) (Sat, Jan 10).
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
According to the latest police statistics for 2024, Frankfurt remains a comparatively safe major city. A total of 113,267 crimes were recorded, a figure down 1.5% from the previous year, with a solid case clearance rate of 63.7%.
COMING UP 🔜
The international trade fair season kicks into high gear with Heimtextil 2026, the world's leading event for home and contract textiles. The fair opens at Messe Frankfurt from January 13–16, drawing designers, buyers, and industry experts from around the globe.
069 EXPLAINS 🤓
Die Frankfurter Apfelweinkultur (Frankfurt's Apple Wine Culture): Frankfurt's famous apple wine culture is more than just a drink—it's recognized as part of Germany's intangible cultural heritage. Granted in March 2022, this official status honors the entire tradition, from tending the region's historic orchards to the craft of pressing the apples. The local brew, known as Ebbelwoi or Äppler, is traditionally served from a distinctive blue-speckled stoneware jug called a Bembel and poured into a ribbed glass known as a Gerippte. It remains the city's unofficial national drink, celebrated in the taverns of Sachsenhausen and beyond.
That's all for this week. Stay sharp, Frankfurt.
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