This study examines whether cultural participation fosters friendships between immigrant and non-immigrant secondary school students in Germany. In countries with growing immigration, the relations between different ethnic groups are crucial for social cohesion. Drawing on theories of social and cultural capital, we analyze bonding and bridging aspects of social cohesion. Using longitudinal data from 8,281 students and 5,615 parents (German National Educational Panel Study), we assess the impact of five cultural activities: [1] leisure-time arts education courses as well as visits to [2] classical concerts, [3] theaters, [4] museums, and [5] arts activities at youth centers. Our outcome of interest is the proportion of friends who have an immigrant background. We create two subsamples, one consisting of students with immigrant background, the other of those without. Cross-sectional and longitudinal regression analyses show no significant effects of the five cultural activities on cross-ethnic friendships for students with or without immigrant backgrounds. Our findings contradict previous research and suggest that cultural activities – despite their considerable potential – may currently play only a limited role in promoting social cohesion among adolescents in educational settings and beyond.