Another major venue for contemporary art in Berlin is set to open in 2029: berlin modern, the Museum of the 20th Century at the Kulturforum. Here, visitors will be able to explore around 4,000 works from the National Gallery’s collection, along with pieces from notable private collections.
But Berlin’s vibrant art scene already has plenty to offer. In addition to top exhibitions at the Neue Nationalgalerie, Gropius Bau, and Hamburger Bahnhof, the city hosts countless exciting events, programmes, and venues where you can experience contemporary art up close. And of course, art and culture can be found all across the city itself.
Here are our 11 top tips for art lovers in Berlin!
Tip 1: Hangars for art and culture at Tempelhof Airport
It's not just the Positions Art Fair that regularly finds great venues in the hangars of the former Tempelhof Airport during Berlin Art Week. You will also find numerous other exciting event formats here at irregular intervals, including opera, ballet and, of course, art exhibitions. You can currently see the Nova exhibition here, which commemorates the tragedy at the Nova Music Festival: The Nova Music Festival Exhibition - Witness.Reflect.Heal.
If you are interested in the history of the airport and the building, the visitor centre at Platz der Luftbrücke 5 is a good starting point (Wednesday to Monday 10 am - 5 pm), and from the THF Tower you have a great view over Tempelhofer Feld and the surrounding area. There are also changing exhibitions on historical or current topics to discover here.
When: until 16 November
Where: Tempelhof Airport, Platz der Lufbrücke 2, Tempelhof
Tip 2: You shouldn't miss Berlin Art Week & the Gallery Weekend
With a colourful programme, Berlin Art Week presents contemporary art for everyone together with the most important players on the Berlin scene. The programme includes major museums and institutions as well as project spaces, galleries, art associations and private collections. Workshops, discourse rounds, concerts and other events will give you a good introduction. Numerous tours invite you to discover Berlin's contemporary art scene throughout the city . These tours also take you out into the neighbourhoods - and to exciting places that may lie outside your everyday radius. Definitely the biggest and most important event for art enthusiasts in Berlin. Plan ahead!
You also shouldn't miss the Gallery Weekend, for which over 50 galleries in Berlin will not only open their doors from 1 to 3 May 2026, but also invite you to numerous special events, openings and parties.
When: 9 to 13 September 2026
Where: various locations throughout the city of Berlin
Tip 3: Berlinische Galerie
If you are interested in art from Berlin and Berlin artists, then you should definitely plan a visit to the Berlinische Galerie. The Berlinische Galerie collects and exhibits art created in Berlin from 1870 to the present day. Epochs such as Dada Berlin, New Objectivity, the Eastern European avant-garde and the art of divided Berlin and the reunited metropolis are part of the permanent exhibition, complemented by contemporary art, changing project series and collaborative projects. A lively mix with something for all ages.
You can currently see Monira Al Qadiri and Brigitte Meier-Denninghoff at the Berlinische Galerie. politics of Care and Raoul Hausmann start in November.
When: Wednesday to Monday, 10 am - 6 pm (closed on Tuesday)
Where: Alte Jakobstraße 124-128, Kreuzberg
Tip 4: The KW Institute combines art with music and performances
Founded in the early 1990s in a former Magarine factory, KW Institute for Contemporary Art has since developed into a permanent institution for contemporary art in Berlin. In addition to cooperation programmes with national and international partners such as the MoMA PS1 in New York, the Biennale di Venezia or the Documenta in Kassel, exciting projects such as screenings, readings, discussions and much more are also realised with the local creative scene. The critical view of current social change processes is always at the centre of attention.
KW Institute starts the autumn with two major exhibitions, Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst Starmirror and String Constructions.
Tip: KW Institute is also always part of the Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art. Various formats by renowned curators are realised here at different locations in Berlin, including many experimental formats.
When: Opening 30 October 2025, 7 - 10 am; exhibition 31 October - 16 January 2026
Where: Auguststraße 69, Mitte
Tip 5: The KINDL Centre is an exciting meeting place
Where beer was once brewed is now an exciting meeting place for everyday culture and the art scene. In the listed brick buildings, you can expect international contemporary art as well as an exciting supporting programme that repeatedly involves the neighbourhood and the local art scene, for example during "48 Stunden Neukölln" or Berlin Art Week.
The Maschinenhaus, Kesselhaus and, above all, the tower provide an impressively brute backdrop for large-scale, site-specific installations. In the former brewhouse, you can dine between the gleaming copper brewing kettles. In summer, Babette's garden invites you into the inner courtyard.
You can currently see Cihad Caner at KINDL. Demonst(e)rating the Untamable Monster at Videospace, Phoebe Collings-James at Maschinenhaus M1 and M2, as well as The Rise and Fall of Erik Schmidt and Cornelia Parker at Kesselhaus. Stolen Thunder
When: Wednesday 12pm - 8pm Thursday to Sunday 12pm - 6pm (closed Monday & Tuesday)
Where: Am Sudhaus 3, Neukölln
Tip 6: Experience Berlin history on a guided tour of the Akademie der Künste
Anna Seghers, Helene Weigel and Bertolt Brecht all worked here. Today, their living and working spaces under the roof of the Akademie der Künste are open to visitors on guided tours. founded in 1669, the Academy in Berlin is one of the oldest European cultural institutions. Its various programmes and sections focus on fine arts and architecture, music, literature, performing arts, film and media art. At both locations of the academy, you can gain an insight into the current art scene in changing exhibitions, lectures and concerts.
You can currently see Out of the Box - 75 years of the Akademie der Künste archive and Every Artist must take Sides, Resonances by Eslanda Cardozo Goode Robeson (1895-1965) and Paul Robeson (1898-1976). You can take part in guided tours of the picture cellar on Wednesdays at 5 pm.
When: the building is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, opening hours of the exhibitions vary
Where: Paris Platz 4, Mitte
When: the building is open daily from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., opening hours of the exhibitions vary
Where: Hanseatenweg 10, Tiergarten
Tip 7: House of World Cultures invites you to a critical exchange
Above all, the House of World Cultures is an open house. With its unusual architecture and prime location directly on the Spree, the HKW invites critical exchange and offers a forum for contemporary art. Here you can experience exhibitions, concerts, readings and performances, partly inside the building and partly on the roof terrace as the sun sets. In addition to musicians, authors and artists, scientists and experts from all areas of work and life are also involved in the programme.
You can see the Global Fascisms exhibition here until 7 December 2025.
When: daily 12 - 7 pm (closed on Tuesday)
Where: John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Tiergarten
Tip 8: Galerie König shows at unusual exhibition venues
Founded in 2002 by Johann König, the gallery of the same name now also has branches in Vienna, London and Seoul. Galerie König is currently presenting 40 artists with a focus on interdisciplinary, conceptual and spatial approaches, with the works finding sufficient space in the rooms of a former church. Architect Werner Düttmann, who designed and built St Agnes Church in the Brutalist style from 1964 to 1967, is also responsible for the Akademie der Künste building on Hanseatenweg and the Brückemuseum.
Galerie König has also been showing exhibitions in the Berlin Telegraph Office since March 2025.
You can see Johanna Dumet and Stephan Balkenhol here until 9 November.
When: Wednesday to Saturday 11 am - 6 pm (Monday & Tuesday closed)
Where: Alexandrinenstraße 118-121, Kreuzberg
Tip 9: The Boros Collection exhibits art in the bunker
Another exciting building conversion is the Boros Collection, which is housed in a former bunker . On display is the private collection of contemporary art of the couple Karen and Christian Boros, whereby you can see different sections of the collection in changing presentations. Unlike the König Gallery, which sees itself as a sales gallery, you have to book a ticket for the Boros Collection.
When: Thursday to Sunday 10am - 8pm
Where: Reinhardtstraße 20, Mitte
Tip 10: Art meets industrial culture in the Wilhelm Hallen
The Wilhelm Hallen are a unique place for anyone who wants to rethink and experience art. In a former iron foundry in the north of Berlin, historic clinker brick architecture and iron framework meet modern utilisation - with plenty of space for artistic visions. The listed ensemble in Reinickendorf covers more than 20,000 square metres and has been renovated with the utmost care. You will hardly recognise the halls in the picture above when you visit.
There are lots of special events here and, especially in summer, the Ferro Canteen invites you to enjoy coffee, cake and lunch in this special ambience from morning to early afternoon. Together with others, the Mehdi Chouakri Gallery regularly organises art and cultural events in the spacious premises, often in cooperation with others, for example during Berlin Art Week.
When: 7 to 15 September 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (closed Monday, Tuesday)
Where: Kopenhagenerstraße 60-72, Reinickendorf
Tip 11: Discover the whole of Berlin as a gallery for urban art
It's also worth keeping your eyes open on the way from one cultural institution to another. Because in principle, the whole of Berlin is one big open-air gallery. You can find sculptures all over the capital, such as the Oval Butterfly on the Spiegelsee in front of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt or the Boxers by Keith Haring on Potsdamer Platz. At Oberbaumbrücke, the light installation Rock, Paper, Scissors refers to the bridge's history as a border crossing between East and West.
Tip: If you are interested in street art and murals, you can find a map with the best starting points for discovery tours here. We have also put together the best routes for you in our ABOUT BERLIN app.
Download it now for free for iPhone and Android:
There's a lot to tell. ABOUT BERLIN.
In our calendar of events you will find all current contemporary art exhibitions in Berlin.
