No city embodies freedom like Berlin. In 2025, it will, for the first time, become a global meeting place for international voices championing democracy and human rights. The highlight: a world conference dedicated to freedom.
Throughout the week surrounding the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the entire city will transform into a stage for diversity, dialogue, and civic engagement. From 9 to 15 November, Berlin Freedom Week invites you to think, participate, and help shape the city’s future.
From more than 100 workshops, discussions, exhibitions, tours, readings, and other creative formats, we’ve selected eleven inspiring events for you to discover.
Tip 1: Discuss the future of freedom at the Berlin Freedom Conference
What does it take for democracies to thrive in the 21st century? That’s the central question of the Berlin Freedom Conference 2025 — bringing together innovators, thought leaders, and changemakers for democracy and freedom in Berlin for the very first time. Join us on 10 November, when leading voices from politics, business, tech, media, and civil society come together to exchange ideas and develop practical ways to advance democratic change around the world.
When: 10 November
Where: Gasometer Berlin, EUREF Campus, Schöneberg
Tip 2: Reinvent democracy at "Designing Democracy on Mars"
Imagine landing on Mars - without a government, without laws, without history. Embark on an imaginary expedition to the Red Planet: How can we shape a young democracy? How can we build an ideal political system? And what aspects do we need to live freely, safely and together in this society?
At this workshop, everyone is invited to help shape and discuss these questions. Using tools from democracy research, you can create and collapse worlds of thought. At the same time, you will be supporting the University of Stuttgart in researching the big question of our time: What does the future of democracy look like?
When: Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 5 pm
Where: Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe, Sophienstraße. 28/29, Mitte
Tip 3: From heart to heart - send solidarity by postcard
Send a message of hope! In the Libereco letter workshops, you can write your sympathy and support directly on postcards. You can send them to Ukrainian civilians in Russian custody and political prisoners from Belarus. To people who are behind bars because they have raised their voices for freedom and democracy.
Relatives and former prisoners will support you on site and talk about their personal experiences. An evening to share hope that gets under your skin.
When: Tuesday, 11 November & Thursday, 13 November, 6 pm
Where: Libereco- Partnership for Human Rights, Brunnenstraße 9, Mitte
Tip 4: Courage starts with participation
How can I make a difference? You can ask yourself this question at the MUTAUSBRUCH for All exhibition. Here you can take part instead of just watching! Whether young or old, the MACHmit! museum for children invites everyone from the age of eight to have fun and think together about civil courage and social change. In an intergenerational and creative way, you can look back into the past in order to look to the future.
When: Saturday, 8 November to Saturday, 15 November
Where: MACHmit! museum for children, Schönhauser Allee Acarden, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 5: Be warned at the trial of Hans Litten
Immerse yourself in the moving fate of Hans Litten, a man who stood up to the Nazi regime. Be inspired by his indomitable courage and humour, which he maintained even in the face of the terror of the concentration camp. The play follows the courageous lawyer who fought against Hitler and for the rule of law in the courtroom and his mother who desperately fought for his freedom. You can expect a gripping portrait of civil courage and resistance that warns us urgently and encourages us to stand up for ourselves when it counts.
The second date is a school performance in which the theatre hall becomes a creative space for pupils to play, experiment and create together with the actors as they explore freedom, peace and courage.
When: Tuesday, 10 November, 8 pm and Wednesday, 11 November, 10 am
Where: Pfefferbergtheater, Schönhauser Allee 176, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 6: Join in the debate! Bringing democracy to life
What does WE mean? Who does it stand for? And how can we create community again in an increasingly individualised society? You will encounter these questions in the interactive exhibition "A Common Room in a Changing World". Here you will find food for thought from neighbouring Denmark on how to create spaces for community. Be inspired by lively, open places where a wide variety of people come together to engage in dialogue.
And take part in the discourse yourself. Here you can chat and celebrate over a cup of coffee, talk and argue, discuss and agree with friends and strangers alike. Because when people engage in dialogue, trust grows and so does democracy!
When: Guided tours Sunday 9 November to Thursday 13 November at 11.30 am & 1 pm, please book in advance
Exhibition from 17 October 2025 to 18 January 2026
Where: Felleshus of the Nordic Embassies, Rauchstraße 1, Tiergarten
Tip 8: Experience the escape to freedom on Bernauer Strasse
Courage, hope and determination - these are the stories you will experience first-hand on the guided tour "Tunnel Escapes". Along Bernauer Strasse and in the original air raid shelter on Blochplatz, you will learn more about the most dramatic escape attempts under the Berlin Wall. The focus is on the legendary Tunnel 57, through which 57 people reached freedom in 1964.
The tour is impressively complemented by a comic exhibition that tells the story of the escape in an impressive visual way. A moving journey through time initiated by the Berlin Underworlds! Immerse yourself in a piece of freedom history that gets under your skin.
When: 8-16 November 2025, depending on the tour (approx. 120 minutes)
Where: Meeting point: Badstraße / corner of Hochstraße, Wedding
Tip 9: Share your ideas about freedom at the Idea Party
Share your ideas about freedom. On the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, you are invited to get actively involved at an Idea Party. Three inspiring speakers will provide the impetus, after which there will be space to share your own ideas and concepts to bring down walls. The focus will be on voices from Berlin's migrant and diasporic community, who will enter into dialogue with local creatives.
When: 8 November 2025 6 pm
Where: Location to be announced
Tip 10: Listen to the "Urban Voices" at DAWN Haus Berlin
What does freedom sound like in Berlin? The multimedia exhibition "Urban Voices" provides an impressive answer: with voices of Berlin personalities such as design artist Eike König, Tresor legend Dimitri Hegemann and prison warden Bärbel Badrasky. From 8 to 13 November at the DAWN Haus in Kreuzberg, you can experience how freedom is conceived, lived and defended in many different ways - interactively, movingly and always open to your own contributions.
Talks, music and drinks await you at the opening on 8 November - an ideal start to Berlin Freedom Week.
When: 8 November opening from 6.30 pm, 9 November 12 - 6 pm, 10 to 13 November 4 - 8 pm
Where: DAWN Haus Hasenheide 54, Kreuzberg (entrance in the backyard)
Tip 11: Ask the Artist at the East Side Gallery
What was it like to paint a piece of the Wall in 1990 - and thus create a monument to freedom? The "Ask the Artist" tour gives you the unique opportunity to talk to artists from the East Side Gallery in person. What moved them back then? How do they see their work today? Together with a guide from the Berlin Wall Foundation, you will discover stories, perspectives and memories that will get under your skin. Art and contemporary history merge into a lively dialogue here.
Take advantage of this special opportunity to experience history up close - right next to the longest open-air gallery in the world!
When: Saturday, 8 & 15 November 2025, 2 - 3 pm
Where: Meeting point: Visitor information centre in the gatehouse, Mühlenstraße 73, Friedrichshain
