Crime scenes instead of display cases, secret codes instead of museum guides: during the Long Night of Museums, Berlin becomes the backdrop for gripping mysteries and interactive investigations. Crack a historic escape case at the Museum of Communication, hunt for clues from Hollywood at the Samurai Museum or delve into classified files at the former Stasi headquarters.
From true crime and brain-teasing puzzles to music with a darker edge, the night is packed with unexpected experiences. Discover our 11 tips for a criminally good Long Night of Museums!
1 ticket – 75 museums across Berlin
During the Long Night of Museums, you can visit 75 museums and 750 events across Berlin with just one ticket. Until 16 August, you can get the early bird ticket here for 15 euros instead of 23!
Get your Early Bird ticket now
Tip 1: Dive into the underworld with Jack Bilbo at the Jewish Museum Berlin
What turns a person into a criminal? At the Jewish Museum Berlin, you’ll follow in the extraordinary footsteps of Jack Bilbo – the Berlin-born Hugo Baruch – who, in his fictional autobiography, cast himself as Al Capone’s bodyguard. On the guided tour, you’ll learn more about his adventurous life as a writer, artist and pub landlord, and discover his painting ‘The Red Dress’ in the permanent exhibition.
Afterwards, in the Mackie Messer Lounge, you can watch the legendary film adaptations of *The Threepenny Opera* from 1931 and 1963, featuring a star-studded cast and plenty of Berlin gangster flair.
When: Guided tours in German at 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm & 10 pm (approx. 45 minutes each)
Guided tours in English at 7 pm, 8 pm & 10.30 pm (approx. 45 minutes each)
Film screenings: 6 pm – 1 am
Where: Jewish Museum Berlin, Lindenstraße 9–14, Kreuzberg
Tip 2: Discover how psychiatry interpreted political crimes
What was considered a political crime over 100 years ago, and who was labelled ‘insane’? At the Charité Museum of the History of Medicine in Berlin, a fascinating talk sheds light on how anarchists, assassins and revolutionaries were treated between 1880 and 1920. Find out how criminology, psychiatry and politics influenced one another, and why the diagnosis of ‘psychopathy’ at that time often said more about society than about those affected. A fascinating look at the intersection of medicine, history and crime.
- You can gain insights into how Nazi medical crimes were dealt with after 1945 during a one-hour guided tour starting at 6.30 pm. The meeting point is on the museum forecourt.
- Half-hour family tours of the permanent exhibition start at 6.30 pm, 8.30 pm, 10.30 pm and midnight.
When: Anarchists, Assassins and Revolutionaries, 6.15 pm (approx. 40 minutes)
Where: Berlin Museum of the History of Medicine at the Charité, Hörsaalruine, Charitéplatz 1, Mitte
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Tip 3: Solve the Hollywood case at the Samurai Museum Berlin
A katana cuts through the air; Uma Thurman appears on the Nō stage. And suddenly, the entire Samurai Museum becomes a crime scene. Amidst ornate armour, swords and centuries-old stories, you’ll search for hidden clues and try to work out what role the ‘Kill Bill’ heroine plays in this mysterious case . Japanese ‘police officers’ will assist you with the investigation. Look closely, think cleverly and follow the right clues: can you solve the mystery?
- You can also get your very own samurai mugshot. In a pop-up exhibition, you’ll see selected samurai artefacts whose criminal records would enrich any crime novel today.
- And from 6 pm, the Japanese cinema classic *The Art of Finding the Truth* (16+) will be screened continuously on a loop.
When: From 6 pm, non-stop
Where: Samurai Museum, Auguststraße 68, Mitte
Tip 4: Listen to some criminally good organ music at St Nicholas’ Church
Organist Jack Day is sure to give you real goosebumps as he plays melodies from crime series and horror films in the historic St Nicholas’ Church: from Alfred Hitchcock to*In der Halle des Bergkönigs*, *Mackie Messer* and the legendary *Tatort* theme tune. Let the sombre sounds, mysterious themes and iconic crime soundtracks set the mood for this very special Long Night of Museums. A musical highlight for all crime fans.
Further concerts:
- At the Knochblauchhaus, Grit Schulze will be playing spine-tinglingly beautiful pieces every 120 minutes from 6 pm, ranging from Ludwig van Beethoven to Edvard Grieg, on the lyra piano.
- Against the unique backdrop of the Underground Museum , you can enjoy live music from 6 pm to 11 pm.
- In the Kreuzberg courtyard of the Kurt Mühlenhaupt Museum , Rachelina & die Maccheronies will perform songs from Naples and tell stories about the Malavita.
- At 7 pm, 8 pm and 9 pm, Melanie Schmidli, accompanied by guitarist Martino Dessi, will be singing jazz, chanson and songs by Kurt Weill from the grey areas of city life in the salon of the Ephraim-Palais.
When: 6 pm, 8 pm, 10 pm and midnight (approx. 30 minutes each)
Where: Nikolaikirche Museum, Nikolaikirchplatz, Mitte
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Tip 5: Go undercover in Charlottenburg
During the Long Night of Museums, you’re not just museum visitors here – you’ll become part of an exciting investigation. Starting at the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection , the interactive search for clues takes you through no fewer than five museums in Charlottenburg. At each stop, you’ll gather new clues, piece together the sequence of events and get closer to the person you’re looking for, bit by bit. Once you’ve solved all the puzzles, you’ll use a secret code to crack the entire case. A perfect mission for anyone who wants to combine crime thrillers, escape games and museum visits.
- You can also create spooky paper cut-outs and discover the shadowy world of the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection on an express guided tour .
When: 6 pm – 1.30 am, non-stop
Where: Starting point: Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection, Schloßstraße 70, Charlottenburg
Tip 6: Go on a quiz tour at the Documentation Centre for Flight, Expulsion and Reconciliation
Follow in the footsteps of moving life stories and explore the permanent exhibition at the Documentation Centre for Flight, Expulsion and Reconciliation in a fun and interactive way. With a quiz booklet in hand, you’ll search for clues, solve tricky questions and learn more about flight, expulsion and new beginnings in Europe. Anyone who completes the quiz sheet will not only have gained fascinating insights, but can alsolook forward to alittle surprise, which is raffled off every hour.
- You can also fold and decorate your own peace dove , play a crime-themed memory game, encounter mysterious stilt walkers, listen to the music of the ABAN Ensemble and enjoy culinary delights from Kreuzberger Himmel . Kreuzberger Himmel is a Berlin restaurant where the staff are mainly refugees from various countries.
- At 6 pm and 8.30 pm, you can find out interesting facts for your own family history research at ‘Verwehte Spuren?’ in the library on the first floor.
When: 6 pm – midnight; prize draws every hour on the hour from 7 pm to midnight
Where: Documentation Centre for Flight, Expulsion and Reconciliation, Stresemannstraße 90, Kreuzberg
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Tip 7: Solve the Rathenau mystery at the Museum of Communication
A mysterious letter, a historic assassination and plenty of coded clues: in the interactive escape mission ‘The Rathenau Mystery’, you’ll become investigators yourselves. Working in teams, you’ll follow the clues across the museum, decipher codes and piece together the puzzle of a criminal case dating back over 100 years . An exciting mix of escape game, history and detective work.
- At the games station, you’ll also get to play the part of detectives in Cluedo or Black Stories; you can also play a round of Mafia on the Commodore 64 or draw police sketches.
- And in the museum garden, a secret speakeasy bar awaits with mysterious cocktails. You can get the right 1920s-style look at the Glam Bar right next door.
When: From 6 pm, starting every 30 minutes (approx. 90 minutes)
Where: Museum of Communication Berlin, Leipziger Straße 16, Mitte
Tip 8: Take a trip back in time to the Roaring Twenties
During the Long Night of Museums, immerse yourselves in the Berlin of the Weimar Republic: at the Romanisches Café, you’ll re-enact the legendary bank heist by the Sass brothers and, accompanied by ‘Babylon Berlin’ actor Arne Krasting, follow in the footsteps of the settings from the Gereon Rath novels. And to round off the Long Night, there’ll be a party in true Weimar Republic style, with dancing until the early hours.
There’ll be dancingat the Musical Instrument Museumtoo . From midnight, you can experience a party here just like the ones back in the day at the famous Moka Efti.The Dukish Vagabonds will provide the perfect soundtrack with live music, whilst Swing Base puts on a rousing Charleston performance. And of course, you’re welcome to take to the dance floor yourselves. If you’d like, come dressed in authentic 1920s style and enjoy an unforgettable finale to the Long Night of Museums.
Museum of Musical Instruments
When: Midnight (approx. 60 minutes)
Where: Musical Instrument Museum, Tiergartenstraße 1, Tiergarten
Romanisches Café
When: Reading: 7 pm; Gereon Rath guided tour: 8 pm; Crime scene tour: 8.30 pm; Golden Night: from 1 am, all night long
Where: The Romanisches Café, Hardenbergstraße 29A, Charlottenburg
Tip 9: Go on an animal-themed treasure hunt at the House of World Cultures
Here , children become detectives themselves: armed with curiosity and a keen sense of detection, they set off on a treasure hunt through the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Together , they’ll collect clues, solve puzzles and learn which animals live in the Tiergarten and why they need our protection. To round off the event, a colourful parade winds its way through the building. A playful adventure for little sleuths aged 8 and over (aged 6 and over when accompanied by an adult).
- Adult detectives are invited to join the English-language live reading of the novel *From the Pocket of Agent Dickinson* ( Inside the Castle, 2025), where the audience can accompany a CIA agent on his investigation into mysterious beings of light. From 8 pm in the Pavilion – Semra Ertan Garden; duration approx. 45 minutes.
When: 6.00 pm & 7.15 pm (approx. 60 minutes each)
Where: Haus der Kulturen der Welt, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Tiergarten
Tip 10: Investigate the future of crime at the Futurium
At the crime-themed evening at the Futurium, you’ll become investigators yourselves: secure evidence, decipher clues and discover how IT forensics and new technologies could transform police work. On the forecourt, a karaoke show provides the musical backdrop.
When: Saturday 29 August 2026, from 6 pm
Where: Futurium – Haus der Zukünfte, Alexanderufer 2, Mitte
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Tip 11: Take a peek at the Stasi’s secret files
How exactly did the GDR’s feared secret police operate? At the former Stasi headquarters, you can leaf through replicas of Stasi files and learn more about surveillance methods, informants and repressive measures. Experts will also advise you on how to access your own personal Stasi files today.
- If you’d like to delve deeper, why not join an express or family tour of the Stasi Museum?
- At 10 pm and midnight, a night tour of the grounds will cover details of the buildings and the work of the departments of the Ministry for State Security (MfS). The meeting point is in front of “Haus 7”
When: Insight into sample files and advice on accessing files: 6 pm – midnight; Family tour: 6 pm (approx. 45 minutes), short tours: from 6 pm – 11.30 pm, approx. every 30 minutes;
Where: Stasi Headquarters, Campus for Democracy, Ruschestraße 103, Lichtenberg
You can find further events for the Long Night of Museums here.
