Skip to main content
Berlin's official travel website

August in Berlin

Long Night of Museums, Train of Love & many festivals

Berlin Cathedral with Museum Island in Berlin seen from river Spree
Berlin Cathedral with Museum Island in Berlin © iStock.com, Foto: Chalabala

Besides the supposed lioness, there's a lot going on in the capital in August: The Long Night of Museums invites you to discover the acoustic side of exhibition culture with "Sounds of Berlin". The Train of Love is passing through the city and with the Music Festival, Tanz in den August and the Young Euro Classics, the concert halls offer a top-class programme. Numerous summer festivals invite you to experience dance, theatre, music and culture in the open air - and to enjoy the balmy summer evenings late into the night. Find out what you shouldn't miss in Berlin in August in our monthly preview.

Tip 1: Long Night of the Museums

Long Night of the museums in Berlin
Kulturforum at the Long Night of the museums © Sergej Horovitz

In keeping with this year's motto "Sounds of Berlin", there is also a lot to discover acoustically in many Berlin museums during this year's Long Night. At the Spy Museum you can listen to radio transmissions and decode messages. And at the PalaisPopulaire, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to a concert and a workshop where you can build instruments. The workshop of the Exilmuseum will be transformed into a dance bar, and DJs will be spinning at the Zeiss Planetarium. Look forward to a night full of art, culture and surprises. This year, around 750 live events, workshops and numerous special and express tours await you at the Long Night of the Museums in Berlin. With just one ticket you have access to 75 museums in the city. Shuttle buses that take you directly from museum to museum.

When: 26 August 6 pm to 27 August 2 am
Where: 75 museums in the city

Long Night of the Museums

Tip 2: Celebrate Pop culture at the Popkultur-Festival in Berlin

Performance Pop-Kultur 2021
© Pop-Kultur, Foto: Camille Blake

Three days of pure pop culture are on the programme: In addition to numerous concerts and DJ gigs, this time you can experience the world premiere of 15 commissioned works. The phenomenon of pop culture will also be the subject of talks, readings and films. The focus will be on the exciting interaction between social developments and artistic trends. How is today's world reflected in current pop culture? Which themes are taken up, which points of criticism are formulated in texts? The festival sees itself as a process in which you, the audience, also participate!

When: 30 August to 1 September
Where: Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36, Prenzlauer Berg

POP CULTURE

Tip 3: Dance in August merges opposites on stage

EXIT ABOVE after the tempest
© Anne Van Aerschot

Street dance and traditional dances are the opposing building blocks of C A R C A Ç A by Marco da Silva Ferreira. Leave your conventional ideas of dance at home. With this German premiere to kick off the festival, this year's festival invites you to explore new paths. At the 35th Tanz in den August, borders will be crossed and new connections will be shown. It's about the search for identity and cultural roots - and about how opposites enrich dialogue.

When: 9 to 26 August
Where: at HAU Hebbel am Ufer and six other venues in the city

DANCE IN AUGUST

Tip 4: Enjoy the start of the concert season at Musikfest Berlin

Symphonie Orchester
© istock.com, Foto: cyano66

One of the highlights of this year's Musikfest is the concert performance of Hector Berlioz's monumental opera "Les Troyens" conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. The programme, with which Berlin traditionally starts the new season, is once again extremely diverse in 2023. In 28 concerts you will hear works by over 45 composers: from Johann Sebastian Bach to Gustav Mahler and Sergei Rachmaninov to Unsuk Chi.

When: 26 August to 18 September
Where: Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, Mitte and Gethsemanekirche, Stargarder Straße 77, Prenzlauer Berg

Musikfest Berlin

Tip 5: Listen to young musicians from all over the world at Young Euro Classic Festival

Young Euro Classic at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Young Euro Classic at the Konzerthaus Berlin © Monika Lawrenz/ Krzyżowa-Music. For Europe.

This year, the Young Euro Classic Festival starts with a concert by the Asian Youth Orchestra. Listen to exciting interpretations of classical compositions. But also some new works will be performed for the first time and will face the jury in the framework of the European Composition Prize. For two and a half weeks, young international orchestras will show what they can do in Berlin's Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt. And for the very young music fans, there are children's concerts and a workshop for dancing and playing along.

When: 2 to 27 August
Where: Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte

Young Euro Classic

Tip 6: Feel like prince and princess at the Potsdam Castle Night

Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam
Schloss Sanssouci in Potsdam © visitBerlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

During the Potsdam Palace Night, Sanssouci Park is transformed into a gigantic stage. Stroll through the grounds and let yourself be enchanted by music, acrobatics, readings and installations. As soon as it gets dark, the palaces and the illuminated park sparkle in a blaze of light.

When: 18 and 19 August
Where: Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam

Potsdam Castle Night

Tip 7: Love Train - Show your love for the world of tomorrow

Zug der Liebe
© Jens Schwan | THE CLUBMAP

Because life is often about the little things, about the beautiful moments and about being there for each other, the Train of Love this year focuses on living charity. "More love for the world of tomorrow" is the motto of the procession, which starts at 1 pm at Mauerpark. Around 50 charitable organisations and associations are now actively involved. With lots of live music and good humour, the colourful procession of love then moves through the city. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oranienstraße (between Axel Springer and Alte Jakobstraße) will be cordoned off for the final rally and a joint street party. Afterwards there will be an afterparty on 5 floors at Ritter Butzke.

When: 26 August, from 1 pm
Where: Start at Mauerpark

Train of Love (Zug der Liebe)

Tip 8: Let yourself be enchanted by the Fire Flowers at the Klassik Open Air

Fireworks
© Getty Images, Foto: Ray Bradshaw

Well-known classics are on the programme at the open-air concert in the Britzer Garten. Be there when the Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau plays the most beautiful pieces from Strauss to Dvořák to Lehár on the large stage by the lake. Let the world-famous waltzes, marches and polkas sweep you away and get you in the mood. Highlights of the programme are the soprano Iordanka Derilova and tenor Costa Latsos and, of course, the fireworks at the end of the concert evening.

When: 26 August from 7.30 pm
Where: Britzer Garten, Festplatz am See, Sangerhauser Weg 1, Britz

Fire Flowers and classical music open air

Tip 9: Immerse yourself in the world of African literature at the African Book Festival

Bücher
© Getty Images, Foto: FabrikaCr

For its 5th anniversary, the African Book Festival invites you to an exciting programme with lots of literature and music at the Alte Münze. Look forward to readings, discussions and concerts on three different stages and a large open air area. Browse the large book table and various market stalls with fashion, art and handicrafts. African food will be available at the food trucks. Among the 30 authors are both established writers and some up-and-coming talents, including Leila Aboulela, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Laila Lalami and C.A. Davids. 

When: 25 to 27 August
Where: Alte Münze, Molkenmarkt 2, Mitte

African Book Festival

Tip 10: Open-air cinema at the "Stasi Headquarters. Campus for Democracy

Campus Kino in der ehemaligen Stasi-Zentrale
© BStU, Anna Witzel

For four weeks this August, the courtyard of the Stasi headquarters in Lichtenberg will once again be transformed into an open-air cinema. In front of the historical backdrop of Stasi Minister Mielke's former office, you can see films about the GDR's past and state security, about repression, but also about revolutionary movements and the reappraisal of the files. Learn more about the topic and get involved in an exchange. The evening starts with short films or material from the Stasi archives. Afterwards, contemporary witnesses and filmmakers will answer your questions. Admission is free. Registration is not required.

When: 7 to 31 August
Where: Inner courtyard of the "Stasi Headquarters. Campus for Democracy", Ruschestrasse 103, Lichtenberg.

Campus Cinema: Movies at the Stasi Headquarters

Tip 11: Cheer on the athletes at the world championships and Olympic qualification in archery

Maifeld beim Olympiastadion
© Sarah Rauch

For the second time, the world's best archers are coming to Berlin for the World Championships. At the same time, the archers can qualify for the Olympic Games at the archery competitions on the Maifeld at the Olympic Stadium. More than 533 athletes from 80 nations are expected. An exciting competition is guaranteed!

When: 31 July to 6 August
Where: Olympic Stadium, Maifeld, Olympischer Platz 3, Charlottenburg

World championship and olympic qualification in archery

Check out our Event Calendar for more tips about what is going on in August in Berlin

Josefine Köhn-Haskins

Josefine

is originally from Munich and started out her career at one of Germanys largest daily news papers. Before finding her home in Berlin, she also reported as a correspondent and trend scout from the US. Today she is cruising Berlin's neighbourhoods, always on the lookout for good stories - with a focus on culture, music and ideas for the future of an innovative Berlin. All posts