This summer weekend, Berlin is once againshowing off its incredibly diverse side. From Christopher Street Day to street food, dancing and glowing lanterns, the capital offers well-known sights alongside surprising discoveries. Families, gaming fans and culture lovers will find just as many exciting events as those who want to get to know Berlin from the water or from its major stages .Here are our 11 tips for the weekend.
Tip 1: Celebrate diversity at Christopher Street Day
During Berlin’s CSD, the city centre is transformed into a colourful stage for freedom, visibility and solidarity. Under the slogan ‘Stance is Hot’, the march starts on Leipziger Straße and winds its way via Potsdamer Platz, Nollendorfplatz and the Victory Column to the closing rally against the impressive backdrop of the Brandenburg Gate.
This year, the festivities kick off as early as Friday evening. The programme begins with a ‘Democracy Evening’ at the Brandenburg Gate. From 6 pm to 11 pm, three stages will host music, artistic performances and speeches.
Tip: Be sure to check out our 11 tips for Christopher Street Day 2026
When: Saturday from 11.30 am, parade starts at 12 noon
Where: Leipziger Straße / corner of Charlottenstraße, closing rally: Brandenburg Gate
Tip 2: Immerse yourself in new worlds at the FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival
At hub27 , you ’ll meet gaming fans from all over the world and immerse yourself in the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV. Look forward to stage shows, developer panels, competitions and imaginative cosplay. During the keynote speech by producer and director Naoki Yoshida, you’ll hear the latest news about the future of the online role-playing game.
When: Saturday and Sunday
Where: hub27 Berlin, Jafféstraße 2, Charlottenburg
The international hype musical is back: SIX is a global phenomenon and the ingenious fusion of musical, pop concert and history! The most royal girl group of all time steps up to the microphone and has some spicy stories in store.
Tip 3: Make your wishes come true at the Water Lantern Festival
Experience an atmospheric summer evening full of light, music and shared moments at Britzer Garten. At the Water Lantern Festival, you can design your own lantern with personal wishes or messages. Live music and local food will keep you entertained before you all set your lanterns afloat on the lake at around 9 pm, transforming the water into a stunning sea of lights.
When: Friday and Saturday, from 6.00 pm; lantern launch around 9.00 pm
Where: Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 3–6, Neukölln
Tip 4: Celebrate girl power at SIX – The Musical at the Admiralspalast Berlin
Experience an energetic stage spectacle at the Admiralspalast that blends pop concert, musical and history. In the acclaimed original British production SIX – The Musical , the six wives of Henry VIII recount their stories with humour, powerful voices and modern beats.
The highlight is the rousing concert battle between the Queens, whose songs are inspired by pop stars such as Beyoncé, Adele and Ariana Grande.
When: Friday 7 pm, Saturday 2.30 pm and 7 pm, Sunday 2 pm and 6.30 pm
Where: Admiralspalast, Friedrichstraße 101, Mitte
Tip 5: Discover Potsdam’s World Heritage Site from the water
Sit back and enjoy a three-hour boat tour from Wannsee through the picturesque Havel landscape to Potsdam. An audio guide in German or English provides background information. Along the way, you’ll pass the Glienicker Bridge and enjoy views of Babelsberg Palace and Park.
Duration: approx. 3 hours
Where: Wannsee jetty, Kronprinzessinnenweg 5, Zehlendorf
Tickets
Tip 6: Explore the Olympic Stadium on your own
Discover one of Berlin’s most famous sports venues and make your own way around the sprawling Berlin Olympic Stadium. Information boards provide interesting facts about its history, architecture and major events. From various spectator stands, you can look out over the pitch and the striking blue running track.
Tip: if you like, pick up a multimedia guide to take you on a tour of the stadium grounds with additional background stories.
Where: Berlin Olympic Stadium Visitor Centre, Olympischer Platz 3, Charlottenburg
Tickets
Tip 7: Discover diversity at Queere Horizonte
Spend a summer Sunday at the Karlshorst Trotting Track: at Queere Horizonte, queer communities, families and friends come together in the track’s beer garden. Look forward to comedy, karaoke, music and dancing, as well as creative hands-on activities. In the evening, the racecourse turns into an open-air cinema: at 9.45 pm, the animated sci-fi comedy *Lesbian Space Princess* will be screened in the original version with subtitles.
When: Sunday, from 2 pm
Where: Karlshorst Trotting Track, Treskowallee 129, Karlshorst
Tip 8: Be amazed and have a laugh at the international street theatre festival
Right between the main railway station and the government district, ‘Berlin lacht!’ transforms Washingtonplatz into an open-air stage. The International Street Theatre Festival offers theatre, circus, comedy, clowning, magic, dance and music under the open sky.
Food trucks will be on hand to keep you fed in the beer garden. Urban gardening, Upcycling City and clean-up events round off the programme, ensuring a wonderful weekend for the whole family. And best of all, entry is free.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4.45 pm–9.30 pm
Where: Washingtonplatz at Berlin Central Station, Europaplatz 1, Mitte
Tip 9: Discover Jewish culture at Family Sunday
At Family Sunday at the Jewish Museum Berlin, you and your family can embark on a creative journey of discovery through history, architecture and everyday culture. Free workshops, guided tours and hands-on activities invite you to try things out and reflect.
You’ll experience the museum in a particularly vivid way whilst baking flatbread in a clay oven and building an ark together.
When: Sunday, 10 am–6 pm
Where: Jewish Museum Berlin, Old Building, Lindenstraße 9–14, Kreuzberg Admission: free
Family Sunday at the Jewish Museum Berlin
Tip 10: Dance at the Latin Food & Dance Festival
Enjoy a taste of summer in Latin America right in the heart of Berlin at the first Latin Food & Dance Festival . At the Jules B-Part at Gleisdreieck, you can look forward to authentic street food, rousing music and open dance workshops for beginners and more experienced dancers alike.
Try empanadas, ceviche, arepas or churros, and learn salsa, bachata and cha-cha-cha in the open workshops. In the evening, carry on dancing to cumbia and reggaeton under the open sky.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon to 10 pm
Where: Jules B-Part at Gleisdreieck, Luckenwalder Straße 6b, Kreuzberg
Latin Food & Dance Festival
Tip 11: Celebrate with the whole family at GEOLINO Live
A fun-filled festival day with the family awaits you at the Gardens of the World. At GEOLINO Live Open Air , rousing concerts are combined with creative hands-on activities, street performers and face painting for children. Under the motto ‘Good music for a better world’, the focus is on children’s rights and GEOLINO’s 30th anniversary.
On stage, you can look forward to performances by LEONY, Volker Rosin, Senta, Nilsen, Pappalapapp and “Bibi & Tina – The Musical”, amongst others.
When: Saturday, doors open at 1 pm, starts at 3 pm
Where: Arena at the Gardens of the World, Blumberger Damm 44, Marzahn
