This weekend shows just how closely Berlin’s past and present are intertwined: 65 years after the construction of the Berlin Wall, the history of the divided city comes into focus at the very places where it unfolded, while nearby, Rave The Planet transforms Straße des 17. Juni into a huge dance floor. Add to that thought-provoking exhibitions and plenty of opportunities to join in and dance yourselves.
Tip 1: 65 years since the Berlin Wall was built: rediscovering history in the city’s public spaces
To mark the 65th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall, a city-wide programme commemorates the consequences of Germany’s division. Around 13 August, exhibitions, guided tours, film screenings, readings and discussions will link historical sites with personal stories.
The focus is on a temporary memorial site at the Brandenburg Gate featuring an open-air exhibition and an installation around 30 metres long. At the same time, events across the city invite you to explore different perspectives on the history of the Wall and the value of freedom and democracy.
When: Thursday, 13 August 2026, 10.00 – 22.00 (further events until 16 August)
Where: Brandenburg Gate (Pariser Platz) and various venues across Berlin; main commemorative event at the Berlin Wall Memorial
65th anniversary of the construction of the Wall
Tip 2: Listen to Yo-Yo Ma and Daniel Barenboim at the Waldbühne
When the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim , takes to the stage alongside star cellist Yo-Yo Ma , you’re in for a concert evening in a class of its own.
Founded by Barenboim and Edward Said, the orchestra has been bringingtogether young musicians from various countries in the Middle East for many years and stands for musical exchange across cultural and political boundaries. Look forward to an unforgettable concert experience.
When: Thursday 13 August, 7 pm
Where: Waldbühne Berlin, Glockenturmstraße 1, Charlottenburg
Tip 3: Stroll through historic Berlin at the Nikolaizauber
Amidst cobbled streets and medieval alleyways, the Nikolaiviertel is transformed into a lively festival area this weekend. Cabaret, live music and acrobatics create a festive atmosphere, whilst the Special Combo Ticket grants entry to three museums. This makes it easy to combine a street festival with a visit to the museums.
In and around St Nicholas’ Church: the exhibition in the city’s oldest surviving church building tells the story of Berlin’s development in the Middle Ages. Families can go on a discovery tour with a treasure hunt.
At the Knoblochhaus Museum, you can see living spaces furnished true to the original, showing how a Berlin merchant family lived and worked around 200 years ago. Directly opposite, historical hands-on games invite you to have a go.
At the Ephraim-Palais, the permanent exhibition ‘BerlinZEIT – The City Makes History!’ spans the period from the city’s beginnings to the present day, complemented by the special exhibition ‘A Change of Scenery – Migration and Furniture since 1960’.
When: Saturday & Sunday, 15 & 16 August, 10 am–6 pm
Where: Nikolaiviertel, around Nikolaikirche, Knoblauchhaus and the Ephraim-Palais, Mitte
Tip 4: Imagine Love: Dance at Rave The Planet for love, peace and electronic music
"IMAGINE LOVE was never just a slogan. Right now, it’s a way of life. Because every action is preceded by a thought. Let that thought be love,” write the organisers of Rave The Planet in their press release, in which they announce that Rave The Planet will take place on 15 August 2026. Following the horrific attack on Berlin’s CSD, the security plan has been reviewed once again in collaboration with the police and the authorities, and adjustments have been made to specific aspects.
“At the same time, our thoughts remain with those affected, their families and all those injured,” the statement continues. In this spirit, the motto of this year’s rave will take on a very special significance once again. “More love. More solidarity. More diversity. More humanity.” The soundtrack will feature tracks by Dr. Motte, Westbam, Maceo Plex, Nicole Moudaber, Pan-Pot and Hannah Laing, amongst others.
Please note: due to roadworks, the floats will be travelling back and forth between the Brandenburg Gate and the Großer Stern this year.
When: Saturday, 15 August 2026, 2 pm–10 pm (after-party from 11 pm at the Columbiahalle)
Where: Straße des 17. Juni, between the Brandenburg Gate and the Großer Stern, Mitte
Tip 5: See Angela Merkel’s official portrait at the Bode Museum
Before it takes its place in the Chancellery’s Gallery of Chancellors, you can see Angela Merkel’s official portrait at the Bode Museum . The French-German-Canadian artist Jérémie Queyras completed the painting in 2026.
The work will only be on public display until early October.
When: Friday 14 August, 10 am–5 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 15 & 16 August, 10 am–6 pm
Where: Bode Museum, Am Kupfergraben, Mitte
The portrait of the Chancellor
Tip 6: Experience a forest of dance and sound with ‘Sounding Light’
What does a forest sound like when bodies create the soundtrack? In “Sounding Light”, Cheng Tsung-lung has twelve dancers from the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwanbring rain showers, bird rituals and sunbeams to life on a minimalist stage. The ensemble produces most of the sounds themselves – directly linking the observation of nature with movement and sound.
‘Sounding Light’ is part of ‘Tanz im August’. Since 1989, the festival has been bringing contemporary dance from Berlin and around the world to various venues across the city. Also on programme this weekend:
Chara Kotsalis’s“IT’S THE END OF THE AMUSEMENT PHASE”
In“Every-Body-Knows-What-Tomorrow-Brings-And-We-All-Know-What-Happened-Yesterday”, Mohamed Toukabri combines
And for“YOU CANNOT CAN”, Dana Michel turns a swimming pool into a stage and uses humour to explore fears, background and access to water.
When: Saturday 15 August, 7 pm & Sunday 16 August, 6 pm
Where: Berliner Festspiele, Schaperstraße 24, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 7: Dance to the ceilidh at the Irish Festival Berlin
For two days, the covered open-air stage at the ufaFabrik will become a hub for Irish music and dance. Look forward to bands such as Beeswing from Dublin, Am Dunta and Nightlark. A lovely change of pace: at the Ceilidh on Saturday, you won’t just be watching – you’re expressly invited to join in the dancing .
When: Friday 14 August, from 6.30 pm & Saturday 15 August, from 4.15 pm
Where: the covered open-air stage at the ufaFabrik, Viktoriastraße 10–18, Tempelhof
Tip 8: Rediscover the female Bauhaus photographers
Their subjects are well known, but their names far less so: ‘Neue Frau, Neues Sehen’ (New Woman, New Vision) brings the female photographers of the Bauhaus into the spotlight. From portraits and architecture to abstract experiments, the exhibition shows how they explored the boundaries of photography through unconventional perspectives – for the first time, the Bauhaus Archive is paying comprehensive tribute to their work.
When: Friday to Sunday, 14–16 August, 11 am–7 pm
Where: Museum of Photography – Helmut Newton Foundation, Jebensstraße 2, Charlottenburg
Tip 9: Discover pottery amidst palm trees and dahlias
Ceramics meets garden culture: more than 40 pottery workshops, master potters’ studios and porcelain manufacturers are showcasing their work at Späth. Watch potters at work on the potter’s wheel or try your hand at painting ceramics. The setting for this is the newly opened Palm House and a dahlia show featuring around 100 varieties.
There’ll also be live music and delicious treats from the inn, vineyard and farm shop.
When: Saturday & Sunday, 15 & 16 August, 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Späth’sche Baumschulen, Späthstraße 81, Treptow
Tip 10: Enjoy dinner and live music with Nadia Riswan
The iconic MOKKA*MILCH hosts a very special dinner evening every two weeks. This weekend, Nadia Riswan will be performing at ‘Top of the Stairs’, where the gallery of this recently reopened architectural icon will serve as the stage. Riswan will perform her own songs and a selection of covers spanning pop, soul, R&B and indie. The singer-songwriter will be accompanied by Berlin-based guitarist Raphael Schütz.
Table reservations are recommended.
When: Saturday 15 August, 7–9 pm
Where: MOKKA*MILCH, Karl-Marx-Allee 35, 10178 Berlin
Tip 11: Listen to Oscar-winning music in the garden of the Neue Nationalgalerie
Film music meets experimental soundscapes: at‘Sound in the Garden’, Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and sound designer Sam Slater will be performing live. Meanwhile, Slauson Malone 1 blends fragmented jazz loops, lo-fi punk and soul into an unpredictable performance – under the open sky at the Neue Nationalgalerie.
When: Friday 14 August, doors open at 6.30 pm
Where: Neue Nationalgalerie, Potsdamer Straße 50, 10785 Berlin
Sound in the Garden
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