Skip to main content
Berlin's official travel website

January in Berlin

New Year – new Events

Brandenburg Gate Berlin in Winter
Brandenburg Gate in Winter © Getty Images, Foto: golero

How are you starting the new year? With classical music, literary battles of words and a great show or perhaps with a culinary trip around the world? January in Berlin has a mega event in store for you: The International Green Week is always worth a visit. And January also has a lot to offer in terms of sport - but don't worry, you don't have to achieve a best time for the Berlin New Year's Run, it's all about a good cause. At visitBerlin, you can also find out what other highlights 2024 has in store for you.

Tip 1: Marvelling at the International Green Week

Internationale Grüne Woche
© Thomas Machowina

The International Green Weeks offer many people the opportunity to familiarise themselves with agricultural products for the first time. The trade fair, which opened its doors for the first time in 1926, has continuously expanded its range of topics over the decades. In eight themed worlds, you can get to know agricultural products from German regions, discover delicacies at the stands of 130 international exhibitors, marvel at flowers in all shapes and colours, learn more about sustainability, experience animal encounters and much more.

When: 19 to 28 January
Where: Messe Nord and Messe Süd, several entrances

More about the Green Week

Tip 2: Attend New Year's concerts

Konzerthaus Berlin - Great Hall
Konzerthaus Berlin - Great Hall © Uwe Arens

Starting January with culture is a great New Year's resolution. Numerous Berlin concert halls and institutions are organising New Year's concerts to welcome in 2024. After the somewhat hectic Christmas period and the big New Year's Eve party, this is balm for the soul.

Our recommendations for New Year's concerts that you can attend in Berlin:

Concert Halls in Berlin

Tip 3: Dive into the dreamlike world of Cavalluna

Klatschendes Publikum
© gettyimages, Foto: izusek

Do you love horses? Then don't miss Cavalluna. Europe's biggest horse show is performing its new programme "Land of a Thousand Dreams" in the Mercedes Benz Arena. The show with Asian costumes and design elements features 60 horses, from tiny miniature ponies to imposing cold-blooded horses. Impressive tricks and dreamlike imagery will make you forget everything else for two and a half hours. By the way, Cavalluna also offers guided tours of the stables, where you can see how the horses are housed and cared for between shows.

When: 27 and 28 January
Where: Mercedes Benz Arena, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

More Information and Tickets

Tip 4: Share the excitement of the six-day race

SixDay Berlin
SixDay Berlin © Camera4

In January, Berlin becomes the meeting place for the cycling scene. At SIX DAY BERLIN, the world's best cyclists compete against each other for six days and put their endurance and speed to the test in various disciplines, including stand-up, derby and sprint races. The event is accompanied by a show programme, music and an exuberant atmosphere. By the way: The first Berlin six-day race was held back in 1909.

When: 25 to 27 January
Where: Velodrom, Paul-Heyse-Straße 26, Friedrichshain

111th Six Day Race 

Tip 5: Rediscover music at the CTM Festival 

Junger Mann
© GettyImages, Foto: mads perch

This festival focusses on contemporary electronic and experimental music, whereby the boundaries to art are constantly blurred. Legendary Berlin venues such as Berghain and silent green are part of the programme. There you can experience performances, DJ sets, multimedia installations, workshops and discussion panels. The experimental character of the festival is also reflected in its motto, which this year focuses on a single word: "Sustain".

When: 26 January to 4 February
Where: Various locations in Berlin

CTM Festival for Adventurous Music and Art

Tip 6: Exploring the myth of the Romanesque Café

Romantisches Café Postkarte
© Das Romantische Café, um 1925

A pop-up exhibition in the Europa-Center brings you closer to the history of the famous Romanisches Café. The artists' café, which was located at the current site of the Europa-Center, was once a meeting place for cultural figures such as Bertolt Brecht, Georg Grosz and Kurt Tucholsky. It epitomises the highly intellectual era of the Weimar Republic. The exhibition not only takes you back to this time, but also allows you to see the infamous halls of the Romanesque Café from the inside with the help of virtual reality.

When: from 6 January 
Where: Europa-Center, Tauentzienstraße 9, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

to the exhibition

Tip 7: Plan a visit to the Käthe Kollwitz Museum

Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin Exterior View
Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin Exterior View © Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum Berlin

The Käthe Kollwitz Museum is showing its third intervention of the permanent exhibition "Aber Kunst ist es doch" until 14 January.  In addition to the life story of the socially critical artist, drawings and sketches that she made for the Munich satirical magazine "Simplicissimus" in the early 20th century are on display. By the way, it's also worth checking out the museum's events page regularly. There you will find interesting guided tours and lectures: In January, for example, you can learn more about the Berlin Secession co-founder Julie Wolfthorn.

When: Lecture on 11 January (in German), conclusion of the exhibition intervention on 14 January
Where: Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin, Charlottenburg Palace theatre building

Lecture on Julie Wolfthorn

Tip 8: Take part in the 51st Berlin New Year's Run and do good

01.01.2018 Berliner Neujahrslauf
© Camera4

Fit for the new year. Start January with a refreshing run and put your New Year's resolutions into practice on the four-kilometre route. The run starts at Pariser Platz, right next to the Brandenburg Gate, to Berlin Cathedral and back. You can join in spontaneously, registration is not necessary for this sporty start to the new year. 
By taking part in the New Year's run, you will also be doing something good, as the event raises money for the Björn Schulz Foundation. The foundation runs a hospice for children, teenagers and young adults.  

When: 1 January, 12 noon
Where: Brandenburg Gate | Pariser Platz, Mitte

New Year's Run

Tip 9: Listen to word artists at the Champions Slam

Presentation
Presentation © Getty Images, Foto: brazzo

Against the backdrop of the Berlin Philharmonie, you can listen to poetry slammers instead of a large orchestra on 4 January. Four well-known faces from the poetry slam scene - Theresa Sperling, Skog Ogvann, Lina Klöpper and Noah Klaus - will present their literary works. The "Poetry Slam Gala" will also be accompanied by music from Irish singer/songwriter Kazms.

When: 4 January
Where: Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße, Mitte

Champions Slam

Tip 10: View nail art from a new perspective in the Bauhaus Archive

We're stronger together
© gettyimages, Foto: PeopleImages

The Bauhaus-Archiv is taking a closer look at the topic of nail art in a creative series of events and making unexpected references to its own collection. Nail art is omnipresent in everyday life in the form of painted nails, nail extensions and elaborate designs. So it is hardly surprising that the Bauhaus Archive is now devoting itself to this design phenomenon and the craftsmanship behind it. Among other things, you can attend performances, workshops and film screenings.

When: Until 18 January
Where: Bauhaus Archive, Knesebeckstraße 1, Mitte

Hands on Nails

Tip 11: Immerse yourself in Frida Kahlo's visual worlds

Konfetti vor blauem Himmel
© gettyimages, Foto: Arctic-Images

Until the end of January 2024, you can immerse yourself in the multimedia exhibition "Viva Frida Kahlo", which takes you through the artist's life with the help of projections and virtual reality. The exhibition experience appeals to all the senses. It includes a specially composed soundtrack that accompanies the projections. Original quotes by Frida Kahlo were recorded by a professional narrator and guide you through the story.

When: Originally until 31 January, exhibition now extended until 7 April 2024
Where: Napoleon Komplex, Modersohnstraße 35-40, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

VIVA FRIDA KAHLO

You can find even more tips for January and the year 2024 in our  Calendar of Events.

Maria Grade

Maria

studied art history in Berlin and is at home in the digital world. For her, things get interesting where technology and sustainability meet art and architecture. As a child, she wanted to become a writer or journalist. Today she writes about the Berlin of the future for you. All posts