November in Berlin is anything but grey. The international science, jazz, circus and theatre scene meets here this month. Listen to imaginative fairy tales and cool concerts, celebrate the Indian festival of lights Diwali or visit the first Christmas markets!
There are no big events this year to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Nevertheless, there are of course many things to discover in Berlin.
A sign for peace: Together, the Symphony Orchestra of the Berlin University of the Arts with the Chamber Choir of the Arts Berlin and mezzo-soprano Marina Prudenskaya conducted by Steven Sloane will set a sign for peace on 20 November in the Berlin Philharmonie. The programme of the Concert for Peace includes Mahler, Shostakovich and "Prayer for Ukraine" by Valentin Silvestrov.
Tip 1: Dream of a holiday at the Travel Festival and Boot & Fun
The next holiday is sure to come. For all those who can hardly wait, Boot & Fun is already the perfect mini-vacation. Because this time the trade fair for boat lovers, sailors, outdoor fans and water sports enthusiasts is expanding its programme to include the Berlin Travel Festival. Listen to exciting travel lectures and get inspired for your next holiday at workshops and discussions. Of course, a highlight will still be the Gala Night of Boats on 23 November 2022 from 6 pm.
When: Boot & Fun from 25 - 27 November, Berlin Travel Festival from 24 - 27 November.
Where: Berlin ExpoCenter City, Messedamm 22, Charlottenburg & Messe Berlin, Jaffestraße
Tip 2: Listen to cool sounds at Jazzfest Berlin
After two years of hybrid concerts and events, Jazzfest Berlin is back live on location. In the newly renovated Haus der Berliner Festspiele, but also in the Pierre Boulez Saal, the nearby clubs A-Trane and Quasimodo as well as in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche you can hear top-class jazz, but also local highlights. Regardless of whether established stars of the US avant-garde scene are on stage or lesser-known European improvisers are jamming, it's always about the encounter of cultures, traditions and generations. This time there will be a special focus on the artistic life's work of the Swedish composer and musician Sven-Åke Johansson, who has lived in Berlin since 1968. Many Kiez concerts as well as artists talks and film screenings are free.
Tip: More jazz can be heard at the 37th Berlin Jazz Meeting on 27 November at the Kulturbrauerei.
When: 3 to 6 November
Where: Haus der Berliner Festspiele and other venues in Berlin
Tip 3: Become researchers at the Berlin Science Week
If you are interested in the environment and sustainability, innovation, research and artificial intelligence, you should definitely come to Science Week this year. Scientists and researchers from all over the world will share their knowledge in workshops, discussions and lectures. The festival character is not neglected. There is plenty to marvel at, watch and try out. Many of the over 200 events are free of charge. However, you must register online in advance.
When: 1 to 10 November
Where: various venues
Tip 4: Be enchanted at the Berlin Fairy Tale Days
This year's Berlin Fairy Tale Days are all about farewell and return. The tales are about life and death, whereby death in fairy tales is portrayed as a part of life - not as the end, but as a transition into another form of existence. Traditionally, celebrities and politicians also tell stories at the Fairy Tale Days. Many of these events are already fully booked. However, there is an extensive online programme, including Fairy Tales for Peace and Fairy Tales in French.
Tip: If you want more fairy tales and stories, check out the Humboldt Forum's Story Theatre or let yourself be whisked away to Humperdinck's musical version of Hansel and Gretel at the ufaFabrik.
When: 3 to 20 November
Where: various venues and online
Tip 5: Take a look behind the scenes at the crematorium day
If you want to get even more involved with the afterlife theme, you'll have the opportunity to see the inside of a crematorium on Death Sunday. This year, the crematorium on Baumschulweg will provide insights into the technology of cremation. By the way, the building itself is also exciting. Like the Federal Chancellery, the crematorium on Baumschulweg was designed by architect Axel Schultes.
When: 20 November
Where: Kiefholzstraße 221, Treptow
Tip 6: Enjoy great cinema at numerous film festivals
Film fans will once again get their money's worth in Berlin in November. At the Filmfest Frauenwelten (Women's Worlds Film Festival), which runs until 2 November at the cinema in the KulturBrauerei, women's human rights are put in the spotlight. At the Afrikamera Film Festival from 8 to 13 November at the Arsenal cinema, the focus is on "Migration & Diaspora". At KUKI, the International Children's and Youth Short Film Festival, you can see a wide selection of international films for kids and teens in the original language from 13 to 20 November. And because of its great success, Chaplins "The Kid" will be shown again at the Babylon on 6 November with live orchestra and cinema organ accompaniment.
Tip 7: Let the theatre of things unsettle you
This year's international festival of contemporary figure and object theatre in Berlin is about traces of insecurity. In a total of 14 productions and showings, the artists and puppeteers point out insecure conditions or want to unsettle the status quo. They play with puppets, objects and everyday materials, augmented reality, historical testimonies and installation forms.
When: 1 to 7 November
Where: Schaubude Berlin | Theater Strahl | TATWERK | Heinrich-Böll Foundation | Refugio Berlin | Theaterhaus Berlin Mitte - thbm | B.L.O. Ateliers
Tip 8: Discover up-and-coming authors at Open Mike
For the 30th time, the Haus der Poesie is bringing up-and-coming German authors to the stage at Open Mike in the Heimathafen Neukölln. On 18 November, former finalists in the International Competition for Young German-Language Prose and Poetry will read from their works and talk about their work with publishers.
When: 18 to 20 November
Where: Heimathafen Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Straße 141, Neukölln
Tip 9: Curtain up - it's time for Circus
There's always time for circus, of course. And of course Berlin is also part of the Germany-wide format of the international circus festival La Nuit Du Cirque. From 11 to 13 November you can see contemporary circus at the Chamäleon Theatre, the Thikwa Theatre, the Pfefferberg Theatre, the Q-Space, the Vuesch and various other venues in Berlin. From solo shows to acrobat:ing collectives, it's all here.
When: 11 to 13 November 2022
Where: various venues
Tip 10: Celebrate the Indian festival of lights, Diwali
The Diwali Festival at Sage Beach is a fine example of how international Berlin is. For two days, the city's Indian community invites you to celebrate the Indian festival of lights in an authentic way. Enjoy original Indian food, warm up with masala chai and celebrate at the Bollywood Dance Party.
When: 12 and 13 November
Where: Sage Beach, Köpenicker Straße 18 - 20, Kreuzberg
Tip 11: Applaud the many exciting concerts in November
Berlin's concert halls offer classical music, jazz, Schlager, rock, pop, folk and much more in November. And you'll often hear something quite unusual. At the Cosmic Awakening on 11 November at the House of World Cultures, for example, science fiction will be made to sound. The Bode Museum invites you to a premiere of classical Persian music with Elshan Ghasimi. On 17 November, you can hear the best anime soundtracks at Candlelight in the Säälchen. You can hear experimental classical music at limited approximations in the Konzerthaus on 18 November and in the Tischlerei of the Deutsche Oper Berlin you can experience a real orchestra karaoke. Just take a look at our concert calendar. Open your ears!
Concerts in Berlin in November
Extra tip: Berlin's Christmas markets open on the first weekend of Advent
And soon it will be Christmas time again. The Christmas market season begins on 26 November. Whether you're looking for amusement, want to stroll through a traditional little market or discover special country delicacies, Berlin's Christmas markets offer a huge range of options.
When: from 26 November
Where: All over Berlin
More information about Christmas markets in Berlin
For even more event tips in November, you can always click through our event calendar.
