It’s summer in Berlin – and with it comes the season for open-air events, concerts, summer festivals and balmy summer evenings under the open sky. Experience high-wire acts across the vast expanse of Tempelhofer Feld, listen to top-class jazz at the historic Gasometer, enjoy art and Michelin-starred cuisine at the Kitchen Party at THE KNAST, or watch the sunset over Berlin from a height of 100 metres.
Tip 1: The ZigZag Jazz Festival – Experience a Berlin premiere
For eleven summer evenings, the historic Gasometer on the EUREF Campus will become the stage for a new jazz festival. The ZigZag Jazz Festival brings international stars such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Till Brönner, Ute Lemper, Al Di Meola, Chris Potter, Eliane Elias, Ledisi and Tigran Hamasyan to Schöneberg.
Alongside the concerts in the FORUM, Sky Jazz Sessions on the roof terrace overlooking Berlin, open-air jam sessions and performances by young Berlin talent will create a festival atmosphere. In total, more than 20 concerts await you!
When: 20 July to 1 August 2026
Where: ZigZag Jazz Festival, Gasometer and FORUM, EUREF Campus, Torgauer Straße 25, Schöneberg
Tip 2: Young Euro Classic 2026 – Hear youth orchestras from all over the world
Young Euro Classic brings together young musicians from all over the world. Youth orchestras from Europe, America and Asia perform not only well-known works but also music from their home countries and contemporary compositions. The result is a festival that brings cultural exchange to life through sound. The programme is complemented by jazz, choral music, ensembles and the FUTURE NOW series, which opens up unusual soundscapes.
When: 31 July to 16 August 2026
Where: Young Euro Classic, Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte
Tip 3: Panoramapunkt at Potsdamer Platz – See Berlin from above
Sometimes, a lift ride is all it takes to see the city in a whole new light. In just 20 seconds, Europe’s fastest lift takes you up to the viewing platform at the Panoramapunkt in the Kollhoff Tower. From a height of over 100 metres, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Victory Column lie before you in a single glance. Afterwards, the open-air exhibition BERLINER BLICKE recounts the eventful history of Potsdamer Platz.
Tip: With a VIP ticket, you can skip the queue and go straight to the top.
From €13.50
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, viewing platform 11am–7pm, café 11am–6pm
Where: Panoramapunkt Berlin, Kollhoff Tower, Potsdamer Platz 1, Tiergarten
Tip 4: Experience ‘Traverser’, a performance about boundaries and freedom
In this high-wire act, the sky above the vast expanse of Tempelhofer Feld serves as the backdrop: The open-air performance ‘Traverser’ marks the culmination of a Franco-German project in which seven participants from Germany and seven from France, together with professional tightrope walkers, have developed new forms of wire and high-wire performance on Tempelhofer Feld. The production is inspired by an attempt to cross the Berlin Wall on an electric cable. Bring a blanket or camping chairs with you.
Tip: Until 25 October, you can also learn to balance on a tightrope yourself with the Corragio Wirewalkers at Tempelhofer Feld (see picture).
When: Saturday 1 August, 6.30–7.30 pm
Where: Coraggio WireWalkers, Tempelhofer Feld, South-East Entrance (Leinestraße/Oderstraße), Tempelhof
Tip 5: Kitchen party at THE KNAST – art and indulgence in the former women’s prison
THE KNAST is housed in the buildings of a former women’s prison, which, following a restoration in keeping with its heritage status, has been transformed into an extraordinary cultural and culinary venue.
Chef Michael Zscharschuch and Michelin-starred chef Tim Tanneberger invite you to the Kitchen Party, serving creative hors d’oeuvres at various stations. As you make your way through the historic cell block, you’ll discover art in the open studios. Weather permitting, you can enjoy an aperitif and grilled finger food in the garden. If you’d like, you can round off the evening at the ‘Fuchs & Hase’ bar in the former prayer hall. Admission is restricted to guests aged 18 and over.
When: Saturday, 1 August, 5–9 pm
Where: THE KNAST, Söhtstraße 7, Berlin-Lichterfelde
Tip 6: Celebrate the SummerSoundsFestival in the Britzer Garten
For four days, the Britzer Garten will be transformed into an open-air stage. Instead of a traditional festival site, you can look forward to a programme that combines concerts, workshops and socialising in the great outdoors.
Particularly unusual is the ‘Silent Session’, where you can enjoy a musical stroll through the park whilst wearing headphones. On the other days , electro beats and Brazilian rhythms alternate with hands-on workshops, as well as classical music, pop and poetry slams – ideal if you want to experience music in a relaxed park setting.
When: Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 (times vary depending on the day’s programme)
Where: Britzer Garten, lawn by the model boat harbour, Sangerhauser Weg 1, Neukölln
Tip 7: Contemporary art at the Hamburger Bahnhof
Where trains once arrived, you can now discover some of the most exciting works of contemporary art. Spanning over 10,000 square metres, the Hamburger Bahnhof brings together works dating from the 1960s with current special exhibitions. Particularly impressive is the solo exhibition *What Still Holds* by the Indian artist Shilpa Gupta. At its heart is the monumental installation *TRUTH*, whose oversized letters invite you to walk through them and raise questions about truth, language and social responsibility.
The exhibition is complemented by further works by Gupta that explore communication, power and participation. You can also look forward to the interactive installation *We Make Years Out of Hours* by Lina Lapelytė, works by Giulia Andreani and Saâdane Afif, as well as key works by Joseph Beuys.
When: Friday 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
Where: Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Invalidenstraße 50–51, Mitte
Tip 8: Listen to Neoangin’s soundtrack for eternal coming of age
‘Forever coming of age’: that’s the title of the new album by Jim Avignon, aka Neoangin, which promises a sort of road movie through one’s teenage years – a time we may have long since left behind, yet into which we still find ourselves tumbling time and again, like Sisyphus.
Together with drummer Martin Petersdorf , he skilfully blends DIY electro-pop and singer-songwriter moments with a sharp dash of mayhem during this album launch. Masks, stage sets and absurd ideas transform the live set into a surprising show that doesn’t shy away from hinting at personal feelings as well as political undertones.
When: Friday, 31 July 2026
Where: THF Tower, Tempelhof Airport, Tempelhofer Damm 45, 12101 Berlin
Tip 9: Have a laugh with *Die Amme* as it reimagines Shakespeare’s most famous love story
430 years after Shakespeare, this musical finally puts the spotlight on the woman who was always by Romeo and Juliet’s side. As the Nurse, Steffi Irmen retells the story of the tragic lovers with plenty of humour, music and surprising perspectives. The show features well-known songs by Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer, as well as new compositions by the successful duo. Anyone fancying a humorous glimpse behind the scenes of Shakespeare’s classic should not miss this production.
When: Final performance on Friday, 31 July 2026 (7.30 pm)
Where: Stage Theater des Westens, Kantstraße, Charlottenburg
Tip 10: Enjoy summer vacation days at the Köpenick Holiday Magic
For three days, the Kirchenwiese in Müggelheim is transformed into a veritable family paradise. Children can let off steam on bouncy castles or the bungee trampolines, have a go on the children’s carousel or cool off at foam parties. Merlin the magician, the singing fairy-tale fairy and the Bluey puppet theatre provide plenty of magic and entertainment. There are also numerous games, hands-on activities and, of course, food stalls. So, just let your children go off on a journey of discovery and enjoy a relaxing summer’s day together.
When: Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 (Friday 2 pm–8 pm, Saturday & Sunday from 11 am)
Where: Kirchenwiese Müggelheim, Müggelheimer Damm 204, Treptow-Köpenick
Tip 11: Immerse yourselves in Japanese culture at the HIKARI Japan Festival
From tea ceremonies to pop culture: the HIKARI Japan Festival is celebrating its Berlin debut, blending Japanese traditions with modern lifestyle. Amidst art and design stalls, street food and hands-on activities, you can try your hand at origami, design kitsune masks or learn more about the history of the samurai. The event culminates in two evening concerts by Dreamlight Labs. A summer’s day is transformed into a journey through Japan’s multifaceted culture – right in the heart of Berlin.
When: Saturday 1 August, 9 am–10 pm
Where: Wilhelm Studios, Hall B and outdoor area, Kopenhagener Straße 60–68, Reinickendorf
Here you’ll find even more great tips for events in Berlin - whatever the weather.
