At the end of the year, we look ahead to the coming year and would like to share with you what we are looking forward to in 2026. A whole host of big highlights await us in Berlin next year, as well as smaller events that make us happy,
We have put together our personal favourites from the editorial team of the visitBerlin blog for you here.
NBA Berlin Game 2026 - experience basketball history live
Catrin: For the first time in history, an official regular season NBA game will take place in Germany. At the NBA Berlin Game 2026, the Orlando Magic will face the Memphis Grizzlies . I'm looking forward to seeing world stars like Franz Wagner, Ja Morant and Paolo Banchero and thus to high tension, speed and action.
Berlin already proved its NBA credentials in 1996 and 2008, but the 2026 game is a real milestone: it's all about points, prestige and thrilling professional sport with a real competitive flavour. Around the game, Berlin will become a stage for basketball fans from all over the world - with public viewings, fan events and an electrifying atmosphere. The ticket contingent was in high demand: registration ran until 5 November 2025, ticket sales started on 11 November - and those who were lucky enough to get in will be notified the evening before.
When: 15 January 2026
Where: Uber Arena Berlin
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 - world-class women's power in Berlin
Catrin: In September 2026, Berlin will be the venue for a major sporting event that is more than just a tournament - it's a statement. The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 will see the 16 best women's national teams in the world compete against each other. Join me in looking forward to spectacular top-class sport in the Berlin Arena and the Max-Schmeling-Halle when teams such as the USA, Australia, Belgium, Nigeria and, of course, host Germany show off their skills.
Under the motto "We own the Game", topics such as equality, diversity and Female Empowerment will benegotiated on an international stage - loud, colourful and full of power. The tournament is embedded in a diverse supporting programme with music, art and dialogue formats that provide social impetus beyond the boundaries of sport.
When: 4 - 13 September 2026
Where: Berlin Arena (Mercedes-Platz 1, Friedrichshain) & Max-Schmeling-Halle (Am Falkplatz 1, Prenzlauer Berg)
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026
Truffle & Truffle Festival 2026 - A feast for all the senses
Julia: In addition to the many sports highlights, there will also be the first Truffle & Truffle Festival in Berlin in 2026: fine truffles and sweet chocolate, live music within historic walls and top chefs from all over the world conjuring up culinary works of art. The Festsaal Kreuzberg is a true paradise for foodies, the curious and connoisseurs with a refined palate: steaming truffle pasta, aromatic gourmet burgers and fine cheese platters, irresistible chocolate pralines, truffle gelato and vegan truffle creations.
Whether savoury or sweet - we will all get a taste for it. International chefs will be demonstrating their passion for truffles at live cooking shows, while you can simply let yourself drift away with good music, a glass of wine and plenty of delicacies. Particularly charming: every visitor is greeted with a little truffle surprise at the entrance. Dogs are also very welcome!
When: Friday, 24 and Saturday, 25 January 2026, from 12 to 9 pm each day
Where: Festsaal Kreuzberg, Am Flutgraben 2, Treptow
Truffle & Truffle Festival in Berlin
See films at the Berlinale
Kristin: I'm looking forward to the Berlinale in grey February, when the film world will once again be a guest in Berlin and make the city shine. Michelle Yeoh will receive an Honorary Bear. So I'm already looking forward to an evening with this wonderful actress, who we know as the cool Bond girl in Tomorrow Dies New and from the breathtakingly beautiful classic Tiger & Dragon - as well as, of course, from her Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The retrospective is dedicated to films from the 1990s, the time when I started attending the Berlinale. So this year offers the opportunity to (re)see many films from this exciting time.
I'm also curious to see which films in the competition will inspire and captivate us this time.
As every year, I will be reporting daily on the Berlinale in the blog, about the stars, the films and a look behind the scenes of the festival.
When: 12 - 22 February
Where: in various cinemas
Reopening of the Hohenzollern Crypt
Dagmar: The reopening of the Hohenzollern crypt under Berlin Cathedral on 1 March will be exciting.
The legendary burial place of the Hohenzollerns, the rulers who determined the fate of Berlin for around 500 years, can be entered again. The 91 coffins, ranging from simple wooden boxes to magnificent marble sarcophagi weighing 10 tonnes, have been back under the vaults of the vast crypt since November. In recent years, it has been modernised in a beautiful, dignified manner. Incidentally, there will also be a small, fine café where you can relax after a visit to the Museum Island.
When: Grand opening on 1 March 2026, open day for everyone on 28 February 2026
Where: Berlin Cathedral
Opening of the Hohenzollern Crypt
In summer, Berlin's classical culture scene will celebrate the French Summer
Dagmar: A fresh breeze from Paris will be blowing through Berlin in spring, as Constantin Brancusi is coming - directly from the now closed Centre Pompidou to the glass light hall of the Neue Nationalgalerie! Numerous works by the world-famous sculptor, who moved to Paris for good at the age of 28, will be on display, as well as a partial reconstruction of his original studio. Sculptures such as "The Kiss" or "Slumbering Muse" are simply unbelievably beautiful in their diversity and will not be forgotten.
When: 20 March to 9 August 2026
Where: New National Gallery
The annual event on Museum Island follows in summer. Anyone who remembers the huge success of the "Impressionism - Expressionism" exhibition will understand why the Alte Nationalgalerie is already thinking about extending its opening hours:
The exhibition highlight Cassirer and the Breakthrough of Impressionism brings together (in the spirit of the collector Paul Cassirer) the greats of French Impressionism: Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh and many more. However, Cassirer also collected works of classical modernism and so we also discover the art of Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, Max Slevogt, Edvard Munch and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - there is no greater enjoyment of art!
When: 22 May to 27 September 2026
Where: Old National Gallery
Skate and start at the Berlin half marathon
Catrin : What's the skate season without starting at the Berlin Half Marathon? Only half the fun. On 29 March , the inline skaters start with the 21 kilometres through Berlin's city centre and the runners follow immediately afterwards, who will also be cheered on by thousands of Berliners on their sightseeing tour. And to help you train, we have put together the 11 most beautiful routes here.
When: 29 March 2026
Where: right through the centre of Berlin
Musical highlights 2026 in Berlin
Josefine: 2026 will be a year full of concert highlights, so I can look forward to a special performance almost every month. Tortoise will kick things off in January in the venerable Großer Sendesaal at RBB. Belle & Sebastian play at the Metropol in March and The Notwist at the Astra Kulturhaus in April. You can see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on 30 June at the Waldbühne in Berlin. And the legendary The Cure are even coming to Berlin twice. However, my biggest concert highlight this year is away from rock and pop. Klezmer legend Giora Feidman will be playing "For a Better World" on 25 March in the Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie to mark his 90th birthday.
We have put together an overview of the 2026 concert highlights for you here:
Berlin Music Festival
Kristin: Musikfest Berlin may not be taking place until September, but it has already published the first concert highlights. And they sound really promising: two concert opera performances have already been announced. György Ligeti's exceptional opera Le Grand Macabre opens the Musikfest. The Chineke! Orchestra and the Cape Town Opera Vocal Ensemble will perform George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.
In addition, the much-loved conductor Sir Simon Rattle returns to the Philharmonie with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. And Kent Nagano, Tugan Sokhiev and Sir Antonio Pappano are expected to conduct top international orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic.
By the way, you can already get tickets for the first concerts. The complete programme will be published in April 2026.
When: 28 August - 23 September
Where: Philharmonie Berlin other concert halls
For even more event tips, you can click through our tips for each day in the event calendar throughout the year.
