Internationaler Tag der biologischen Vielfalt

Following last year’s great success, the BO is once again hosting a special program on May 22, 2026, International Day for Biological Diversity: yoga in front of the Great Tropical House, a botanical science slam with an audience quiz, and free admission to the garden and greenhouses all day long.

Open-Air Yoga for Biodiversity: Do the Tree Pose for the Tree!

“Lotus pose,” “Frog,” or “Bamboo.” Many yoga exercises are inspired by nature. Whether upside down in “Downward-Facing Dog” or as a “Tree” gazing up at the sky—the open-air yoga class at the Botanical Garden invites you to discover biodiversity from an unusual perspective while learning more about endangered animal and plant species. It is part of the Germany-wide charity campaign by the conservation organization WWF Germany and collects donations for species conservation.

The yoga class takes place from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the lawn between the greenhouses of the Berlin Botanical Garden. The program is led by yoga experts from the University Sports Team at Freie Universität Berlin (FU). Anyone wishing to participate should bring comfortable (sports) clothing and a yoga mat or blanket. Registration is not required.

Real or Fake? Botanical knowledge to ponder and puzzle over

Can science be so unbelievable that it sounds made up? At the “Botany Science Slam – Real or Fake Edition,” the lines between astonishing reality and compelling fiction blur. From 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., researchers from the Berlin Botanical Garden will present astonishing, curious, and sometimes hard-to-believe stories from the world of plants, fungi, and microorganisms—the audience decides: Real or fake? The interactive Science Slam combines current research with entertainment, discussion, and musical interludes—and shows that science is often more surprising than you think.

Program

10 a.m.–8 p.m. Free admission to the garden & greenhouses

Greenhouses close at 7 p.m., garden closes at 8 p.m.

Please note: After 8 PM, visitors to the Science Slam must exit via Königin-Luise-Platz

2:00–3:00 PM and 5:00–6:00 PM Yoga for Biodiversity

Location: Open air / lawn next to the Victoriahaus, upper level on the right

In case of rain or storm, the yoga session is canceled (Info: Event website)

Participation: Please bring a yoga mat or blanket!

Registration: Not required

Donation instead of class fee: Participants can make individual donations on-site to the WWF or the Berlin Botanical Garden (donation box). The collected donations support the institutions’ work to preserve biodiversity.

7:00 – 8:30 PM Botany Slam

Location: Visitor Center at the Königin-Luise-Platz entrance

Time: 7:00 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m.

Tickets: The event is free of charge.

Registration: Not required

With nearly 20,000 plant species, the Berlin Botanical Garden is the largest in Germany and ranks among the most significant worldwide. Across 43 hectares of outdoor grounds and in fifteen greenhouses, visitors gain fascinating insights into the world of botany. As a hub for international biodiversity research and a center for knowledge generation and dissemination, the Botanical Garden employs more than 200 staff members. The reopening of the Botanical Museum is planned for 2027. The institution has been part of Freie Universität Berlin since 1995.

The Berlin Botanical Garden is BO Berlin – International Center for Botanical Knowledge. A unique place that brings botany to life in all its facets.