Top Event
Berlin as a Site of Artistic Exchange
A city defined by constant movement and negotiation, Berlin is a place where artistic, political, and migratory trajectories intersect. More than 70 works by over 50 artists are brought together in the exhibition. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and video installations reflect Berlin’s enduring reputation as a centre of hedonism and subculture, while situating this myth within a broader international framework.
Image gallery
Rirkrit Tiravanija, untitled 2010 (All the Days on the Autobahn), 2010, Ausstellungsansicht "Local Histories", Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart 2018-2019
Robert Rauschenberg, German Stroll, 1990, Acryl und Druckfarbe auf Papier und Stoff auf Metall, 3-teilig, 246 x 369 x 3,8 cm
Katharina Grosse ,o. T., 2020 / Courtesy KÖNIG GALERIE / Gagosian / Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder
A City Shaped by History and Global Politics
Berlin continues to be shaped by the legacy of its historical division, by competing narratives, and by the complexity of different forms of belonging. Artists from around the world who live and work in the city transform it into a microcosm of global political movements and crises.
Artists in the Collection Presentation
The new presentation explores this dynamic relationship between art and the city through works by, among others:
- Cemile Sahin
- Katharina Grosse
- Mona Hatoum
- Pierre Huyghe
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Katharina Sieverding
- Thomas Struth
- Danh Vo
Collaboration and New Acquisitions
For this new display, Hamburger Bahnhof continues its long-standing exchange with the art collection of the German Federal Government. The presentation is further expanded by a selection of recent acquisitions.
Well-known key works are shown alongside pieces that have rarely—or in some cases never—been presented before.
Opening Weekend: Open House and Berlin Beats
The exhibition opens during the fourth edition of the free Open House, taking place from Friday, 12 June to Sunday, 14 June 2026.
The weekend also marks the launch of this year’s Berlin Beats, the museum’s open-air DJ series.
30 Years Hamburger Bahnhof
The exhibition forms part of the anniversary programme “30 Years Hamburger Bahnhof.”
In 2026, the museum celebrates its 30th anniversary with a programme that connects the history of the site with perspectives for the future. The programme includes:
- eight special exhibitions
- a new collection presentation
- performances
- concerts
Anniversary Weekend
A major highlight will be the anniversary weekend from 13–15 November. The programme features an international conference on the future of contemporary collection museums, accompanied by 30 hours of continuous opening at Hamburger Bahnhof.
Curators
The exhibition is curated by:
- Sam Bardaouil, Director, Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
- Charlotte Knaup,Curator, Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
Support
The exhibition is supported by Hamburger Bahnhof International Companions e.V.
Additional information
Opening hours
Open House days: Friday, 12 June – Sunday, 14 June 2026
Opening: Friday, 12 June, 5 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday: closed
Open House days: Friday, 12 June – Sunday, 14 June 2026
Opening: Friday, 12 June, 5 pm
