Berlin resident Dieter Plinke has amassed a collection of 600 accordions – a true life's work. They are linked to memories from a wide variety of countries, generations and Berlin neighbourhoods. Through the project "600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin." – launched during the "Year of the Accordion" – the Berlin State Music Council aims to showcase this unique collection and make it accessible to all Berliners. In cooperation with the Berlin-Brandenburg Trade Association (HBB), six Berlin shopping centres are providing dedicated spaces for a city-wide exhibition.
Image gallery
600 Akkordeons
The fifth stop is the EAST SIDE MALL. Focus: historical instruments
The exhibition is located on visitor level 2, next to the make-up art school.
Opening hours: daily from 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm
The exhibition is accompanied by a varied programme of events featuring workshops, hands-on activities, guided tours and concerts for children, young people, families and adults. Admission is free for the exhibition and all events – including the concerts!
Programme overview:
Monday, 12th October, 2026
4.00 pm–4.30 pm
Opening
Tuesday, 13th October, 2026
5.00–6.45 pm
Listen and join in: mini-concert and learning how to play the accordion
Stage presentation with open workshop
with Philipp Höning (DHV Berlin Regional Chapter)
Before the workshop begins, there will be a short mini-concert.
Afterwards, all children (aged 7 and over) and adults are warmly welcome to get to know the accordion up close, have a go at playing it and play their first few notes.
Thursday, 15th October, 2026
5.00–6.00 pm
CONCERT: Duo and solo pieces with Mariano Godoy (Bandolica) and Helena Rüegg (bandoneon)
Mariano Godoy, an Argentine musician and composer, has created the Bandolica – a modern, electronic evolution of the bandoneon – an unusual instrument that bridges the gap between tradition and the digital soundscape. Helena Rüegg, an internationally renowned bandoneonist, combines her long-standing engagement with tango, improvisation and a wide variety of musical forms of expression in her playing. Their joint concert thus brings together two fascinating variations on a single instrument.
Friday, 16th October, 2026
3.30–5.00 pm
Accordion craft workshop with ‘Selbstgebaute Musik’
Workshop for children aged 8 and over.
Saturday, 17th October, 2026
3.30 pm – 5.00 pm
Accordion for EVERYONE!
with the Klingendes Museum
The Klingendes Mobil offers open sessions for young and old, families, teenagers and adults – just pop in to have a go or join in. Play together, have fun and meet new people.
Monday, 19th October, 2026
3.00–3.30 pm
Exploring the exhibition – a guided tour with collector Dieter Plinke
Tuesday, 20th October, 2026
4.00–5.30 pm
Play the Instrument of the Year!
with the Klingendes Museum
The Klingendes Mobil is bringing the ‘Instrument of the Year’ along: come along, discover or explore the magic of the accordion. Open sessions, pieces ranging from easy to advanced, making music together – and fun guaranteed.
Thursday, 22nd October, 2026
4.30–5.15 pm and 5.15–6.00 pm
How does the air work? – Making instruments for everyone … balloon horns, cardboard xylophones, hose trumpets
with Selbstgebaute Musik / ‘Self-Made Music’
Workshop for children aged 5 and over. Three different types of instruments will be made from everyday materials and compared with the accordion and the way sound is produced on it. The instruments created can then be taken home.
Saturday, 24th October, 2026
4.00–5.30 pm
Accordion introductory concert for families
with the Klingendes Museum
Calling all families! Come along to our introductory concert – featuring interactive stations, cheerful music and plenty of opportunities to have a go. Experience sound, rhythm and fun together in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
Tuesday, 27th October, 2026
3.30–5.00 pm
Try out the accordion for families with children aged 6 and over!
with the Klingendes Museum
Attention families with children aged 6 and over! The ‘Klingendes Mobil’ is here – come along to our hands-on day to try out the accordion. You can all try out the instruments for yourselves straight away, experience the music and have fun together.
Thursday, 29th October, 2026
4.00–5.30 pm
Accordion craft workshop with ‘Selbstgebaute Musik’ / ‘Self-Made Music’
Workshop for children aged 8 and over.
6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
CONCERT with the accordion duo CLASU
Playing two accordions from Weltmeister and Hohner, Susanne Langer and Claudia Tscherner will showcase the full range of the instrument – from rousing, rhythmic pieces to dreamy melodies. Look forward to well-known tunes from yesterday and today, interpreted in a variety of ways and presented with great enthusiasm!
Saturday, 31th October, 2026
3.30–5.00 pm
Accordion for EVERYONE!
with the Klingendes Museum
The Klingende Mobil offers open sessions for young and old, families, teenagers and adults – just pop in to have a go or join in straight away. Play together, have fun, meet new people.
The project ‘600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin’ is funded by the Lotto Foundation Berlin. The statutory tasks of the Berlin State Music Council are funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.
The project is also supported by numerous partner organisations, including the Berlin-Brandenburg Trade Association, the German Harmonica Association – Berlin Regional Chapter e.V., the German Accordion Teachers’ Association e.V. and zapf umzüge AG.
The next stop for the travelling exhibition and its accompanying programme is Das Schloss Berlin (November 9th–28th, 2026).
Additional information
Accessibility
The exhibition at the EAST SIDE MALL on visitor level 2 is easily accessible via elevator, and there are no steps to navigate to reach the exhibition space.
Dates
October 2026
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