May Day
Event highlights for Labour Day (1 May)
On 1 May in Berlin, the cafés and parks are bustling with life and the days are long enough again to spend the first balmy evenings in cosy beer gardens and enjoy the first open-air cinema screenings. Whether relaxing in the countryside or right in the heart of the vibrant city – Berlin shows its liveliest side in spring. Let yourself be swept away by the cheerful atmosphere and enjoy May in all its glory! We’ve put together an overview of events around 1 May for you.
Dance into 1 May
Youcan dance into May in the numerous clubs across the city, at open-air cinemas and in ballrooms:
- The Early Bird Party: The early bird dances to the beat at Art Stalker on 1 May.
- At Club & Rooftop Weekend Club, School of Hip Hop – Dancing into May awaits you on 30 April, and of course there’ll be dancing on 1 May itself with WKND X The Michelins.
- At the Soda Club, a special ‘Dance into May’ event with the Soda Social Club is on offer on 30 April.
- At 9 Floors, the ‘Dance into May’ event kicks off at 10 pm on 30 April at the Kulturbrauerei, with a huge May bonfire from 4 pm.
- SO36 is hosting a techno party with DJ DANA / MICHA STAHL on 30 April.
- The Berlin Ringtheater is hosting A Wide Open Walpurgis Night from 6 pm.
- And you can find even more parties in our events calendar.
Spring festivals, street parties and festivals
- The Berlin Spring Festival offers classic fairground fun. At the central fairground on Kurt-Schumacher-Damm, stalls and around 80 colourful rides await visitors.
- Families with children aged between two and 12 can also let off steam on 1 May at the Wuhlheide Leisure and Recreation Centre (FEZ) under the motto ‘Just Play – the Spring Edition .
- The ufaFabrik is hosting a family festival at 2 pm.
- The Düppel Museum Village will also once again offer a varied programme for children; detailed information is not yet available.
- The artspring Art Festival 2026 kicks off on 1 May and will transform Pankow into a stage throughout the month.
- This weekend, from 1 to 3 May, galleries will be opening their doors to you as part of Gallery Weekend Berlin 2026.
- At the Berlin Theatertreffen in the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, the German-speaking theatre scene welcomes you from 1 to 17 May 2026.
- At the Magicum, Walpurgis Night awaits you from 30 April to 1 May in an atmospheric setting with stories of myths and fascinating folk beliefs.
- You’ll find bric-a-brac, household goods, items from grandma’s day and little treasures at the Fliederflohmarkt on 1 May at the Evangelisches Johannisstift.
- On 30 April, the Grashüpfer Puppet Theatre will delight the little ones with the play ‘Hasen pfeifen nicht’.
- On 1 May, the ‘Tanz in den Mai’ will take place in the Britzer Garten from 11 am to 5 pm.
More tips for families with children
Celebrate our spectacular May fire, opening from 4 p.m. in the backjard of the Kulturbrauerei and enjoy the sounds of life musik close to our fireplace. Complete the night, clubbing in a viariety of clubs with 9 different floors at the area of Kulturbrauerei starting at 10p.m.
Concerts
- The Joyful Voices await you at Rudow Village Church with a pop and gospel concert.
- At the Pierre Boulez Saal, the Hagen Quartet & Julia Hagen will perform for the last time after 45 years of making music together.
- Leonard Bernstein’s ballet ‘Dybbuk’ unfolds at the Philharmonie – a dramatic interplay of mysticism and suspense conducted by Kent Nagano.
- At the Uber Arena, ROSALÍA will thrill audiences with her new album ‘Lux’.
- In the Großer Saal of the Konzerthaus Berlin, you can enjoy the grand soundscapes of cinema with ‘Film Music – The Third’.
- Rare songs by Kurt Weill are presented at the Theater im Palais.
- In the Chamber Music Hall of the Berlin Philharmonie, The Four Seasons, Op. 8 Nos. 1–4, featuring the Philharmonie’s soloists, are on the programme.
More concerts on 1 May in Berlin
Start of the swimming season
Swimming season? You read that right. The intrepid have the chance to take a dip in Berlin on 1 May. If in doubt, perhaps just dip your little toe in. Take a look at our swimming guide or the long list of lakes and lido beaches:
Find out what else is happening in Berlin on 1 May in our events calendar.
