September draws to a close with a weekend full of special Berlin moments. Above the Maifeld, the Pyronale paints spectacular fireworks displays across the night sky; at the Youth Dance Festival, young dancers bring their perspectives to the stage; and Bohème Sauvage brings the glamour of the 1920s back to life.
You can discover railway history in Schöneweide, have breakfast in the TV Tower high above the rooftops, or immerse yourself in post-reunification Berlin at ‘WIR SIND AM LEBEN’. And if you fancy enjoying the onset of autumn outdoors, cycle along the trail of the Berlin Wall.
Tip 1: Cheer on the runners at the Berlin Marathon
For many runners, a marathon is a long-cherished goal. If you’re not at the starting line yourself this year, you can still be part of the action: line up along the route and cheer on the participants! Amateur runners in particular can do with every bit of encouragement over the many kilometres. You’ll get to see plenty of Berlin yourself, as the route passes famous landmarks such as the Victory Column, the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
When: 27 September 2026, from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm
Where: Start and finish: Straße des 17. Juni, Tiergarten; route through numerous Berlin districts
Tip 2: Explore the digital world in Social Studies
How does the smartphone shape the experience of growing up? Photographer and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield spent a year following teenagers from Los Angeles for Social Studies – at school, at home, with friends and parents. At the same time, she recorded their smartphone data in real time. The result is an exploration of social media and its influence on identity, relationships and self-esteem.
At Fotografiska Berlin, this digital life now steps off the small screen: across some 450 square metres, photographs and typologies are combined with an immersive installation recreating a teenager’s bedroom. You can also learn more about the world of algorithms in a separate room.
Tip: As the exhibition is particularly aimed at young people, Fotografiska Berlin offers free admission for school groups. Teachers can book a guided tour here .
When: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September 2026, 10 am – 11 pm, opening party on Friday 25 September
Where: Fotografiska Berlin, Oranienburger Straße 54, Mitte
Tip 3: Follow the Berlin Wall by bike
What was Berlin like when the Wall cut through streets, neighbourhoods and people’s lives? On the Berlin Wall Tour organised by Berlin on Bike, you’ll explore this history from the saddle of your bike. The guided tour covers around 15 kilometres along the Berlin Wall Trail – from Prenzlauer Berg via Bornholmer Straße and Bernauer Straße to the government district and the Brandenburg Gate. Along the way, local guides recount stories of escape attempts, everyday life in the GDR and the opening of the border in 1989.
Particularly impressive: on Bornholmer Straße, you’ll pass the border crossing that was the first to be opened in 1989. The Berlin Wall Memorial, the watchtower and the Tränenpalast are also among the stops. The tour lasts around three and a half hours and takes place in small groups; you’ll be provided with a hire bike and helmet at the starting point.
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10.00 am (German); Saturday & Sunday, 10.30 am (English); Saturday, 10.00 am (Dutch)
Where: Bikedepot Berlin on Bike, Kulturbrauerei, Courtyard 4, Knaackstraße 97, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 4: Discover emerging dance talent at the Youth Dance Festival
How can dance be used to challenge rules, conventions and social expectations? At the Youth Dance Festival, young dancers and choreographers from all over Germany bring their own perspectives to the stage. The nationwide festival kicks off this weekend in Berlin, turning the Haus der Berliner Festspiele into a hub for young dance art.
On Saturday, you can experience ‘Till Eulenspiegel – Teile von mir ’. The tfn youth ensemble from Hildesheim approaches the well-known character as a symbol of contradiction, curiosity and defiance. Through contemporary dance and performance, the production explores what Till Eulenspiegel might mean today, and whether rules and certainties might not be conceived in a completely different way.
When: Saturday, 26 September 2026, 8.15 pm
Where: Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Großer Saal, Schaperstraße 24, Wilmersdorf
Tip 5: Experience *Lear* as a grand musical theatre production at the Hangar
An old king divides his kingdom amongst his daughters, thereby setting a catastrophe in motion. Aribert Reimann’s opera *Lear* condenses Shakespeare’s drama into eleven scenes, some of which are performed simultaneously. At the centre is a ruler who refuses to hear the truth: whilst Goneril and Regan vie for his favour, Cordelia refuses to play along with the contest for the grandest declaration of love and is disowned by her father.
For the Komische Oper Berlin , Barrie Kosky brings this work – which premiered in 1978 – to the gigantic Hangar 1 at the former Tempelhof Airport. Under the musical direction of Nicholas Carter, great voices meet a venue that, by its very scale, falls outside the traditional opera setting.
When: Saturday, 26 September 2026, 7.30 pm
Where: Komische Oper Berlin, Tempelhof Airport, Hangar 1, Columbiadamm 10, Tempelhof
Tip 6: Throw yourselves into the 1920s at the Bohème Sauvage
Dandies, divas, flapper girls and flamboyant characters are taking over BI NUU this weekend: at Bohème Sauvage Berlin N° 141 , the night becomes a tribute to 1920s Berlin. Live jazz, burlesque, acrobatics and dance meet compères and musical entertainers. The best bit: you won’t just be watching – you’ll be part of the scene with your own 1920s look.
Between performances, you cantryyour hand at blackjack, roulette and poker, pop round to the absinthe bar or have your portrait taken in the photo studio . A quick-sketch artist and the vendor with her vendor’s tray will also be part of the evening’s entertainment. Important to bear in mind when planning your evening is the strict vintage dress code: we’re looking for your 1920s alter ego. Who do you want to be this night?
When: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September 2026, 9 pm on both nights
Where: BI NUU, at Schlesisches Tor Underground station, Kreuzberg
Tip 7: Step into the world of locomotives at the Berlin Railway Festival
Steam, diesel and modern railway technology come together this weekend in Schöneweide. At the 21st Berlin Railway Festival , theBerlin Steam Locomotive Enthusiasts are opening the historic railway depot and showcasing more than 40 locomotives and carriages. These include three operational steam locomotives from the 03, 52 and 74 classes – as well as modern rolling stock such as the ICE TD Advanced Lab, in which new technologies are being tested.
It’s not just about watching – you can ride along in the driver’s cab or try out the locomotive driving simulator to see for yourself what it’s like to be a train driver. In the locomotive shed, you’ll also gain an insight into ongoing restoration work, including that of a 1937 express train carriage. Families can combine their visit with a ride on the narrow-gauge railway, a bouncy castle and hands-on activities.
When: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026, from 10 am on both days
Where: Schöneweide Railway Depot, Landfliegerstraße 1, Schöneweide
Tip 8: Enjoy breakfast high above the rooftops of Berlin
Here, your first coffee of the day comes with a view: at Sphere Tim Raue, you can enjoy breakfast 207 metres above Berlin. You can choose between a classic and a vegan breakfast; coffee or tea are also included in the ticket price. As you sit at your table, the Berlin skyline unfolds before your eyes. This way, you can combine sightseeing with breakfast on this weekend morning. As well as breakfast, the ticket includes entry to the TV Tower and the lift ride for your booked time slot.
Important for your planning: Breakfast is served between 9 am and 11 am, and you should arrive at security 15 minutes before the time stated on your ticket.
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 9 am – 11 am
Where: Restaurant Sphere Tim Raue in the Berlin TV Tower, Panoramastraße 1a, Mitte
Tip 9: Experience ‘Let’s Get Famous’ right in the heart of the cabaret
The boundaries between stage and audience blur: at ‘Let’s Get Famous’, international performers make their way through the Famous Liquor Store or even float above your heads. Burlesque, live singing, aerial acrobatics and dance blend together to create a cabaret experience lasting around two hours. And you’re right in the thick of it!
So, dig out your most spectacular outfit from the wardrobe, because it’s your turn to shine: the Best Dressed Contest is all about being as extravagant as you like. The fun of dressing up makes the evening an unusually dazzling alternative to a traditional theatre visit.
When: Saturday, 26 September 2026, 7.30 pm
Where: Famous Liquor Store, Nestorstraße 7, Wilmersdorf
Tip 10: Dance your way through 90s Berlin with WIR SIND AM LEBEN
The Wall has fallen, the old order has vanished – and Nina and Mario want to get out of Wittenberg.“WIR SIND AM LEBEN”, thenew musical by Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer, follows the siblings to Berlin in 1990. In a squatted old building called ‘Konsum Hoffnung’, they search for music, community and a different life: Nina dreams of a career as a pop singer, whilst Mario falls in love with the Cuban dancer Nando. Then their mother Rosie turns up and throws their fragile new-found freedom into disarray.
The musical combines the spirit of optimism of the early 90s with more serious themes such as AIDS, whilst also exploring family and a sense of belonging. A production that’s as loud and cheeky as Berlin itself – and whose characters, despite all their flaws, you simply can’t help but love.
When: Saturday 26 September, 3 pm & 7.30 pm; Sunday 27 September 2026, 2.30 pm & 7 pm
Where: Theater des Westens, Kantstraße 12, Charlottenburg
Tip 11: Look up at the sky during the Pyronale
If you love fireworks, you shouldn’t miss the Pyronale 2026. Here, six international teams will compete against each other over two evenings in the World Fireworks Championship. Three teams on each evening will present their choreographed displays combining pyrotechnics and music. On Friday, the teams from Germany, Estonia and Poland will take to the stage, followed on Saturday by China, Switzerland and Romania. First, the teams must incorporate the specified colours – gold and green – into their displays; afterwards, they will all create a sequence set to the specially composed compulsory piece ‘Pyro Passion’. In the freestyle round, they may finally choose music from ‘100 Best of Classical’.
Incidentally, the audience vote accounts for 30 per cent of the overall score. After the competition, both evenings will conclude with an additional grand finale fireworks display.
When: Friday 25 & Saturday 26 September 2026, 8.30 pm
Where: Maifeld at the Olympic Stadium, Olympischer Platz 3, Charlottenburg
Here you’ll find even more great tips for events in Berlin – whatever the weather.
