This June weekend is a particularly clear example of how Berlin in the summer really comes into its own. From Friday to Sunday, the calendar is packed with highlights from the worlds of science, theatre, music, sport and leisure. Whilst space technology of the future takes shape at the ExpoCenter Airport, the next generation of classical music stars takes to the stage at the Rotes Rathaus. Look forward to culture and nature – indoors and outdoors.
Tip: Don’t miss your last chance to take part in the BerlinPay campaign and receive some really special rewards for being environmentally conscious. Enjoy the Berlin summer by the water and do your bit for the environment at the same time.
Our special tip: This Friday sees the opening of the fascinating new permanent exhibition "Art – People – Power" at Schönhausen Palace. Combine a leisurely stroll through the palace grounds with an insight into the palace’s history under the Nazis.
Tip 1: Discover the world of aerospace at ILA Berlin
The stands and control tower at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport will once again be buzzing with activity this weekend: the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) is back and drawing visitors to Schönefeld with talks, exhibitions and workshops. The static displays and flying displays of impressive aircraft are particularly popular.
You can walk through the Emirates A380 wide-body aircraft and watch a Panavia Tornado fighter-bomber from the 1980s perform breakneck manoeuvres. Things get a bit more theoretical in the Space Pavilion: here, the ILA brings complex space topics to life through interactive exhibitions, whilst on the Space Stage, astronauts talk about their missions.
When: Friday (for trade visitors) and Saturday and Sunday (for the general public) from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, Messestr. 1, Schönefeld
Tip 2: Visit FREIRAUM KUNST at Bellevue Palace
There are two weeks between the day Frank-Walter Steinmeier has to vacate his office and the official start of the extensive renovation work on Bellevue Palace. To ensure that this symbol of our democracy does not simply stand empty, the Federal President is temporarily handing over his official residence to the Academy of Arts.
Under the title Freiraum Kunst. Akademie der Künste goes Bellevue , over twenty members of the Academy are exhibiting works here that explore the question of the political public sphere and encourage critical engagement with politics and art. Under the patronage of the Federal President, come and take a look at this art-filled void in Berlin’s political landscape. Admission is free, but you will need a pre-booked online time-slot ticket.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm
Where: Bellevue Palace, Spreeweg 1, Tiergarten
Tip 3: Experience the VANDA Pharmaceuticals BERLIN TENNIS OPEN 2026
Before the world’s best tennis players take to the grass courts at Wimbledon at the end of the month, they’ll be warming up at the Steffi Graf Stadium. The VANDA Pharmaceuticals BERLIN TENNIS OPEN 2026 kicks off here on Saturday. On the grass court in Grunewald, you can look forward to thrilling matches and a summery programme of events featuring live music and refreshments.
In true Berlin style, this top-class tennis event isn’t just reserved for VIP guests: during the qualifying matches on Saturday and Sunday, entry is free until capacity is reached. Grab your baseball cap and sun cream and cheer on world stars such as Aryna Sabalenka and Belinda Bencic as they take to the court. Serena Williams will also be making her comeback at the Berlin Tennis Open.
When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am
Where: Steffi Graf Stadium, Gottfried-von-Cramm-Weg, Grunewald
Tip 4: Stroll along the MuseumsMeileMitte
On the MuseumsMeileMitte , four museums, a varied stroll and exhibitions on countless themes await you. Here, between Invalidenpark and Humboldthafen, numerous top-class cultural institutions are located just a few minutes’ walk from one another. So, in a single afternoon spent visiting museums, you can see completely different yet equally captivating exhibitions:
At the Museum of Natural History , huge dinosaur skeletons tower over the central atrium, whilst at the Hamburger Bahnhof you can currently see 400,000 constantly moving wooden cubes by the artist Lina Lapelytė. The Futurium offers insights into exciting visions of the future, and the Charité Museum of the History of Medicine is currently hosting an exhibition on the subject of mucus that is as eerie as it is fascinating.
When: Opening hours vary by venue
Where: Various museums in Mitte
Tip 5: Pop into ‘Vincent: Between Delusion and Wonder’
Vincent van Gogh is still regarded today as one of the outstanding painters of the modern era, having made his mark on art history with works such as The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Café Terrace at Night. Many stories still surround his life – not least the one about how, at the age of 35, he cut off a large part of his left ear.
Since last September, this very special artist has been the star of the exhibition ‘Vincent: Between Madness and Wonder’ at the New Media Art Center. At this immersive exhibition, you can admire his greatest masterpieces in stunning 360° projections and discover the man behind the art at interactive stations.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm
Where: New Media Art Centre, Revaler Str. 99, Friedrichshain
Vincent – Between Madness and Wonder
Tip 6: Listen to the top young musical talents at Jugend musiziert
At the end of May, young musicians from all over Germany travelled to Munich and Regensburg for Jugend musiziert to showcase their talent. For over sixty years, the jury of this national competition has been awarding prizes here annually for outstanding musical achievements. Over the years, numerous classical music greats such as Anne-Sophie Mutter have collected awards there – and this year, too, prizes were awarded, connections were made and musical careers were launched.
On Saturday, you can listen to the winners’ performances at the Jugend musiziert National Prize Winners’ Concert in the Rotes Rathaus . The programme features 15 different solo and ensemble categories.
When: Saturday at 5 pm
Where: Rotes Rathaus, Rathausstraße 15, Mitte
National Prize Winners’ Concert
Tip 7: As socialites, take a sundowner cruise on the Spree
Berlin is at its best in summer, and the Berlin summer often only really gets going in the evening. As the sun gradually approaches the horizon, Berliners emerge from their homes and offices to enjoy an after-work drink in parks or along the Spree. The sundowner is the order of the day – whether by the water or on it. You can experience the summer evening in a particularly impressive yet completely relaxed way on the Hemingway .
This original Berlin saloon ship, over 100 years old, offers everything you could wish for on an evening cruise: Your ticket includes an elegantly laid table, a glass of Crémant, gentle music and views of Berlin’s most beautiful landmarks, all without commentary or crowds.
When: Friday and Sunday at 6 pm
Where: Jetty on the Spree side of the Paul-Löbe-Haus, Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 2, Mitte
Tickets for the Sundowner Tour
Tip 8: Get active at the big family sports festival
There’s plenty of sport to watch in Berlin: the city hosts the DFB Cup Final, the ISTAF, the Berlin Marathon and the Berlin Tennis Open. However, the Berlin State Sports Federation saw room for improvement in the area of team and participatory sports and launched the Family Sports Festival in 2010.
For this event, Berlin’s sports associations come together at the Sportforum Berlin to present a packed programme of hands-on activities, taster sessions and demonstrations. From cheerleading to chess, almost every sport is represented. In addition, the Berlin Youth Finals in ten disciplines are held over the weekend. Entry is free!
When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Sportforum Berlin, Weißenseer Weg 53, Hohenschönhausen
Tip 9: Listen to the song of the sperm whale behind the Deutsches Theater
You read that right: this opera performance isn’t taking place in, but behind the Deutsches Theater, where an open-air stage has been specially erected for the new production "Der Gesang des Pottwals" . After all, there simply wouldn’t be enough room for a sperm whale inside the theatre itself. Under the direction of director and composer Heiner Bomhard, the ensemble of the Deutsches Theater sets out in search of the fictional Puccini opera Il canto del capodoglio.
The plot takes a humorous turn: with his latest piece, Bomhard has created a musical satire on German politics, the theatre world, whaling and whale conservation.
When: Friday and Sunday at 8 pm
Where: Open-air stage of the Deutsches Theater, Schumannstraße 13, Charlottenburg
Tip 10: Visit ‘Cassirer and the Breakthrough of Impressionism’
Particularly in times when art was not yet disseminated digitally, art dealers with a trained eye determined which works would even reach the public. Paul Cassirer was one of those figures whose commitment had a decisive influence on the European art scene. As a member of the Berlin Secession and owner of one of the most important Berlin art salons of the Weimar Republic, he introduced French Impressionism to a wide audience in Germany and made it accessible to them.
Under the title Cassirer and the Breakthrough of Impressionism, you can trace his influence at the Alte Nationalgalerie through over a hundred works by artists such as Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
When: Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Alte Nationalgalerie, Bodestraße 1-3, Mitte
Tickets for the Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin
Tip 11: Celebrate the joint summer festival of the Charlottenburg museums
When four renowned museums share a complex of buildings, it makes perfect sense to celebrate special occasions together. The Charlottenburg Museums at Charlottenburg Palace decided to do just that some time ago, and so their traditional joint summer festival is taking place again this Friday. The Bröhan Museum, the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection, the Collection of Casts of Ancient Sculpture and the Rathgen Research Laboratory invite you to the museum quarter with a wide range of activities.
You can look forward to exhibitions, talks and guided tours, a summer buffet in the Bettina Berggruen Garden, and insights into the production techniques used for historical replicas in the Collection of Casts of Ancient Sculptures.
When: Friday from 5.30 pm to 10 pm
Where: Various venues around Charlottenburg Palace, Schloßstraße 1a
