The summer holidays begin in Berlin on 9 July . Berlin’s schoolchildren and teenagers are probably looking forward to no other day of the Berlin summer more than this . To help you keep track of the numerous leisure activities on offer over the coming weeks, we’ve put together a list that’s perfect for the (summer) holidays.
Tip 1: Celebrate great moments in classical music at the Young Euro Classic Children’s Day
At the Young Euro Classic Children’s Day, the Konzerthaus Berlin becomes a place for young explorers who want not only to listen to music but also to experience it. The ‘NEXT GENERATION’ junior programme deliberately focuses on playful formats and introduces children to classical music in an age-appropriate way. In 2026, the Children’s Day theme is ‘Experiments and Adventures’, and you’ll notice this straight away when you take a first look at the programme.
Suli Puschban will have the stage rocking, ‘Mice on the Moon’ takes the youngest children on a musical journey, and in the music studio or whilst trying out instruments, listening quickly turns into joining in.
When: Sunday 9 August from 11.00 am
Where: Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Mitte
Suitable for: Nursery and primary school children
young euro classic children’s day
Tip 2: Science becomes a live experience at GEOLINO LIVE
GEOLINO LIVE turns a family festival into a journey into a world full of questions. Because at the Gardens of the World, entertainment meets topics that really interest children. “Good music for a better world” – guided by this motto, the event combines live experiences with the theme of children’s rights and invites you to listen, think for yourselves and take something new away with you.
To mark GEOLINO’s 30th anniversary, musicians such as LEONY, Volker Rosin and Senta will also be performing for you. The blend of entertainment and learning is pleasantly laid-back, but guaranteed never to be boring!
When: Saturday 25 July from 3 pm
Where: Gärten der Welt – Arena, Blumberger Damm 44, Marzahn
Suitable for: Children and families of all ages
Tip 3: Enjoy the creative programme at the Luftschloss
The Atze Musiktheater has actually built itself a Luftschloss – made of wood and right in the middle of Tempelhofer Feld. Now in its third year, this open-air amphitheatre offers an exciting programme throughout the summer months for the whole family, and especially for young audiences. The children’s plays are particularly popular: whether it’s Little Red Riding Hood or The Bremen Town Musicians. These lovingly crafted productions invite young guests to sing along, dance along and join in the fun during interactive performances.
And there are exciting events on the programme for teenagers too: at ‘Kiezpoeten’ , up-and-coming poets compete against one another with poetry, stand-up or spoken word. Anyone who’d like to take to the stage themselves can register in advance and become part of the line-up – with 400 seats at the Luftschloss, there’s guaranteed to be room for all your friends to cheer on the young wordsmiths!
When: Various performance times
Where: Luftschloss Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhof
Suitable for: a variety of events for all age groups
Curtain up for the Superferien! In children’s theatre courses at Galli Theater, Domäne Dahlem and Jagdschloss Grunewald, kids explore acting, dance and singing before presenting their own play to an audience.
Tip 4: Get into the hip-hop vibe and find your own rhythm at KMT Bunte Töne
If you’re in the mood for music that makes you want to dance straight away, KMT Bunte Töne is the place for you. On the open-air stage at Spandau Citadel, five professional Berlin-based artists will demonstrate how hip-hop functions as a form of culture and self-expression. The best bit is: you won’t just be part of the audience.
You’ll get a hands-on introduction to the world of hip-hop and experience for yourselves just how quickly a beat can turn into your own flow. The start of the holidays takes on a rhythm here that will last for the rest of the summer. So if you enjoy combining music with physical expression, language and creativity, KMT offers a participatory event that goes far beyond a traditional stage show.
When: Friday, 10 July from 11 am
Where: Open-air stage at Spandau Citadel, Am Juliusturm 62, Spandau
Suitable for: Primary school children and young teenagers
Tip 5: Get creative at the free summer workshop at the Hamburger Bahnhof
During the holidays, the garden of the Hamburger Bahnhof is transformed into an open-air art workshop. The summer workshop invites you to get creative and experiment with various art forms. The programme, which changes weekly , offers creative workshops on screen-printing and upcycling, electronic music, sculpture-making, indigo printing, an activity trail, and intergenerational painting sessions for grandparents and grandchildren.
Best of all: taking part in the holiday activities is completely free, and admission to the museum is also free for children and young people under 18.
When: 14 July to 21 August, Tuesdays to Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Hamburger Bahnhof, Invalidenstraße 50–51, Mitte
Suitable for: children, young people and families (depending on the workshop)
Tip 6: Art becomes a treasure hunt at the KINDL Holiday Rally
At KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art, a visit to the museum quickly turns into a little journey of discovery. The Holiday Rally takes you on a playful scavenger hunt through the former brewery building, amidst a blend of old industrial architecture and contemporary art. It’s not just about discovery, but also about thinking creatively, designing and experimenting.
On site, you’ll find pre-made logos, create your own designs and make stamps, giving the tour a creative twist. This format makes art feel not distant, but close at hand and tangible – especially for children and families.
When: 16 August from 10.00 am
Where: KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art, Am Sudhaus 3, Neukölln
Suitable for: particularly primary school children and families
Tip 7: Cool off in lakes, swimming pools and at water play areas
When the Berlin summer heat really kicks in, things can get a bit uncomfortable in the city. What’s the solution? That’s right – a chance to cool off! And with the city’s many lakes, lido beaches and water play areas, it’s easy to find. The Wannsee lido, for example, attracts visitors with its sandy beach stretching over a kilometre and shallow water’s edge, where children can splash about to their heart’s content. The Plötzensee lido captivates with its green surroundings, and the many lakes lend themselves perfectly to a trip into the countryside.
For the little ones, the many water play areas are a particular holiday highlight: the Plansche in Plänterwald delights with water fountains and shady sunbathing lawns. The water play area in Britzer Garten, with its rocky landscape and babbling brooks, invites you on a journey of discovery into the cool water.
Suitable for: all age groups
Berlin Swimming Map Berlin Lakes Water Play Areas
Tip 8: Family time with magic and a festive atmosphere at the Köpenick Holiday Magic
The Köpenick Holiday Magic transforms the festival grounds in Müggelheim into a little summer festival for the whole family. Over three days , archery, bouncy castles and daring carousels offer plenty of choice for anyone looking to really let their hair down. Those who aren’t keen on heights will also find plenty to keep them entertained on solid ground. Various quizzes and puppet shows can be enjoyed whilst munching on a snack – which, of course, are available to buy on every corner.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, family film screenings round off the programme, inviting you to wind down the day in a relaxed atmosphere before heading into the rest of the holidays with renewed energy.
When: 31 July from 2 pm to 8 pm
Where: Kirchenwiese Müggelheim, Müggelheimer Damm 204, Köpenick
Suitable for: Families with children of all ages
Tip 9: Acrobatics, wonder and that summer evening atmosphere at the Berlin Circus Festival
The Berlin Circus Festival brings together everything that makes the modern circus experience so exciting at Tempelhofer Feld: physical artistry, creativity and a stage that captivates the whole family. Now in its twelfth year, Germany’s largest festival for contemporary circus celebrates the diversity of the genre and shows just how surprising and poetic circus artistry can be.
Across several stages, you’ll experience performances that blend acrobatics with theatre, dance, humour and social issues. What’s particularly exciting is that the festival actively involves its audience. Last year, visitors were already able to have a say in the selection of individual programme items. As a result, the 2026 programme includes, amongst other things, the production ‘Yes Person’ by the duo Based on Kimberly.
When: 5 to 16 August
Where: Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhofer Damm 1, Tempelhof
Suitable for: children, teenagers and adults of all ages
Tip 10: Create your own artworks at the Museum of Communication
The Museum of Communication is well known for its child-friendly art events. As you’d expect, it’s also offering a great line-up of activities during the summer holidays. Children aged between 5 and 12 can take part in exciting workshops three times a week in July and August. During these sessions, young visitors are immersed in the world of art and communication. Whether it’s pop-up postcards, invisible ink, treasure maps or sock monsters – the little artists can let their imaginations run wild.
The workshops are designed to suit different age groups: children aged 5 to 8 do crafts at lunchtime, whilst those aged 9 to 12 get creative in the afternoon. Admission to the museum is free for children; you’ll only need to pay a materials fee of 3 euros per participant.
When: Tuesday to Thursday in July and August
Where: Museum of Communication, Leipziger Straße 16, Mitte
Suitable for: Children aged between 5 and 12
Tip 11: Immerse yourselves in fascinating worlds of light at DARK MATTER
To round things off, it gets truly magical once again: if you want to do more than just look at art – if you want to experience it with all your senses – DARK MATTER is the perfect destination for the holidays. In Lichtenberg, everything revolves around the interplay of light, movement and sound. In the permanent exhibition ‘KOLLEKTION’, you’ll wander through seven huge light installations that react to your movements and make music physically tangible in the space. You can also look forward to the seasonal exhibition ‘FOREST SEASONS’, which presents the changing seasons of the forest as a walk-through light art installation.
There are also special offers for the holidays: children up to and including the age of 6 get free entry, and for older children up to the age of 12 there’s a discounted family ticket.
When: Open daily during the summer holidays (the “FOREST SEASONS” exhibition runs until October)
Where: DARK MATTER, Köpenicker Chaussee 46, Lichtenberg
Suitable for: Children and families of all ages
Extra tip: Have a browse through the Berlin summer holiday calendar
If you’re looking for more hassle-free ideas right on your doorstep, the Berlin summer holiday calendar is the perfect planning guide.
The platform is coordinated by five independent youth welfare organisations and brings together great activities from Berlin’s youth services across all twelve boroughs. All the listings are non-commercial, often free or very affordable. Whether it’s creative workshops, sport, media projects or nature explorations – here you’ll find a brilliant, reliable alternative to expensive holiday trips.
