Sportmuseum Berlin
Germany's Oldest and Largest Sports Collection
The Berlin Sports Museum is not only the oldest of its kind in Germany, but also a place that visualises the social and political dimension of sport. With over 100,000 objects and 1.5 million images, the museum tells stories of movement, power and humanity.
The Berlin Sports Museum in the Olympiapark is closed until mid-2026 due to renovation work and preparations for future permanent exhibitions.
The Sportmuseum Berlin combines a culture of sporting remembrance with historical reflection and social reappraisal. As part of the Berlin City Museum Foundation, it addresses key questions: How does sport shape identities? How are political upheavals reflected in sporting structures? The location in the Olympiapark Berlin, itself a place steeped in history, deepens this cultural-historical reference.
Architecture & historical development
The functional post-war modernist building forms a deliberate contrast to the monumental architecture of the Olympic site. As a place for archiving, research and, soon, exhibition, the building serves to preserve and critically analyse the history of sport.
The origins of the collection date back to the early decades of the 20th century. in 1995, the museum became part of the Berlin City Museum Foundation. Since then, not only has the collection grown, but also its scientific significance: the library, which contains around 37,000 volumes of sports history literature, documents the development of sport in East and West as well as international movements. The museum archives association journals, visual materials and everyday objects that shed light on sport in its diverse social roles.
With its location in the Olympic Park , the museum is closely linked to the history of the 1936 Olympic Games, a symbolic moment in German history. By examining this period and the developments in sport in the GDR and FRG, as well as the biographies of athletes from marginalised groups, the museum presents itself as a reflective place of remembrance. The planned new permanent exhibition from 2026 promises contemporary perspectives and innovative formats.
Visit details & accessibility
The Sportmuseum Berlin is currently closed until mid-2026 due to extensive renovation work and preparations for a new permanent exhibition. Research in the library, photo library or archive as well as enquiries about the collection are possible by prior written arrangement at sportmuseum@seninnsport.berlin.de
Opening hours (additional information)
| Monday to Friday 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. | |
