Berlin is presenting several highlight exhibitions in 2017. On the programme: 500 years of Protestantism and 100 years since the October Revolution. Until the opening of the Humboldt Forum, the Humboldt-Box is serving as an exhibition space. And a new highlight is coming to Potsdam.

© visitBerlin

The capital is rich in culture. Visitors who come to Berlin from all over the world have about 1,500 events to choose from every day. World-renowned museums and avant-garde galleries, virtuoso orchestras and electro beats, prominent theatres and open-air acts – every day in Berlin is an event!

And the year 2017 already casts long shadows with the IGA Berlin, the German Protestant Church Assembly, and the International German Turnfest.

Openings, Exhibitions, and Events

T-Rex in Berlin

The Museum of Natural History welcomes all 12 metres of Tristan, the world’s best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and the only one on display in Europe.

Museum für Naturkunde, since 17 December 2015, www.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de/en/

Lenné 2016

Double anniversary: The Death of horticultural artist Peter Joseph Lenné (1789–1866) took place 150 years ago and Lenné‘s transformation of the Glienicke Landscape Park started 200 years ago.

Various locations, 2016, www.visitBerlin.de/en/event/12-31-2016/lenne-2016

Opening: The Wall Museum East Side Gallery

A new Wall Museum will open at the East Side Gallery. Twelve multimedia rooms will show the life in East and West Germany during the German Division.

East Side Gallery, since March 2016, www.thewallmuseum.com

Opening: The Gate Berlin

The multimedia show on 400 square metres takes visitors on a historical journey from the German Empire via National Socialism and the Fall of the Berlin Wall until today.

Pariser Platz, since April 2016, www.thegate-berlin.de

EUROPA EXPERIENCE

This new, free and permanent exhibition with a 360° cinema provides an insight into the daily work of European politicians.

Europäisches Haus, since 14 May 2016, erlebnis-europa.eu

Revolution and Fall of the Berlin Wall

The exhibition at the former Stasi headquarters in Berlin-Lichtenberg documents the Peaceful Revolution in 1989 and the end of the GDR. The displays focus primarily on the fate of the people taking part in the protests.

Stasi-Museum, from 17 June 2016, revolution89.de

Opening: Barenboim-Said Akademie

The founders of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim and Edward W. Said, established a music academy for young musicians from the Middle East.

Former stage depot of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, autumn 2016, www.barenboim-said.com

Pina Bausch and the Tanztheater

The Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn illustrates the work of choreographer Pina Bausch and her company from March to July for the first time in form of an exhibition. In autumn, the show will be featured in Berlin.

Martin-Gropius-Bau, 15 September 2016-9 January 2017, www.bundeskunsthalle.de/en/exhibitions/current-exhibitions.html

The One Grand Show

The costumes of Friedrichstadt-Palast’s new grand show were created by none other than Jean Paul Gaultier.

Friedrichstadt-Palast, from 22 September 2016, www.palast.berlin/en/home/shows/the-one-grand-show/

The British View: Germany – Memories of a Nation

The British Museum exhibition designed by Neil MacGregor is visiting Berlin: Until January 2017, the Martin-Gropius-Bau presents 200 valuable artworks from 600 years of German history. Top-class exhibits from Albrecht Dürer, gold work by Johan Anton Linden or the hat of Napoleon from 1815 are some examples of the objects on show.

Martin-Gropius-Bau, 8 October 2016-9 January 2017, www.berlinerfestspiele.de

German Colonialism. Past and Present

The exhibition gives an overview of German colonial history. The topics examined include the practice of rule, the economic utilisation and exploitation, the dealings with the indigenous population as well as genocide and other serious crimes.

Deutsches Historisches Museum, 14 October 2016-14 May 2017, www.dhm.de/en/ausstellungen/preview/deutsche-kolonialgeschichte.html

Musical « Sister Act »

The famous singing nuns are coming to Berlin: Sister Act, the Musical about nightclub singer Deloris van Cartier hiding out in a convent, is coming to Berlin later this year.

Stage Theater des Westens Berlin, 16 October 2016–25 February 2017, www.stage-entertainment.de/musicals-shows/sister-act-berlin.html

Christmas Markets in Berlin

More than 60 Christmas markets for all tastes begin welcoming guests starting in November with traditional gingerbread, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts.

Various locations, from November 2016, winter.visitBerlin.com

Berlin Science Week

Scientists and institutions meet in Berlin for an international exchange: More than 20 events such as lectures and conferences are planned.

Various locations, 1-10 November 2016, www.berlinscienceweek.com

JazzFest Berlin 2016

Festival feat. Concerts with international jazz musicians
Various locations, 3-6 November 2016, www.berlinerfestspiele.de/de/aktuell/festivals/jazzfest/ueber_festival_jazz/aktuell_jazz/start.php

The Tehran Collection. The Tehran Museum for Contemporary Art in Berlin

For the first time in Berlin: Juxtaposition of about 60 works of western and Iranian art from the collection of the Teheran Museum of Contemporary Art.

Gemäldegalerie, December 2016-March 2017, www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/gemaeldegalerie/home.html

New Year’s Eve at Brandenburg Gate

The party mile on Straße des 17. Juni is 2 kilometres long and features performances, numerous party tents, and a wide range of culinary delights.

Brandenburg Gate and Straße des 17. Juni, 31 December 2016, www.berlin.de

Preview 2017

Berlin Fashion Week

Twice a year, in January and in July, the international fashion industry meets for Fashion Week in Berlin, when everything in the German capital revolves around fashion with half a dozen trade shows attracting visitors from around the world.

Various locations, 17-19 January 2017 and 4-7 July, www.fashion-week-berlin.com

Internationale Grüne Woche

Trade show and exhibition on nutrition, agriculture and horticulture.

Messe Berlin, 20-29 January 2017, www.gruenewoche.de

Opening Museum Barberini

The Barberini Palace was destroyed 1945 and has now been restored with its historic facade. In the future, the Italianate town house will host exhibitions of modern art and house Hasso Plattner’s collection of art from the GDR.

Museum Barberini Potsdam, from 23 January 2017, museum-barberini.com

67. Berlinale – Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin

Major film festival open to the public with an international competition and lots of Hollywood stars in attendance, numerous film series, and a wide range of supporting programmes.
Various locations, 9-19 February 2017, www.berlinale.de

Barenboim-Said Akademie: Opening Concert

The Barenboim-Said Akademie is training young musicians from the Middle East. The new concert hall, designed by world-famous American architect Frank Gehry, will be opening in March 2017 with a concert and festivities.

Französische Straße 33d, 4 March 2017, www.barenboim-said.com

ITB Berlin 2017

Leading trade fair for the international tourism industry: Around 11,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries join forces in the German capital.

Messe Berlin, 8-12 March 2017, www.itb-berlin.de

MaerzMusik Berlin 2017

International music festival of contemporary music with many world and Berlin premières.

Haus der Berliner Festspiele and other locations, 17-26 March 2017,
www.berlinerfestspiele.de/de/aktuell/festivals/maerzmusik/ueber_festival_mm/aktuell_mm/start_maerzmusik.php

Festtage 2017

First-class music festival featuring Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten, Wagners Parsifal, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Wiener Philharmoniker, Anne-Sophie Mutter and others. The artistic director is Daniel Barenboim.

Staatsoper at Schillertheater, , 7-16 April 2017, www.staatsoper-berlin.de

Musical „The Hunchback of Notre Dame“

The Hunchback of Notre Dame comes to the German capital – with new book and new songs. The hopeless love the hunchback Quasimodo bears for the beautiful Esmeralda is put to the test and leads to his performing heroic deeds. The whole story can be seen from April 2017 in the Theater des Westens.

Stage Theater des Westens, from April 2017, www.stage-entertainment.de/musicals-shows/berlin/der-gloeckner-von-notre…

Festtage 2017

First-class music festival featuring Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten, Wagners Parsifal, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Wiener Philharmoniker, Anne-Sophie Mutter and others. The artistic director is Daniel Barenboim.
Staatsoper at Schillertheater, , 7-16 April 2017, www.staatsoper-berlin.de

The Luther Effect. 500 Years of the Reformation

To mark the 500th anniversary of the reformation the Deutsches Historisches Museum features an exhibition at the Martin-Gropius-Bau on the times of the reformation and the impacts of Protestantism around the world until today.

Martin-Gropius-Bau, 12 April-5 November 2017, www.dhm.de/en/ausstellungen/preview/the-luther-effect.html

IGA Berlin 2017 – An Ocean of Colours

186 days of urban green in Marzahn-Hellersdorf: From 13 April to 15 October 2017, the first international garden show IGA in Berlin will focus on urban natures and culture in diverse dimensions. On the premises around the Gardens of the World, the Kienberg and the valley of the river Wuhle, the IGA will make international garden art come alive and will give new impulses for modern urban development. A funicular, which will float above the exhibitions grounds, and a summer toboggan run at the 100 metre high Kienberg are also planned. The newly-built Kienbergpark around the IGA grounds will be accessible free of charge after the garden show. Apart from extensive offerings for garden lovers, diverse events and activities for young and old will inform about urban gardening.

IGA grounds, 13 April-15 October 2017, www.iga-berlin-2017.de/en/

Pückler. Babelsberg – The Park-Enthusiast Prince and the Empress

Exhibition at Babelsberg Park and Palace featuring original park creations by landscape architect and garden designer Prince Pückler: the renovated terraces, the richly blooming pleasure ground with its „Golden Rose Garden,“ and much more.

Park and Palace of Babelsberg, 29 April-15 October 2017, www.spsg.de

achtung berlin – new berlin film award 2017

The festival shows new films about Berlin and Brandenburg of the last 25 years, which document the change of life after the fall of the wall.

Various locations, 19-26 April 2017, achtungberlin.de

China and Egypt: The Paths of Two Advanced Civilisations

Ancient Egyptian and ancient Chinese art treasures will be displayed together side by side for the first time: Each of the 250 exhibits has its own history and, at the same time, represents an entire culture.

Neues Museum, 1 May-31 October 2017, www.smb.museum

XJAZZ

The popular music festival XJazz focuses on local musicians and crossover jazz formats.

Various locations, 3-7 May 2017, www.xjazz.net

Theatertreffen

Since 1964, the renowned theater festival invites every May then first-class stage productions from the current German speaking theater season to Berlin.

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, 7-21 May 2017, www.berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/theatertreffen/ueber_festival_tt/aktuell_tt/start.php

German Protestant Church Assembly

The German Evangelical Church Assembly sees itself as a free movement of people brought together by their Christian faith and features services, concerts, workshops, and political debates.

Various locations in Berlin und Wittenberg, 24-28 May 2017, www.kirchentag.de/english.html

Carnival of Cultures

Colourful four-day street festival with huge carnival parade on Whit Sunday; on Saturday there is also an independent children’s carnival.

Blücherplatz, 2-5 June 2017, www.karneval-berlin.de/en/english.175.html

Fête de la Musique

International day of music with music programmes from all genres all over the city. This event is a highlight for all music-lovers, onlookers and spontaneous Kiez visitors.

(open -air) stages in all of Berlin, 21 June 2017, www.fetedelamusique.de

17th Long Night of the Sciences

Lectures, guided tours, and cultural programs to be held in numerous scientific institutions, archives, and laboratories in Berlin and Potsdam.

Various locations, 24 June 2017, www.langenachtderwissenschaften.de

Berliner Philharmoniker

Open-air closing of the season 2016/17, with conductor Gustavo Dudamel and works by Richard Wagner and Robert Schuhmann.

Waldbühne, 1 July 2017, www.berliner-philharmoniker.de

150th Birthday of Käthe Kollwitz

Käthe Kollwitz (*1867 in Königsberg/Kaliningrad) has worked and lived for over 50 years in Berlin. To mark her 150th anniversary, the museum shows her sculptural works, drawings, printed graphics an posters in co-operation with Russia.

Käthe Kollwitz Museum, 8 July 2017, www.kaethe-kollwitz.de

Classic Open Air

This music open-air festival presents concerts with classical music and popular melodies at Gendarmenmarkt against the backdrop of the Konzerthaus, featuring a final fireworks show.

Gendarmenmarkt, 20-25 July 2017, www.classicopenair.de

Young Euro Classic

Music festival featuring international youth orchestras.

Konzerthaus Berlin, 18 August-3 September 2017, www.young-euro-classic.de

37th Long Night of the Museums

Many museums in Berlin remain open until past midnight and offer guided tours, concerts and more.

Various locations, 26 August 2017, www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de/en/

Pyronale

The Pyronale World Fireworks Championship features some spectacularly creative fireworks displays with breathtaking effects.

Maifeld at Olympiastadion, 1-2 September 2017, www.pyronale.de

IFA Berlin

Business and public fair on consumer electronics and home appliances.

Messe Berlin, 1-6 September 2017, www.ifa-berlin.de

Musikfest Berlin

Music festival to mark the opening of the concert season 2017/18, featuring international orchestras, choirs, ensembles and soloists.

Various locations, 1-17 September 2017, www.berlinerfestspiele.de

Open Heritage Day

The German Heritage Day offers guided tours to gain a new perspective on historical sites and monuments in all of Berlin

Various locations, 9-10 September 2017, www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/denkmal/denkmaltag/

Lollapalooza Berlin

Two days of live music, fashion, food, and art – since 2015, the most important US-American pop festival takes place in Berlin.

Location to be announced , 9-10 September 2017, www.lollapaloozade.com

Berlin Art Week

The Berlin Art Week combines important art fairs and institutions, including the abc art berlin contemporary and the Positions Berlin – Art Fair.

Various locations, 12-17 September 2017, www.berlinartweek.de

Re-Opening: Staatsoper Berlin

The State Opera Berlin is scheduled to re-open the season 2017/18 in their opera house Unter den Linden after reconstruction works. Matthias Schulz will take on the position as Artistic Director.

Staatsoper Unter den Linden, 3 October 2017, www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en_EN

1917. Revolution. Russia and Europe

The year 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. The revolutionary events and the civil war, lasting in Russia until 1922, led to a fundamental, systemic change that influenced the entire 20th century.

German Historical Museum, 20 October 2017-15 April 2018, www.dhm.de/en/ausstellungen/preview/1917-revolution.html

JazzFest Berlin

Festival featuring concerts with international jazz musicians.

Various locations, 2-5 November 2017, www.berlinerfestspiele.de

Christmas Markets in Berlin

More than 60 Christmas markets for all tastes begin welcoming guests starting in November with traditional gingerbread, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts.

Various locations, from the end of November 2017, winter.visitBerlin.com

New Year’s Eve Party at Brandenburg Gate

Stage programme, party mile and spectacular midnight fireworks show.

Brandenburger Tor und Straße des 17. Juni, 31 December 2017, www.berlin.de

Sports Events 2016-2017

German Championships in Figure Skating

The German Figure Skating Championships are next being held in the Erika-Hess-Stadion in Berlin. Competitions this winter include men’s and women’s singles to couple’s and ice dancing and synchronized skating.

Erika-Hess-Stadion, 16-17 December 2016, www.visitBerlin.de/en/event/12-17-2016/2017-german-figure-skating-championships

106th Berlin Six Day Race

The international cycling race offers motor-paced racing, Derny competitions, sprinter championships, and entertainment.

Velodrom, 26-31 January 2017, www.sechstagerennen-berlin.de

ISTAF Indoor

Professional sports and show in one: Berlin welcomes athletics fans to ISTAF Indoor. Each year, high-profile participants compete in nine disciplines. In addition, under the motto “Berlin has talent”, secondary students will compete against one another in sprint and relay races.

Mercedes-Benz-Arena, 10 February 2017, www.istaf-indoor.de

37th Berlin Half Marathon

Runners, wheelchair competitors, hand cyclists as well as inline skaters participate at the traditional Berlin Half Marathon through the inner city.

Karl-Marx-Allee, 2 April 2017, www.berliner-halbmarathon.de/en/

DFB Cup Final

The DFB Cup is a championship cup contest for German football clubs which started in 1935. It is organised annually by the German Football Association (DFB) and is the second most important national title in German football after the German Championship. Since 1985, the DFB Cup Final has been held at Olympiastadion Berlin.

Olympiastadion Berlin, 27 May 2017, www.olympiastadion-berlin.de

Velothon Berlin

The Velothon pushes cyclists, both amateur and pro, to their limit. Since its première in May 2008, the Velothon has become the second largest cycling event of its kind in Europe. The route makes up for all of the hard-won sweat, as it takes cyclists past the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the East Side Gallery, and Tempelhofer Feld.

Velodrome, May/June 2017, www.velothon-berlin.de

International German Turnfest

For the 5th time, Berlin hosts the German championship in gymnastics.

Various locations, 3-10 June 2017, www.turnfest.de

Formula E Championship

Pitstop Berlin: The first electric motorsport series will return to Berlin in 2017. The electrically-powered race cars are fast and can reach speeds of up to 225 km/h, but quietly at just 80 decibels.

Location to be announced, 10 June 2017, berlin.fiaformulae.com

Archery Worldcup

Berlin will host various archery world cup events from 2017 to 2019.

Olympiastadion Berlin, 8-13 August 2017, www.dsb.de/aktuelles/meldung/5678-Weltcup-Bogen-2017-bis-2019-in-Berlin/

European Championships in Blind Football

Even the visually impaired have their own five-a-side football matches, where the coach, the team guides behind the goals, and the goalkeepers (the only players with full vision), guide the team as they play.

Lilli-Henoch-Sportplatz, 17-27 August 2017, blindenfussball-nationalmannschaft.de

ISTAF Berlin – International Stadium Festival

180 athletes, 40 countries, 16 disciplines: Sports enthusiasts are looking forward to the International Stadium Festival Berlin taking place for the 76th time in Berlin.

Olympiastadion, September 2017, www.istaf.de

44th BMW Berlin-Marathon

Around 60,000 runners, hand cycle racers, and inline skaters from 120 nations look forward to the BMW Berlin Marathon every year. The 42.195 km route takes them right through the heart of the city past many of the most popular sights. Even the little ones have the day in the spotlight with the Bambini Run and the Mini-Marathon.

Various locations, September 2017, www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com

Track Cycling European Championships

The 2017 Track Cycling Championships will bring Olympic and world champions to Berlin’s Velodrom on Landsberger Allee where they will race for a total of 17 titles, including the sprint, keirin, and time trial.
Velodrom, 19-22 October 2017, www.rad-net.de

More information can be found at events.visitBerlin.com.

This overview also offers an outlook of the 2016 highlights as well as the upcoming years.