May 1st is regarded as one of the most significant and important events in the history of workers’ rights, and has been an official holiday in Germany since 1933, celebrating the contribution of workers to society. Like every year since its inception, May Day has also been marked by revolutionary demonstrations and protests, with the large majority of them taking place in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. So whether you’re trying to seize the means of production or just seize the long weekend, here’s a list of Berlin’s biggest protests and parties leading up to and happening on May 1st.
Protests
Berlin wouldn’t be Berlin if there weren’t massive demonstrations on Labour Day. In addition to the well-known Revolutionary May Day demonstration, the Free Görli – Rave against the Fence in Görlitzer Park, draws attention to the planned construction of the fence through political speeches. Most demonstrations take place in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain, but the MyGruni initiative also protests in Grunewald with satirical events, demonstrating against the rich and powerful of this world under the motto “Musk, Milei, and Merz to Mars!”
MyGruni
While most May 1 demonstrations take place in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshainhe, the MyGruni initiative also protests in Grunewald with satirical events, demonstrating against the rich and powerful of this world under the motto “Musk, Milei, and Merz to Mars!”
- MyGruni, starts at Johannaplatz, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (from 13:00), details.
Revolutionary May Day
Ready for revolution? Comrades against capitalism can take part in an integral piece of Berlin’s history of leftwing activism: The annual Revolutionary May Day demonstration is undoubtedly one of the most important events happening on International Workers’ Day. Though the holiday has existed since 1890, this particular protest got started in 1987, when police launched an unprovoked attack on a peaceful street festival. The Kiezaufstand (or ‘neighbourhood uprising’) that followed kickstarted the holiday’s now well-established tradition of demonstrations in the area. In 2025, the alliance of the Revolutionary May 1st Demo calls to “Divest corporations! Disarm warmongers! Destroy capitalism!”.
- Revolutionary May Day, starts at Südstern, Kreuzberg (from 18:00), details.
Free Görli – Rave Against the Zaun
The Berlin Senate’s planned fencing of Görlitzer Park continues to provoke outrage among the commuity. This measure, they say, merely slaps a band-aid over the real problems in the park and also ignores the core issues of income inequality, drug use and sale, and homelessness. A diverse alliance of civic initiatives and artists are using May Day as an opportunity to resist the park’s transformation by organising a protest block party. With political speeches from political figures such as Ferat Koçak, DJ sets and surprise guest performances, the park looks set to be packed. Starting at 4:30 p.m., a techno demonstration will move from Lausitzer Platz through Kreuzberg to Hermannplatz, where the parade will join the “Revolutionary May Day Demonstration.”
- Starts at Görlitzer Park, Kreuzberg (from 13:00), details.
Walpurgis Night
While May Day is an important holiday, let’s not forget the night before: Walpurgis Night. In German folklore, the last night in April is when witches congregate on the peak of the Brocken (or Blocksberg) for satanic rituals – but now it’s mostly just a good excuse to party.
Walpurgis Night Festival
A long-time favourite, the Walpurgis Night Festival in Mauerpark finally returns, bringing us an evening of circus performances, dance and (most-importantly) epic bonfires.
- Mauerpark, Prenzlauer Berg (from 16:00), details.
Mythen und Magie 2025
Neue Zukunft (originally Zukunft am Ostkreuz) also marks Walpurgis with their Mythen und Magie 2025 party. In addition to concert performances, a beer garden, and a flea market, there’s also an open-air cinema, with programming for adults and children.
- Neue Zukunft, Alt-Stralau 68, Friedrichshain (from 16:00), details.
Walpurgis Open-Air at Holzmarkt
The Holzmarkt welcomes spring with an open-air festival that puts music front and center. In addition to a diverse range of music right on the Spree River, you can enjoy a wide selection of food stalls, from oysters at Katerschmaus to pizza and Indian specialties from Chutnify Berlin. Starting at 10 p.m., Kater Blau takes over with its annual Grr mit Brr club night.
- Holzmarkt 25, Holzmarktstr. 25, Friedrichshain (from 14:00), details.
Walpurgis Festival in the Rüdersdorf Museumpark
A little further out of town, at the Walpurgis Festival in the Rüdersdorf Museumpark, there will be a celebration of spring spirits, witches and fairies. In addition to a bonfire, you can also expect jugglers, storytellers and face painting.
- Museumpark Rüdersdorf, Heinitzstr. 9, Rüdersdorf (from 11:00), details.
Club events
Wednesday April 30
For those who want to start their long weekend off with a bang, there’s plenty on offer on Wednesday April 30: Head to Aeden’s courtyard for BODIES’ anniversary, which promises 36 hours of party and play. Just next door at Birgit, you can dance to techno and hip-hop in a relaxed atmosphere under the open sky. Even more techno can be found at ELSE, whose outdoor area is open from 16:00 to midnight, and don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate May one last time at Renate before it closes at the end of the year.
- Aeden, Schleusenufer 3, Kreuzberg (from 22:00), details.
- Birgit, Schleusenufer 3, Kreuzberg (from 22:00), details.
- ELSE, An den Treptowers 10, Treptow (from 16:00), details.
- Renate, Alt-Stralau 70, Friedrichshain (from 23:00), details.
Thursday May 1
Hopefully you’re not nursing a hangover from the night before, as there’s a wealth of options for partying on May 1. Berghain will be celebrating its garden opening, with sets from the likes of BASHKKA and Boris, and if the weather takes a turn for the worse the party will continue in Panorama Bar. Plenty of clubs invite revellers to party for free, including Ritter Butzke, who will be kicking off its open-air season with the tech-house duo Format:B. OXI and Else will also be host to their own free open-air parties. Right next door, the much-missed Club Re:mise will celebrate its reopening on May 1, after having to close in 2023, with a party at its temporary new home on Sage Beach.
- Berghain | Panorama Bar, Am Wriezener bhf, Friedrichshain (from 12:00), details.
- Ritter Butzke, Ritterstr. 26, Kreuzberg (from 13:00), details.
- OXI, Wiesenweg 1-4, Friedrichshain, from 13:00, details
- ELSE, An den Treptowers 10, Treptow, from 13:00, details
- Sage Beach Köpenicker str. 18-20, Kreuzberg, from 14:00, detail.
Park raves
If queuing for a club feels too much like hard work, check out Plänterwald, Treptower Park or Mariannenplatz. There’s bound to be an unannounced rave or two going on, but you can still party there legally. At Disco Mayhem in Treptower Park, the name says it all: Starting at 12:00, you’ll be dancing to house beats from well-known and up-and-coming DJs. If you want the exact location, you can RSVP on their website. For another option nearby, The Friends of Unintelligence, have put together a lineup for dancing or relaxing in Plänterwald starting at 12:00. For another rave-slash-protest, head to Mariannenplatz as SLUST and Rave the Planet invite us to celebrate hope and resistance. Expect many hours of techno hedonism and several speeches to round out the day, including those from the “Rave The Planet” initiative and the aid organization “Radtour für Obdachlose” (Bike Tour for the Homeless).
- Treptow Park, RSVP on their website for the exact location (from 12:00), details.
- Plänterwald, exact location TBA (from 11:00), details.
- Mariannenplatz, Kreuzberg, (from 10:00), details.
Family-friendly events
In addition to raves and demonstrations, there are also some great alternatives for anyone with kids who prefers a more relaxed approach.
Berlin Spring Festival
The Berlin Festival is hosting a huge range of attractions and fairground activities, making it an easy contender for this year’s May Day celebrations. Celebrating its 53rd edition with over 50 market stalls and 80 exciting rides, enjoy some competition on the bumper cars, take a ride on the ferris wheel, or test your stomach on one of the several roller coasters. If you manage to come out unscathed, head over to the food stalls to try out some of the delicious bratwurst, boulette, langos or sweet crispy churros.
- Zentraler Festplatz Berlin, Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, Charlottenburg-Nord (from 10:00), details.
ufaFabrik Maifest
Children and families are especially welcome to the May Festival of the self-managed cultural and living project ufaFabrik, which takes place throughout the grounds of the former film factory. The children’s circus has put together an engaging program, and the samba percussion band Terra Brasilis will perform a concert on the open-air stage. Delicious food is available at the Café Restaurant Rudi & Rosa.
- ufaFabrik, Viktoriastr. 10-18, Tempelhof (from 14:00), details.
Children’s and family festival May 1st: Together for democracy and diversity
From a bouncy castle for the little ones to a football tournament for teenagers, the Neukölln District Office has something for the whole family with its May Festival. Join in with workshops in graffiti, henna, and calligraphy, and enjoy artistic performances by the MigrantinnenVerein eV women’s choir and the Lessinghöhe acrobatics group.
- Kinderwelt am Feld, 22 Oderstr. 174/22, Neukölln (from 14:00), details.
Helle Mitte Tanzt
This year, Hellersdorf will once again be hosting live music on Alice-Salomon-Platz. Starting May 1st, the entire long weekend will feature not only an open-air stage but also a beer garden where you can relax in the shade. A children’s carousel and train, as well as a wide selection of food options, including hearty BBQ dishes and sweet pastries, round out the festival.
- Alice-Salomon-Platz, Hellersdorf (from 12:00, through May 4), details.
