September has an absolute ton of great things going on to dispel any end of summer blues. We’re excited about the huge amount of incredible live music on, as well as festivals from food, to animation, to tattoos.
Sunday 1
Museum Sunday
Every first Sunday of the month, museums and galleries across town open their doors free of charge. If you’re into painting, check out the special exhibit on Frans Hals: Master of the Fleeting Moment at Gemäldegalerie for some spectacular portraits.
- Museums across Berlin, details.
Naked Karaoke
As an old piece of performer’s wisdom goes, if you’re nervous on stage, just imagine the crowd naked. At Monster Ronson’s third ever no-clothes karaoke night, you don’t even have to imagine it. Hosted by drag artist BLEACH, the event is a celebration of communal singing in its purest form. Along with your ego, you’re cordially invited to leave your clothes at the door and rock your heart out.
- Monster Ronson’s Ichiban Karaoke, Warschauer Str. 34, Friedrichshain, starts 20:00, details.
Katermukke Open Air
Celebrate the last dregs of summer with some afternoon drinks and tunes in the Kreuzberg sun. On the decks, Katermukke’s own Dirty Doering, Niconé and Ava Irandoost will deliver some of their finest progressive and deep house.
- Festsaal Kreuzberg, Am Flutgraben 2, Kreuzberg, starts 15:00, details.
Vegan Sundays Green Market
This unique sustainable boutique event features a mix of vegan lifestyle products, music, culture and scrumptious plant-based delights. Located directly by the Spree, the open-air venue is the perfect place to kick off your slow Sunday.
- Eierhäusschen, Kiehnwerderallee, Plänterwald, starts 12:00, details.
Monday 2
Queer Stitch and Bitch
This tight-knit group of friendly queer folks meets every first Monday of the month for some wholesome adult parallel play. Bring your latest sewing, crocheting or embroidery and stitch away.
- Sonntags-Club, Greifenhagener Str. 28, Prenzlauer Berg, starts 18:00, details.
Transmasculinity on the record: contemporary art beyond the binary
Host Jota Kayodê Ramos sits down with Berlin-based artists Cat Jones, Rherê Mita and Papi Pistola for a film screening and panel discussion about trans* artists, their stories and space in the local art scene.
- Galerie im Saalbau, Karl-Marx-Str. 141, Neukölln, starts 19:00, details.
The Berliner presents Run Lola’s Run
With the current running frenzy in full bloom, it’s time to pay tribute to Berlin’s most famous runner: Franka Potente aka Lola from the 1998 cult classic Run Lola Run. This guided running tour combines sightseeing and exercise. Open for runners of all levels, the 5K route features some of the city’s most notable filming locations and landmarks, such as Oberbaumbrücke and Museumsinsel.
- Event information TBA, details.
Tuesday 3
Clothes Swap
Fuck fast fashion, all hail the clothes swapping party! At this free community event, sharing is caring: bring some of your favourite pieces and swap them for new ones. After all, the best accessory to a smokin’ outfit is the story behind it.
- Anton Saefkow Library, Anton-Saefkow-Platz 14, Lichtenberg, starts 15:00, details.
Wednesday 4
Fantasy Filmfest
Going into its 38th edition, the annual indie film fest is a celebration of innovative, creative and absurd genre cinema. This year’s programme includes everything from quiet sci-fi arthouse drama to gory satanic slasher.
- Zoo Palast, Hardenbergstr. 29A, Charlottenburg, through Sep 11, details.
Thursday 5
New Visions for music and sound
On September 5 + 6, NEW VISIONS for music and soundis a conference that attempts to reimagine the future of the music industry. This trans-disciplinary event at the Pfefferberg is set to feature thought-provoking discussions, mind-opening showcases, creative insights and visionary ideas over two days.
- Pfefferberg, Schönhauser Allee 176, details
Queerfilmfestival
The week-long film festival is back to showcase some of this year’s sweetest, funniest, kinkiest and most beautiful queer movies. Real film buffs can delight in a retrospective on Canadian New Queer Cinema icon Bruce LaBruce.
- Delphi Lux, Yva-Bogen, Kantstr. 10, Charlottenburg, through Sep 11, details.
International Literature Festival
Year after year, international literary icons and lesser-known authors alike flock to Berlin for readings, workshops, panels and book presentations. This year’s big names include Andrew O’Hagan and Rachel Cusk.
- Various locations, through Sep 18, details.
Lana Del RAVE
Forget about your summertime sadness and stop playing video games – we’re going dancing! Head to SchwuZ for a magical evening of throwing it back under the motto: all Lana, all night!
- SchwuZ, Rollbergstr. 26, Neukölln, starts 20:00, details.
Friday 6
fka.m4a & Robag Wruhme at SOMMERLIGHTS
Buckle up for an ethereal multisensory experience, combining Christopher Bauder’s light installations with finest electronic music by world renowned DJs fka.m4a and Robag Wruhme.
- Dark Matter, Köpenicker Ch 46, Rummelsburg, starts 20:00, details.
Berlin Tattoo Convention
Dying to get inked again? This long-running tattoo convention wants to get under your skin. Expect tattoo contests, workshops and the chance to get your new favourite piece right then and there. Nice tats, dude!
- ARENA Berlin, Eichenstr. 4, Treptow, through Sep 8, details.
Saturday 7
Open Monument Day
In a city lauded for its DIY scene and nightlife, it’s easy to forget that Berlin also has an impressive architectural heritage. On Open Monument Day, more than 300 historical sites, many of which are usually closed to the public, invite you to explore and remember.
- Various locations. 10:00 – 17:00, details.
Berlin Chili Fest
Is it hot in here or is that the ungodly spicy Carolina Reaper I just had? At Berlin Chili Fest, find out how much heat you can take, cool down with some craft beers or check out some of the new hot sauces on the market (a little bird told us that Crazy Bastard Sauce is releasing a new tongue-burner this Chili Fest).
- Berliner Berg Brauerei, Treptower Str. 39, Treptow, through Sep 8, details.
Kinofest
This weekend, many cinemas are offering screenings for just €5, just like in the olden days. While some run their usual programme, Kant Kino in Charlottenburg is showing a selection of classics like Kubrick’s 2001 or Lynch’s beautiful weirdo flick Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
- Various locations, through Sep 8, details.
Lake Festival
If you want to get in one last summer swim or simply hang out by the beach, check out this affordable family-friendly folk festival. There’s music, street art and theatre to distract you from the dawning realisation that this might be the beginning of Berlin autumn.
- Orankesee Lido, Gertrudstr. 7, Alt-Hohenschönhausen, 12:00 – 21:00, details.
Antikmeile
Need to furnish your new Berlin home (welcome, by the way) or simply want to upgrade the old WG room with some unique statement pieces? We’d recommend a stroll through Antique Mile on Charlottenburg’s Suarezstraße, where over 100 antique vendors (including the street’s own 26 antique shops) offer hand-picked furniture, paintings, collectibles and clothes. There will also be street food stalls, live music and performances.
- Suarezstraße, Berlin-Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, starts 12:00, details.
Tuesday 10
Italia Nera – Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
As part of this year’s Musikfest Berlin and to celebrate the 100th birthday of Venetian composer Luigi Nono, the masterful musicians at Deutsche Oper are hosting an evening of Italy’s darkest and most bloodthirsty opera.
- Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1, Tiergarten, starts 20:00, details.
Wednesday 11
Berlin Art Week
For a week every fall, Berlin transforms into a paradise for modern art lovers, with exhibition openings, concerts, workshops, tours and panels.
- Various Locations, through Sep 15 details.
Thursday 12
tipBerlin Art at Tim Burton’s Labyrinth presented by Mastercard
From Edward Scissorhands to Corpse Bride, Tim Burton has been responsible for some of the most iconic oddball movies in cinema history. Join this exclusive guided tour through the immersive exhibition, which takes you deep into the mind of the director and his unique spooky aesthetic.
- Radsetzerei Berlin, Revaler Str. 99/Halle 16, Friedrichshain, starts 19:00, details.
The Berliner x RUN-N-RAVE
We’re teaming up with RUN-N-RAVE for a morning of running, exercising, breakfast and raving. Join us for a social run through Hasenheide, followed by a workout in the park, before jogging back to House of Color for a delicious breakfast and some DJ sets.
- House of Color, Gneisenaustr. 66-67/Aufgang E 1st Floor, Kreuzberg, starts 07:00, details.
Tod eines Handlungsreisenden
Directed by Max Lindemann, this German adaptation of Arthur Miller’s Broadway classic, Death of a Salesman, addresses the timeless themes of life, hope and desperation under capitalism.
- Berliner Ensemble, Bertolt-Brecht-Platz 1, Mitte, starts 20:00, also on Sep 13, 19, 20, 30 and Oct 1, details.
Days of Jewish Culture
Launched in 1987, the Jewish cultural festival has been an important celebration of Jewish life in Berlin. The programme includes a variety of concerts, guided tours, literature and movie screenings.
- Various Locations, through Sep 22, details.
POSITIONS Berlin Art Fair
In case you haven’t noticed, Berlin Septembers are all about modern art. One of this year’s most exciting exhibitions is happening in the hangars of the former Tempelhof Airport, where more than 60 international galleries are participating.
- Tempelhof Airport (Hangars 6-7), Tempelhofer Damm 45, Tempelhof, through Sep 15, details.
It Lies in Public Spaces
As BIPoC artists have pointed out time and time again, Germany still hasn’t found a way to properly address its colonial history. In this performance, artist David Dibiah questions the Africa collections at Humboldt Forum’s ethnological museum.
- Humboltforum, Schloßpl. 1, Mitte, starts 17:20, details.
Friday 13
17 Years Renate
Renate is one of the birthplaces of the city’s modern techno culture. With their lease expiring at the end of next year, Renate’s 17th birthday party might also be one of her last. Enjoy it while you can.
- Renate, Alt-Stralau 70, Friedrichshain, starts 23:00, through Sep 16, details.
Ostkreuz: Berlin – The Nineties
Shortly after the Mauerfall in 1989, seven East German photographers founded Agentur Ostkreuz. Over the following decade, they captured everyday life in a city stuck between its traumatic past and an uncertain future. Featuring over 200 images from this period, the exhibition visualises the spirit of Berlin in the 1990s, shedding a different light on events such as the emergence of the city’s unique club culture.
- C/O Berlin, Amerika Haus, Hardenbergstr. 22-24, Charlotteburg, through Jan 2025, details.
After Nature Prize 2024
This new annual award honours outstanding photography that deals with the effects of global capitalism on nature. This special double exhibition showcases the moving works of its first ever winners, Laura Huertas Millán and Sarker Protick.
- C/O Berlin, Amerika Haus, Hardenbergstr. 22-24, Charlotteburg, through Jan 2025, details.
Love Letters to the City
Imagine a new Berlin: sustainable and inclusive, with enough space for everyone. Curated by British artist Michelle Houston, this exhibition features 60 artworks in nine chapters, addressing problems such as gentrification, pollution and social inequality.
- Urban Nation Museum, Bülowstr. 7, Schöneberg, through 2027, details.
Saturday 14
Potato Festival
What’s this nation’s favourite food? Exactly, potatoes! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew! At this festival, you’ll get the chance to gather your own organic taters, learn more about the history of the starchy treat and try some traditional German potato dishes.
- Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, Dahlem, through Sep 15, details.
Sunday 15
Queer Ping Pong
Finally your two favourite things, table tennis and club culture, have come together, with a touch of post-migrant discourse added for good measure. All skill levels are welcome in the atrium of the Gropius Bau, where the focus is on relaxed, chilled vibes. Best of all, it’s free.
- Atrium, Gropius Bau, Niederkirchnerstr. 7, Mitte, 13:00-20:00, details.
Monday 16
Food Festival Berlin
If you’re among the many Berliners who’ve been revelling in the recent Italo pop revival and rarely spend a summer afternoon without gleefully sipping on an Aperol Spritz, this week-long food festival will float your boat all the way to bella Italia and back. Discover the art of gelato making, feel bougier than ever at an olive oil tasting and shovel in as much pasta as humanly possible before blissfully passing out in the late summer sun. Mangia!
- Villa Elisabeth, Invalidenstr. 3, Mitte, through Sep 22, details.
Tuesday 17
Archival Assembly #3
Under the motto “Resounding Archives: The Politics of Listening to the Moving Image”, this interdisciplinary festival explores transnational and decolonial practices of curating film archives.
- Various Locations, through Sep 22, details.
Friday 20
The End of Brat Girl Summer
Hey girly, has it been a brat summer for you? Are you, like, in your main character era? Is it giving mother? Well, even if you don’t have ‘brainrot’, SO36 is giving you one last chance to slay the roof off. Hosted by Berlin drag star and The Berliner columnist Pansy, this event is drag performance and dance party all in one. Yas!
- SO36, Oranienstr. 190, Kreuzberg, starts 23:00, details.
QueerBerg Collective presents: Whoriental Festival
Queerberg, a BIPoC collective of queer and trans refugees, wants to give artists from marginalised communities the spotlight they deserve. Join their two-day festival for some stellar music and performance acts.
- Heimathafen Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Str. 141, Neukölln & Gretchen, Obentrautstr. 19-21, Kreuzberg, through Sep 21, details.
LIBIDOH – 3 Years Edit
Held at one of Berlin’s oldest sex-positive clubs, this hedonistic event invites you to dance, play and connect with fellow kinksters. Don’t forget to dress for the occasion!
- Insomnia, Alt-Tempelhof 17-19, Tempelhof, starts 22:00, details.
Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious
From its beginnings in the underground nightclubs of the Bronx to the emergence of global superstars such as Tupac Shakur, Erykah Baduh and Kendrick Lamar, this retrospective traces half a century of hip-hop history. Over 200 photographs showcase the cultural importance of the genre as a tool for empowerment and a platform for marginalised communities. To kick off the exhibition, Fotografiska is hosting an opening bash this evening featuring scratch, dance and rap battles and the chance to leave your own mark on an interactive graffiti canvas.
- Fotografiska, Oranienburger Str. 54, Mitte, starts 19:30, through Jan 2025, details (TBA).
Saturday 21
Open Studios in the Gerichtshöfe Wedding
Once a year, the hospitable artists at Gerichtshöfe Wedding invite curious Berliners to visit where the magic happens. You can either get a guided tour or explore the many painting, sculpture, photography and multimedia studios on your own.
- Gerichtshöfe, Gerichtstr. 12, Wedding, starts 15:00, details.
Festival of Giant Kites
Behold the colossal puffer fish! At the Festival der Riesendrachen on Tempelhofer Feld, visitors gather year after year to marvel at some unique and truly gargantuan (up to 40 metres long!) kites. There will also be a kite-making workshop, bouncy castles and face painting, making this an especially great time for kids and kids at heart alike.
- Tempelhofer Feld, Tempelhofer Damm, starts 11:00, details.
Berlin Ramen Festival
The weather may be cooling down, but there’s no better way to make the most of it than by tucking into a hearty bowl of ramen. At this year’s Berlin Ramen Festival, you can look forward to more ramen varieties than you can count, plus plenty of drink options (sake, anyone?).
- Nåpoleon Komplex, Modersohnstr. 35-45, Friedrichshain, details.
Sunday 22
Berlin by Foot: The Rise and Fall of East Germany
The DDR was founded 75 years ago and collapsed almost exactly 40 years later. East Berlin had some amazing architecture, an enormous repressive apparatus and a surprising underground subculture. On a two-hour walking tour, The Berliner’s history writer Nathaniel Flakin will talk you through about the rise and fall of East Germany.
- U-Bahn Strausberger Platz, Friedrichshain, starts 14:00, details TBA.
Berliner Getränkefest
Ditch the cheap Späti beer and get ready for a different kind of drinking experience: from carefully curated international wines to locally distilled gin, this alcohol fair provides everything you need for a boozy Sunday with friends.
- Markthalle Neun, Pücklerstr. 34, Kreuzberg, starts 12:00, details.
Tuesday 24
tipBerlin Art at Andy Warhol Velvet Rage and Beauty presented by Mastercard
Join an exclusive tour through the creative universe of pop art pope Andy Warhol. Featuring seminal works from the 1940s to the 1980s, the multimedia exhibition focuses on Warhol’s life-long search for ideal male beauty.
– Neue Nationalgalerie, Potsdamer Str. 50, Tiergarten, starts 18:00, details TBA.
Thursday 26
Down Under Film Festival
Though Berlin doesn’t necessarily have a shortage of friendly Aussies, Australian and New Zealand culture events can be quite hard to find. Since 2011, this festival has been showcasing the works of Aussie and Kiwi filmmakers, whether big blockbuster or low-budget student production.
- Moviemento, Kottbusser Damm 22, Kreuzberg & City-Kino Wedding, Centre Français de Berlin, Müllerstr. 74, Wedding, through Sep 29, details.
House of Lunacy
Surrounded by an air of mystique, House of Lunacy is known as one of Berlin’s best sex-positive parties. Their themed events enforce a strict dress code – this month’s theme is ‘Fantasy Fairground’ – and turn Renate into a sprawling playground for self-expression and sexual exploration.
- Renate, Alt-Stralau 70, Friedrichshian, starts 21:00, details.
Homolulu.Berlin – Queer City Bicycle Tour
Local tour guide Rafael takes you on a bike ride through downtown Berlin, sharing interesting dollops of queer history. Highlights include the story of the world’s first public ‘outing’ and a look at Europe’s oldest gay bar.
- Neue Wache, Unter den Linden 4, Mitte, starts 17:00, details.
Friday 27
Critical Mass Berlin
Every last Friday of the month, hundreds of Berlin bicycle enthusiasts take to the streets to protest for better cycling infrastructure and green mobility. Swing by and enjoy the late summer breeze, all in the name of a good cause.
Saturday 28
Shindig Irish Music Festival
Berlin-based Irish band Perlee brings together a wide variety of artists – whose music ranges from gothic and psych folk to dream pop and shoegaze – to celebrate an evening of Irish music in all its diversity.
- Lido, Cuvrystr. 7, Kreuzberg, starts 18:00, details.
Sunday 29
Berlin Marathon
This year, the world’s flattest marathon is celebrating its 50th anniversary – expect records to be broken. Over 50,000 runners, including top athletes from all over the globe, will tackle the legendary 42K course, across the city and through to Brandenburg Gate.
- Pariser Platz, Mitte, from 08:50, details.
