What to do this weekend: Berlin's best events

Friday

DANCÆ x Chlär

Throw down your tutu and marvel at Dancae latest electronically scored ballet. Known for their collaborative and innovative productions, Dancae new piece is set within a 360° spatial sound installation performed to a live set from sought after techno producer Chlär. In collaboration with Ballet Sur_real, the choreography explores the dystopian and utopian reality AI is bringing into the world.

Haus der Visionäre, Eichenstraße 4A, 12435 Berlin. Details.

RATAS single release

From the depths of the underground, 90MIL unleashes a frenzied night of riot-grrrl chaos, feminist post-punk mayhem and glitter rock-all charged with queer sensibility. This hot-and-spicy lineup features RATAS, The Sticky Hickies, Ende September and HANDLE, proving that punk isn’t dead—it’s very much on the agenda.

90MIL near Jannowitzbrücke, Berlin. Details.

Kunst im Karton

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, as the saying goes, but Kunst im Karton proves it to be true. Using recycled fruit and vegetable cartons as presentation frames, this art fair showcases small artworks of painting, objects, photography and jewelry with individual items costing no more than €250. Running since 2019, it’s a great chance to snag that last minute secret Santa gift.

Gerichtshöfe Wedding (Aufgang 3) Wiesenstraße 62, 13347 Berlin. Details.

Saturday

Berlin Chili Fest: Spicy Xmas Market

Spice up your life! Berlin’s Chili fest is serving up a sizzlin’ weekend of events, adding a large dose of heat to these cold grey afternoons. Alongside food stalls offering up tasty grub, it features spicy market stalls, a lollipop tie-dye workshop, a spicy wings eating competition and an Elvis impersonator, who we hope will do a rendition of Burning Love. You’ve been warmed!

Kalle Halle, Karl-Marx-Straße 101, 12043 Berlin. Details.

Eve Arnold: Capturing Compassion

*SOUTH AFRICA. Zululand. A nurse listens to a foetal heartbeat. From ‘All In A Days Work’. 1973.*

With a portfolio ranging from film stars to migrant workers, the latest exhibition at frieraum für fotografie captures Eve Arnold’s humanist photojournalism. The exhibition features 140 works, including Marilyn Monroe and Malcolm X that prove why Arnold is one of the most prominent photographers of the 20th Century and became one of the first women to be accepted into the prestigious MAGNUM Photos agency.

f³ – freiraum für fotografie Prinzessinnenstraße 30, 10969 Berlin. Details.

Transkontinentale 2025

*Daddy by Joel Bray / Photo by Bryony Jackson*

Back for its second installment of theatrics and discourse, the Transkontinentale festival offers a performance smorgasbord of theatre, dance and literature events at the Humboldt Forum. Combining themes of family, fertility and believe it or not, theatre for babies, the festival highlights indigenous and interdisciplinary artists from Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America.

Humboldt Forum, Schlossplatz 10178, Berlin. Details.

Sunday

Blumenheads

Berlin legends only! DJ Marcelle tops the lineup with a 5 hour set at this all-dayer at Sameheads, and she’ll be playing nothing but 7” singles from her vast selection. Running from 8am, it’s a good choice for an after hours hang or to drop in for a late afternoon boogie. Either way, Eric D. Clark, Dj Killing and the terrible two of Paty Vapor & Caillou aka Wisdom Tits will be killing it on the decks, leaving you severely sore come Monday morning.

Sameheads, Richardstrasse 10, 12043 Berlin. Details.

At the Table – A Circus-Theatre of Generations

The latest offering from Circus Treasure Island combines multi-generational performers, with a new show based around family struggles. If you’ve been bickering with your nearest and dearest, then this show takes it up a notch—adding chutzpah to conflict through dance, acrobatics and theatre. With 12 performers ranging between 25-86, it’s time to respect your elders.

Pfefferberg Theatre, Schönhauser Allee 176, 10119 Berlin. Details.

Winter Wine Market

If you’re in the mood to sample some of Europe’s finest wines, Fotografiska Berlin’s awarded Director of Wine, Pierre Girard has handpicked a selection of the finest tipples around. Bringing the best winemakers to Champagne growers into their grand ballroom, you’ll get a chance to meet the people behind the bottles and enjoy a complementary tasting experience by the exquisite Restaurant Verōnika.