What to do this weekend: Berlin's best events

Thursday

POSITIONS Art Fair

Berlin Art Week is finally here, and what better way to kick it off than with POSITIONS, the week’s one and only art fair. 111 international galleries from 24 countries will showcase their very best works of modern and contemporary art. Last year, over 30,000 visitors flocked to POSITIONS for a look at the best of the best. Tickets go for €20, but if you’re in it for the socialising and not the art, wait until 21:00 when the booths are closed for free entry to the opening party.

Flughafen Tempelhof, Hangar 5-6, Tempelhofer Damm 45, starts 18:00, through Sept 15, details.

130 years of Oleksandr Dovzhenko

*Photo: IMAGO / United Archives International*

To mark the 130th birthday of Ukrainian director Oleksandr Dovzhenko, the unofficial godfather of Ukranian cinema, the Ukrainian Institute in Germany will host a screening of Dovzhenko’s silent black and white film Arsenal with live music by British multi-instrumentalist Guy Bartell. The film tells the story of Ukraine’s brief independence from the Russian Empire in 1917. And to any true cinephile’s delight, film experts Barbara Wurm and Anna Onufrienko will have a discussion after the film about Dovzhenko’s influence and his connections to German expressionism.

Ukrainian Institute, Friedrichstr. 95, starts 20:00, details.

Singalong Party at Sing dela Sing

At Sing dela Sing, the audience members are the stars. With lyrics projected karaoke-style on several giant screens, hundreds of people gather to belt pop-classics, musical hits, well-known ballads, and everything in between accompanied by some of Berlin’s most talented musicians. This will be their first event back in their regular Neukölln space after a summer of open-air singalongs.

Home port Neukölln | Saalbau Neukölln Culture & Event GmbH, Karl-Marx-Str. 141, starts 19:30, tickets .

Friday

Protest Rave: A100 WEGBASSEN!

Whether you’re a resident of Lasker district, a climate activist, a club kid, or just looking for a reason to resist the status quo, you should turn up to this party/protest against the expansion of the A100 urban motorway from Treptow to Friedrichshain. Over 20 clubs and cultural venues, like Renate, Else, OST, ://about blank and more would disappear if the motorway extension were implemented. The organisers, emphasising community solidarity to preserve a livable, less noisy and climate-friendly city, are expecting a turnout of 20,000.

Markgrafendamm, near Berlin- Ostkreuz, starts 17:00, details.

Renate’s 17th Birthday

Happy birthday Renate! One of Berlin’s most beloved and iconic clubs might just be 17 forever, as the venue shockingly announced that it will permanently close their doors in 2025. Luckily, they’re still in a party mood and ready to celebrate with a 60 hour multi-level birthday weekend celebration from Friday – Monday.

Renate, Alt Stralau 70, Friedrichshain, starts 17:00, through Sep 16 details.

Photo exhibition: Dream on – Berlin, the 90s

Some of the most shocking, liberating, and iconic photography was taken in Berlin between 1989-1999. After the fall of the wall, an invisible divide emerged, as did the rise of the city’s countless subcultures, and the future was at once optimistic and uncertain. These photos, from East Berlin photo agency OSTKREUZ, founded in 1990 and now world-renowned, capture the essence of the time period.

C/O Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 22–24, through Jan 2025, details.

Cabaret Chaotik

Wilkommen and Bienvennue to Cabaret Chaotik, a spectacle of acrobatics, music, classic circus acts and sideshows under the big tent at Zirkus Mond. Friday’s lineup is stacked with talented performers, including your host Tilly Poison who is rumoured to be bringing a surprise act all the way from the UK. Get ready to channel your inner showgirl.

Zirkus Mond, Lilli-Henoch Str, starts 20:00, details.

Saturday

Potato Festival

The Dahlem estate knows how to get us excited for fall, as they once again host their Potato Festival. This year, guests can try any of their seven different potato varieties. Other event highlights include potato harvesting, lessons in how to make chips from potato peels, barn tours and historic agricultural machinery demos and a herb smelling contest.

Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Str. 49, through Sept 15, starts 10:00, details.

LIVE Rocky Horror Picture Show

Ready to do the time warp? This cult-classic is hitting the open-air Citadel stage just ahead of spooky season with a live shadow cast performance of your favourite hits. If this is your first time, the show is very interactive, so get ready for a loud audience singing along, yelling at the cast, and even throwing props on stage. It’s all part of the fun.

Open-air stage at the Citadel, Am Juliusturm 62, starts 20:00, details.

Moabiter Kiezfest

Sweet Moabit is excited to host their neighbourhood festival featuring around 100 market stalls where you can browse products from local small businesses and tradespeople and get involved with local cultural initiatives, plus two stages for performances. Whether you’re looking to connect with your neighbours or venture out of your own Kiez for once, head over to Tiergarten City Hall for a wholesome Saturday afternoon.

Tiergarten City Hall, Mathilde-Jacob-Platz 1,, starts 12:00, through Sept 8, details.

Sunday

David Broza at Jüdische Kulturtage Berlin

Jüdische Kulturtage, or Days of Jewish Culture, brings you 10 days of performances, readings, tours. Singer-songwriter David Broza will perform his lyrics in Hebrew, English and Spanish while strumming guitar. His first hit single Yihye Tov (1977) translates directly to “Everything will be fine” and has been hailed as an anthem for peace. Since 1982, he has released more than 40 studio albums.

Rykestrasse Synagogue, Rykestr. 53, starts 20:00, details.

Open Day at the Berlin Animal Shelter

Europe’s largest animal shelter is treating Berliners to every pet-lover’s dream Sunday. Vegan and vegetarian street food will be available to fuel you during this cuteness overload as you try to resist the urge to leave with an entire zoo. Make sure to catch the choreographed performance by their shelter dogs.

Tierheim Berlin, Hausvaterweg 39, starts 11:00, details.

Fundraiser for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza

Organisers from MERA25 and Reuterkiez’s Arts and culture centre Oyoun invite you to join their fundraising event for humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. This event is open to the public and free of charge, but donations are of course encouraged. All sales from participating vendors and raffle tickets will go directly to the cause.