Wednesday, November 19
Despite ZDF’s decision to move its traditional New Year’s Eve broadcast to Hamburg this year, celebrations at Brandenburger Tor will go ahead, albeit a little differently than usual.
Mayor of Berlin Kai Wegner previously announced that the federal state would not subsidy the usual celebration, causing the private organiser to cancel what is considered Germany’s biggest New Year’s Eve party. However, today he announced that an alternative version of the annual celebration will take place, including a DJ party from 10 pm.
In addition, ARD will broadcast a seven-and-a-half-minute fireworks display live from midnight that Chief Organiser Moritz van Dülmen promised to be “the most beautiful in Berlin”. Wegner highlighted the importance of including Germany’s capital city amongst New Year’s Eve photos from around the world, alongside those of Sydney and New York.
Although there will not be a stage show this year, a party mile will extend down Straße des 17. Juni and the managing director has assured that everything necessary for a good party will be available. In the end, Berlin will contribute to the costs, mostly on security for the event, at a total of €590,000. From December, free tickets for 20,000 guests will become available.
