Friday, 22 November
The end of free Museum Sundays in Berlin
After three and a half successful years, Berlin’s Museumssonntag – the initiative offering free entry to museums on the first Sunday of every month – is expected to come to an end. As part of the city’s 3 billion euro budget measures, the programme will be discontinued after December 1. The decision marks a significant loss for cultural accessibility in the city, with an estimated 2 million euro annual savings cited as the reason for the cut.
Since its commencement in July 2021 under the previous coalition, the initiative welcomed over two million visits to 80 participating museums. Venues like the Deutsches Technikmuseum, the Museum für Naturkunde, and the Neue Nationalgalerie became highlights of the programme, offering Berliners and tourists alike the chance to explore exhibitions for free. Entry was often accompanied by numerous workshops, guided tours, concerts and readings.
While the black-red coalition emphasises fiscal responsibility, the cancellation raises concerns about barriers to cultural participation. The programme was not just about free entry – it was a statement on inclusivity and the role of public art in everyday life. Free of charge, one last time, the final Museumssonntag will take place December 1st.
