There is something magical in the Berlin air. Perhaps it is that feeling of freedom that still hovers in its streets, or the creative energy that pulsates in every neighborhood. The fact is that this city never stops surprising, and 2025-2026 will be particularly special. Between historical anniversaries, new breathtaking openings and events that will make people talk about itself, the German capital is preparing to steal the heart even for the most demanding travelers.
Two centuries of art history: the island of museums turns 200 years old
2025 marks a historical goal for Berlin: the famous island of museums celebrates its 200 years with a celebratory program that will extend for five years. Already from 1 June the outdoor festival began for the UNESCO World Heritage Day, while in the summer the suggestive Kolonnadenhof will turn into a characteristic Kolonnaden Bar.
Lovers of ancient art will not be able to lose the exhibition “Fondamenta dell’Antico. The first Museum of Berlin” which will open in July, followed in November by the exhibition “Sculpted myths. Göbeklitepe and the world of the last hunters”. The 2026 will instead be dedicated to the Alte Nationalgalerie, with the awaited partial reopening of the Pergamum Museum scheduled for spring 2027.
Berlin celebrates freedom: the Berlin Freedom Week was born
From 8 to 15 November 2025, Berlin will host the Berlin Freedom Week for the first time, a week dedicated to the themes of freedom, democracy and human rights. On the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the fall of the wall, the city will become an international stage for conferences, cultural events, workshops and interactive formats open to all.
A cultural “French Summer” in 2026
2026 will give art enthusiasts a real “French Summer” to art enthusiasts. Neue Nationalgalerie will present the first large retrospective in Germany for over 50 years dedicated to the sculptor Constantin Brancusi, with a spectacular reconstruction of his Parisian atelier, in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou.
At the same time, the Alte Nationalgalerie will dedicate a special exhibition to the legendary art merchant Paul Cassirer, exhibiting over 100 masterpieces of French Impressionism, from Monet to Van Gogh. The Gallery Weekend Berlin (1-3 May 2026) will complete the cultural offer with over 50 galleries that will open the doors to the public.
Anniversaries not to be missed
2025 is full of significant anniversaries: the East Side Gallery celebrates 35 years as the longest open gallery in the worldwhile the historic Gendarmenmarkt finally reopens to the public after two years of work. The exhibition center c/o Berlin turns 25 and the Berlinische Galerie celebrates half a century with an exhibition dedicated to the Dadaist Raoul Hausmann.
World -class shows
Berlin is preparing to welcome the first permanent show in Europe of Cirque du Soleil, which will debut in November 2025 in the Potsdamer Platz theater with “Alizé”. The Friedrichstadt-Palast will instead present the new Grand Show “Blinded by Delight” with over 100 artists on the largest theater scene in the world.
Sports and architectural news
American sports enthusiasts will be able to attend a NFL game for the first time at the Olympic stadium on 9 November 2025. In the meantime, the Berlin skyline will be enriched with the far tower, which from the end of 2025 will rise for 45 floors such as the highest hotel tower in Germany.
Berlin, increasingly loved by Italians
The numbers are clear: in 2024 over 255,000 Italian guests visited Berlin, with a 17% increase in overnight stays compared to the previous year. Italy is confirmed by the third European country for Berlin tourism, a sign of the irresistible charm that this metropolis continues to exercise.
Berlin looks like a city in constant evolution, where history and modernity merge into a unique mix.
