Berliner Festspiele

What’s On

Exhibitions

Immersion

Past Events

Begleitprogramm Philippe Parreno

Accompanying Programme

Festivals & Programme Series

The Berliner Festspiele organise a range of festivals and art exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances, readings, lectures, debates and much more throughout the year. These events are presented at a range of locations across Berlin but are concentrated primarily at their own two venues: the Gropius Bau and the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.

The Berliner Festspiele programme archive includes all events from 2004 onwards.

The archive pages of the current festivals and programme series can be found in the menu of the respective festival under Programme/Archive.

Berliner Festspiele&rsquo;s own events, guest events and past festivals and programme series are listed on this page.

Immersion 2018

2018

&ldquo;Nothing will have taken place but the place.&rdquo; 
St&eacute;phane Mallarm&eacute;

<a href="artist_connector">Philippe Parreno’s</a>&nbsp;untitled solo exhibition at the Gropius Bau Berlin has yet to exist and will perhaps never exist as it is described here. This is not to say that it is any less real. To be sure, this show has many different modes of existence which, as of now, are purely virtual, sites of possibility which may or may not become actual. To date, the exhibition exists in various modes that have changed over time including one which can be experienced through VR headsets. Yet at this time, nothing appears fixed, the future that the exhibition takes remains open, and we can only imagine what Parreno intends to do.
It seems certain that some old works will reappear. For example, a cuttlefish, an animal that turns up often in Parreno’s work will star in “Anywhen”, a film shot in 2016, which has recently been entirely re-edited. Many of these past works that may reappear were never really artworks to begin with. For example, the flower wallpaper previously seen as a background element in the set of Parreno’s film “Marilyn” (2012) moves to the foreground becoming an individual work covering a gallery wall. “Fireflies” will return too: hundreds of drawings of lightning bugs flash on a large LED screen and then fade away, their lifespan governed by complex algorithms. Certainly, this coming and going of old characters has something to do with birth, death and rebirth. Indeed, two gigantic inflated cartoon baby heads, one of Parreno’s oldest works dating to 1993, will take on a new life. When (or if) these old works meet, only time will tell how they will get along. Will they resonate? What new realities might emerge?
Disembodied free-floating sensations and intensities will directly affect the bodies of the works themselves and those visiting the show. In one room, three different wind vortexes designed by scientists will guide the circulation of balloon fish on an elaborate path. This course in turn will be altered in unexpected ways as the fish interact with the spectators. Live sounds, emanating from somewhere in or beyond the city, leak inside and spread from one room to the next. These sounds re-surface in the reflecting pool of the atrium as they are transduced into visual patterns of waterlilies. Light constantly changes in the galleries as automatic blinds go up and down following a rhythm governed by an unknown authority. Light reflected off the facing buildings slowly moves across the museum floor in what Parreno calls a “heliostat choreography”. Another area is bathed in an eerie orange glow that evokes the fictional future of our fading sun. In another room, the temperature changes drastically. Is it just our imagination? How can we feel these intensities if they have yet to be actualized?
As we move through the exhibit, we begin to feel as if we had entered a dimension not organized according to our normal spatial coordinates. This is an inner space, a purely mental landscape, a site animated by a paranoiac logic. In a back room, sits a bioreactor, consisting of a beaker in which micro-organisms multiply, mutate, and adapt to their environment. Connected to computers that orchestrate the events in the exhibition, these bacteria develop a memory, a collective intelligence that learns the changing rhythms of the show and evolves to anticipate future variations. As the micro-organisms persistently interact with each other, and with the contingent events taking place in the museum, their neural circuitry sets in motion a complex non-deterministic, non linear mise en scene. This alien brain in a vat becomes the living control center, the mastermind, of the exhibition. The bioreactor’s thought process is imperceptible to humans. We can only imagine what it intends to do.
—&nbsp;Zoe Stillpass, 2018

Philippe Parreno

The Berliner Festspiele&rsquo;s programme series &ldquo;Immersion&rdquo; presented the work of artists who transcended the conventional oppositions between work and viewer, stage and auditorium, object and observer.

Archiv

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You can listen to some of our events this year digitally in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library after the live concerts.&nbsp;In addition, On Demand offers from past years are available.

Musikfest Berlin in the Media Library

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The international Jazzfest Research Lab&nbsp;welcomes academics and students to take a critical look at the festival’s archive, its programmes, creators, musicians and – last but not least – its myths. In two seminars during the summer semester of 2024, students from the Berlin University of the Arts and the University of Hildesheim have explored the festival’s history from various perspectives. In this film, the participants give a first look at how they dealt with their research subject.

Introducing: Jazzfest Research Lab

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To mark its 60th anniversary, Jazzfest Berlin is celebrating the cultural diversity of the neighbouring district of Moabit in collaboration with around 35 official partners and initiatives and with over 350 participants of all ages.&nbsp;In June 2024, interviews were conducted with 20 partners who presented their perspectives, wishes and ideas for the Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit. You can get a first impression with this film.

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Curated by&nbsp;Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema&nbsp;

From 13 to 16 June 2024, the interdisciplinary themed days “Reflexes &amp; Reflections” on the Israel-Palestine conflict and its consequences for society in Germany took place at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. You can now find video and audio recordings of the discourse events in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library!

Reflexes &amp; Reflections. 7 October, the war in Gaza and the debate in Germany

In the Media Library

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The 10 Remarkable Productions 2024

On 26 January, the Theatertreffen’s jury of critics announced their selection of 10 remarkable productions for the 2024 Theatertreffen at a press conference. Our congratulations go to the nominated production teams and all participants! The programme will be published on 5 April.

Theatertreffen 2024

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The massacre, hostage-taking and rocket attacks by Hamas have shaken us deeply. The grue-some attack on Israel on 7&nbsp;October left us stunned and initially lost for words.

The Berliner Festspiele on Current Events in Israel, Gaza and Germany

With this letter of intent, we, the signing cultural organizations, express our intention to welcome, host and stage Ukrainian theatre artists in our venues, to make Ukrainian dramatic work visible to the European community.

Support of the Ukrainian Cultural Scene

More Berliner Festspiele

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From October 2025 to January 2026, the Performing Arts Season will present outstanding international productions from the fields of dance, theatre and performance at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele and the Gropius Bau. The programme schedule is online, advance ticket sale is on. The current edition focuses on the fragility and dynamics of identity, especially in times of social change and marginalization.

Performing Arts Season

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This year’s Jazzfest Berlin is welcoming 120&nbsp;international musicians from more than 20&nbsp;countries to Berlin, spanning an artistically diverse range, from free improvisation to hip-hop and noise, from lyrical and melancholic tones to distorted guitar sounds and stuttering beats, and from introverted solo sets to thundering large ensembles.&nbsp;The programme has been published and advance ticket sales are on.

Jazzfest Berlin

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Young musical talents from all over Germany have applied for the Treffen junge Musikszene competition. The&nbsp;expert jury&nbsp;has now made its selection from the entries! The programme schedule will be published on 14 October.

Treffen junge Musikszene

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Young talents from all over Germany have applied for the Treffen junger Autor*innen competition. The&nbsp;expert jury&nbsp;has now made its selection from the entries! The programme schedule will be published on 14 October.

Treffen junger Autor*innen

Upcoming

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<h3>Theatertreffen</h3><h4>2 to 20 May 2024</h4>The 10&nbsp;remarkable productions, selected by a jury of critics, were announced in a press conference on 26&nbsp;January 2024, 11:00. The programme will be published on 5&nbsp;April, advance ticket sales will start on 19&nbsp;April at 14:00

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William Kentridge

The Great Yes, The Great No

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Wim Wenders “Wesentliches”

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The Berlinale as a guest at Haus der Berliner Festspiele

75th Berlin International Film Festival

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as a guest at Haus der Berliner Festspiele

25th international literature festival berlin

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Widely regarded as one of the most original and influential artists of the 20th&nbsp;century, Diane Arbus’ bold black-and-white photographs demolish aesthetic conventions and upend all certainties. With Diane Arbus: Konstellationen, Gropius Bau presents the most comprehensive exhibition of her work to date. Featuring 454&nbsp;prints, many of them shown here for the first time, Konstellationen offers new perspectives on Arbus’ iconic images and the wide range of her portraiture.

Diane Arbus: Konstellationen

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Marking twenty years since artist, writer and performer Vaginal Davis made Berlin her home, Gropius Bau presents the first comprehensive solo exhibition of her work in Germany. In her expansive oeuvre, punk meets glamour, queer activism meets Black counter-culture and resistance meets desire. Fabelhaftes Produkt offers an overview of Davis’ practice and artistic collaborations.

Vaginal Davis:&nbsp;Fabelhaftes Produkt

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A Play Space for Kids

Playing, laughing, making noise, letting off steam, doing nothing – all in an exhibition venue! With BAUBAU, the artist Kerstin Br&auml;tsch designed an&nbsp;admission-free play space for kids, where more is allowed than forbidden. On Gropius Bau’s ground floor, colourful wallpapers, structures, objects and open-ended material called “loose parts” configure flexible spaces that are shaped by children’s activities.

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Ligia Lewis is a central figure in redefining performance within the context of the visual arts. In her multifaceted practice, she combines performance, live installation and film. &nbsp;From autumn 2025, Gropius Bau presents I’M NOT HERE FORRRRR…, the artist and choreographer’s most comprehensive solo exhibition to date. It brings together new and existing works that explore themes of race, gender, violence and resistance.

Ligia Lewis: I’M NOT HERE FORRRRR…

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions at the Gropius&nbsp;Bau

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A Play Space for KidsPlaying, laughing, making noise, letting off steam, doing nothing – all in an exhibition venue! With BAUBAU, the artist Kerstin Br&auml;tsch designed an&nbsp;admission-free play space for kids, where more is allowed than forbidden. On Gropius Bau’s ground floor, colourful wallpapers, structures, objects and open-ended material called “loose parts” configure flexible spaces that are shaped by children’s activities.

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16 October 2025 to 18 January 2026Ligia Lewis is a central figure in redefining performance within the context of the visual arts. In her multifaceted practice, she combines performance, live installation and film. &nbsp;From autumn 2025, Gropius Bau presents I’M NOT HERE FORRRRR…, the artist and choreographer’s most comprehensive solo exhibition to date. It brings together new and existing works that explore themes of race, gender, violence and resistance.

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16 October 2025 to 18 January 2026Widely regarded as one of the most original and influential artists of the 20th&nbsp;century, Diane Arbus’ bold black-and-white photographs demolish aesthetic conventions and upend all certainties. With Diane Arbus: Konstellationen, Gropius Bau presents the most comprehensive exhibition of her work to date. Featuring 454&nbsp;prints, many of them shown here for the first time, Konstellationen offers new perspectives on Arbus’ iconic images and the wide range of her portraiture.

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We have been following EMAS guidelines for sustainable environmental performance since 2013. Find out more about our goals and the measures that we have already taken on the website of our umbrella organisation.

Sustainable Environmental Performance

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Active since 2018, the national network DIE VIELEN formulates clear positions against enmity, right-wing extremism and attacks against artistic freedom. With the campaign “SHIELD &amp; SHINE”, the alliance is calling out to take an even stronger stance in support of a plural, democratic orientation of the world.

SHIELD &amp; SHINE – We Are Many

<h3>Sustainable Environmental Performance</h3>We have been following EMAS guidelines for sustainable environmental performance since 2013. Find out more about our goals and the measures that we have already taken on the website of our umbrella organisation.

<h3>Musikfest Berlin</h3><h4>24 August to 18 September 2024</h4>In 2024, the Musikfest Berlin will once again open the concert season in late summer with top-class international orchestras, celebrated conductors and remarkable soloists. The full programme is online. Advance ticket sales has started.

All year round, Berliner Festspiele host a multitude of festivals, exhibitions and individual events in two houses – the Haus der Berliner Festspiele at Schaperstra&szlig;e and the Gropius Bau near Potsdamer Platz – and other venues in the city.

The Berliner Festspiele

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Three productions at Haus der Berliner Festspiele

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Texts and videos on artists and events of the Performing Arts Season, for example various trailers or the recording of the lecture by choreographer and dancer Lucinda Childs, can be found in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library.

Performing Arts Season 2024/25

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Shortly after their performance at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, the productions invited to the Tanztreffen der Jugend will be available in the media library until October 2026. Through diverse choreographies and forms of expression in contemporary and urban dance, the young dancers explore what constitutes their own identity and how it asserts itself in interaction with others.

Tanztreffen der Jugend 2025

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The video documentary about the large-scale Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit followed several protagonists through the Moabit neighbourhood from 28 October to 3 November 2024, highlighting the cultural diversity of the numerous projects and initiatives that emerged as part of the project.

Exploring: Jazzfest Community Lab Moabit 2024

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Find out more about some of MaerzMusik’s 2025 artists, including Joan La Barbara, Laura Bowler and Pamela Z: talks, interviews and a portrait have been published in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library.

MaerzMusik 2025

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Watch the four 3sat “Starke St&uuml;cke“ from the Theatertreffen 2025 in the Media Library of the Berliner Festspiele. In addition, statements from the Theatertreffen jury as well as various discussions from the “Forum Theatertreffen 1965–2025“ are available online, among other content.

Theatertreffen 2025

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On the future of debate culture: The videos of the second edition of “Reflexes &amp; Reflections with lectures, discussions and a late-night programme are available in the Media Library.

Reflexes &amp; Reflections 2025

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In addition to the recording of the opening ceremony, the productions from the Theatertreffen der Jugend are available in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library until June 2026. The central theme is fear: fear of the events and catastrophes that come thick and fast, fear of war, poverty and failure, fear of manipulation and being overwhelmed by social media.

Theatertreffen der Jugend 2025

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Discover background information on Musikfest Berlin 2025, including interviews with selected composers and performers, stories related to the hidden object picture, and audio recordings of selected concerts, which will be available shortly after each event.

Musikfest Berlin 2025

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In addition to the recording of the opening ceremony, the concerts from the Treffen junge Musikszene are available in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library until November 2025. The 2024 selection is very diverse and energetic: urban rock, crossover, but also earthy rock and new metal are represented, as well as catchy pop songs, intimate ballads and psychedelic folk songs.

Treffen junge Musikszene 2024

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In addition to the recording of the opening ceremony, the readings and talks from&nbsp;Treffen junger Autor*innen are available in the Berliner Festspiele Media Library until November 2025. The young authors deal with political issues, but also express their social anger.&nbsp;

Treffen junger Autor*innen 2024

13 to 23 February 2025

Once more, like every year, the Berlinale will be a guest at Haus der Berliner Festspiele with a diverse film programme. On this occasion the house will be transformed into a high tech cinema.&nbsp;The spectrum of films at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele ranges from premieres and reruns of the&nbsp;Competition, Berlinale Special&nbsp;and&nbsp;Berlinale Special Gala&nbsp;to the&nbsp;Panorama&nbsp;section.

On 22 January, the Theatertreffen’s jury of critics announced their selection of 10 most remarkable productions for the 2025 Theatertreffen at a press conference. Our congratulations go to the nominated production teams and all participants!

The 10 Most Remarkable Productions 2025

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Gropius Bau linksbündig_neu

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Reflexe und Reflexionen

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Festivals & Programmreihen

Der schnellste Weg zu unseren Festivals, Ausstellungen und Programmreihen: The quickest way to our festivals, exhibitions and programme series:<ul> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{55f81055-59ad-4284-b7c4-a3019f95610e},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/gropius-bau}}}">Gropius&nbsp;Bau</a></li></ul><ul> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{26e11d22-b6fe-47cb-a18a-b6b29d9136a7},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/jazzfest-berlin}}}">Jazzfest&nbsp;Berlin</a></li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{3295227e-266e-442b-9094-c484230f623f},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/maerzmusik}}}">MaerzMusik</a></li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{6633a1a2-5791-4d37-85a7-e0b06fa105f2},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/musikfest-berlin}}}">Musikfest&nbsp;Berlin</a></li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{af5afe78-6bdd-4e71-aae7-9589124d87bd},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/performing-arts-season}}}">Performing Arts Season</a></li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{fa672cb2-855e-469b-8212-4dec36fe248c},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/theatertreffen}}}">Theatertreffen</a></li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{4edae657-6eda-4c0e-bca1-0ce354742029},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/treffen-junge-szene}}}">Treffen junge Szene</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>Dar&uuml;ber hinaus geht es hier zu den folgenden Seiten: In addition, click here to go to the following pages:<ul> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{f9e53754-08cb-44b3-8aef-d1bc11968779},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de}}}">Startseite</a>&nbsp;(Home Page)</li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{9e5a1240-2f96-4b76-be7b-a8c3f2a22bbd},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/programm/kalender}}}">Kalender</a>&nbsp;(Calendar)</li> <li><a href="${link:{uuid:{1c781ff7-4d77-4925-af10-b8f846eb2b8a},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/besuch/anfahrt-kontakt}}}">Anfahrt &amp; Kontakt</a>&nbsp;(Visit &amp; Contact)</li> <li><a href="https://tickets.kbb.eu/kbb.webshop/webticket/shop?language=de">Webshop</a>&nbsp;(Online Shop)</li></ul>Falls das auch nicht hilft, finden Sie unsere Veranstaltungen auch auf externen Seiten: If that doesn't help you can find our event on external pages:<ul> <li><a href="http://www.berlin-buehnen.de/de/spielplan/?locations=80" target="_blank" title="Berlin B&uuml;hnen">Berlin B&uuml;hnen</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/de/museen/martin-gropius-bau/#section-exhibitions" target="_blank" title="Museumsportal Berlin">Museumsportal Berlin</a></li></ul>M&ouml;chten Sie uns helfen? Schicken Sie uns gerne eine Nachricht mit dem Hinweis, wo der Fehler aufgetreten ist: You want to help us? Please send us a message with a hint where the error occurred: <a href="mailto:online-plattformen@berlinerfestspiele.de">online-plattformen@berlinerfestspiele.de</a><ul></ul>

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Throughout the year, the Berliner Festspiele organise various festivals and art exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances, readings, lectures, debates and much more. In addition to other venues in Berlin, they primarily use their own two buildings for this purpose: the Gropius Bau and the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.