Berlin is a city full of life, culture and history, with concerts, international film festivals, parties, fashion, popular sporting events and many other opportunities. Looking forward to a few moments this year that I broke down by season and category. I am sure that this is just a glimpse, but is a good idea to have a plan.

Winter

The year has a great start. Konzerthaus Berlin has a wonderful program, with New Year Concerts on the 1st and 3rd with First Night – Das Berliner Neujahrkonzert and 4th of January with Johann-Strauß-Neujahrgala.

Berlin Fashion Week is between 13th and 17th of January, including a sustainable fashion fair and collection presentations for the first time at Tempelhofer airport. The second fashion Week will be at the end of June.

Transmediale between 28th of January and 1st of February is an annual festival for art and digital culture. Venues include techno club Berghain (opening night), Embassy of Canada, HKW and Volksbühne Theatre.

Berlinale – The 70th Berlin International Film Festival (20 February- 1 March 2020) is very glamorous with many film screenings, but also a special gala, workshops and panels. Homage and Honorary Golden Bear 2020 will be offered to Oscar winner – Dame Helen Mirren. The main venue is Theater at Potsdamer Platz (Marlene-Dietrich Platz 1, 10785 Berlin).

Spring

Is only spring, but the season brings warmer temperatures, the city is blooming and Berlin Travel Festival is scheduled in March (later edit – Festival canceled due to Corona restrictions).

Gallery Weekend Berlin, at the 16th edition in the first 3 days in May is a leading event for contemporary art. The great news is that about 40 galleries from entire Berlin will open the doors for this event. (later edit – event postponed for autumn. Actually, in the new international context, Spring was postponed/cancelled)

Summer

This season usually hosts the Carnival of Cultures open air events, including:

• Open-air movie nights still happening at Volkspark Friedrichshain (largest open-air cinema), Cinema Kreuzberg (oldest in Berlin), Potsdamer Platz and “Island in Cassiopeia”
• Staatsoper Unter den Linden for all (Moved also in September)
• Classic Open Air at Gendarmenmarkt (2 to 6 July – postponed for next year)

August usually brings the Night of the Palaces in Potsdam (14 and 15 August) and the Long Night of Museum in Berlin (29 August). Plus is the perfect season for boat trips on river Spree.

Autumn

I admired how the city is transformed every season, but autum was more noticeable and beautiful.

In the fall we will have an interesting mix of electronics and culture with:

• MusicFest Berlin from 29 August to 18 September
• IFA Berlin – Consumer Electronics Fair (4-9 September)
• the US music festival Lollapalooza (5 and 6 September) at Olympiapark Berlin – just online
• International Literature Festival (9-19 September)
• Berlin Art Week (from 9 to 13 September) in various locations and galleries in the city
• Heritage Day or Day of the Open Monument (12 and 13 September). This weekend will be busy with events
• beloved yearly “Festival of Lights”, covered in a post last year, starts on 11th of September and Berlin Leuchtet / Berlin Illuminated from the 25th September until the 4th of October
• European Month of Photography (1-31 October).

Berlin Biennale (held every two years) will transform locations in the city in galleries for contemporary art (moved from 5 September to 1 November 2020).

Sport

Bundesliga Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin to follow and the popular Berlin Marathon was scheduled on September 27th. Plus more runs to choose from, including B2Run at historic Olympic Stadium.

Music & Shows

• I am looking forward to Berlin Berlin – The great show of the golden 20’s at Admiralspalast
• Vivid – Grand Show (revue show) is a must-see at Friedrichstraße-Palace
• Mamma Mia I saw in London and I am glad now they are on tour in Berlin at Stage Theatre des Westens
• Jazz Fest Berlin scheduled between 5-9th of November

Exhibition highlights:

• Monet. Places at Barberini Museum, starting with February
• Pablo Picasso. Les Femmes d’Alger at The Berggruen Museum, from June
• Raphael in Berlin at Gemäldegalerie, from now until April 2020.

A wonderful time again

Lastly, starting with end of November and throughout December, Christmas markets and holiday lights can be admired on the streets of Berlin and we have a lot to celebrate.

My friend Hedwig from Stuttgart wrote me in an email about an interesting expo from 5th of January at Kraftwerk Berlin called “Light Art Space” by Refik Anadols. I remembered Kulturbraurei has always interesting exhibitions, festivals and my type of Halloween or New Year parties. And than the idea for this research & post came.

My hope in 2020 is to invest more in photography and in creative writing. What is your plan?