Berlin highlights 2027: The Pergamonmuseum, major art exhibitions and new places to discover

Berlin, November 2026 The return of public access to the Pergamon Altar, Hollywood stars on Berlin’s stages and new spaces for art, culture and nature: Berlin offers plenty of reasons to visit in 2027. February brings Tilda Swinton, the Berlinale and the world premiere of “David Bowie Stage” into the international spotlight. In June, large sections of the Pergamonmuseum reopen. Major exhibitions and new destinations such as Spreepark add further highlights to the year.

The wait is almost over: The Pergamonmuseum reopens on 4 June 2027
Berlin’s most significant cultural moment of 2027 will be the reopening of large sections of the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island. On 4 June, the north wing and parts of the central building will become accessible again. Visitors will be able to experience the famous Pergamon Altar, the Hall of Hellenistic Architecture and the newly conceived collection display of the Museum of Islamic Art.

The reopening forms part of Museum Island’s multi-year programme celebrating its 200th anniversary. Bringing together five major museums, the UNESCO World Heritage Site offers plenty of opportunities to turn a visit into a cultural stay lasting several days.

New perspectives at the Humboldt Forum
A new public space by the water is taking shape at the Humboldt Forum. The “Schlossfreiheit” outdoor staircase is scheduled for completion by summer 2027. Approximately 38 metres wide, it will lead down to the Spreekanal, combining seating steps with a projecting waterside balcony. The development will create another place to pause in Berlin’s historic centre, where culture, architecture and public space meet.

World-Class Entertainment
Berlin offers outstanding live entertainment: with Alizé, Cirque du Soleil presents its first permanent show in Europe at Theater am Potsdamer Platz. The production combines acrobatics with magic and compelling storytelling.

At Friedrichstadt-Palast, the Grand Show Blinded by Delight transports audiences into a dreamlike world. More than 100 performers bring dance, acrobatics and elaborate stage designs to the world’s largest theatre stage. Both productions enrich the cultural programme for a Berlin stay and underline the city’s reputation as an open-minded, international entertainment capital.

Tilda Swinton returns to the stage at the Berliner Ensemble: Oscar-winning actor Tilda Swinton returns to the stage in February 2027 in Manfred Karge’s “Man to Man”. Eight performances are planned at the Berliner Ensemble from 9 February, making Berlin the production’s only stop in mainland Europe. The play tells the story of a woman who assumes her deceased husband’s identity to survive in 1930s Germany. Directed by Stephen Unwin, the production is performed in English with German surtitles. More about “Man to Man” starring Tilda Swinton

More Berlinale for audiences: From 10 to 21 February 2027, the 77th Berlin International Film Festival brings international premieres, filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts to the German capital. For the first time, the Berlinale begins on a Wednesday and concludes with two audience days on 20 and 21 February. The Golden and Silver Bears will be awarded on 19 February. The official programme will be presented on 20 January 2027. More about the Berlinale 2027

David Bowie at 80: A world premiere in Berlin. 8 January 2027 would have marked David Bowie’s 80th birthday. The music legend has a close connection to Berlin: he lived here in the 1970s and recorded “Heroes”, one of his best-known songs. On 14 and 15 February, the immersive concert experience “David Bowie Stage” celebrates its world premiere at the Uber Arena as part of the Berlinale.

Previously unseen and painstakingly restored concert footage from his 1978 world tour forms the basis of the production. Three giant screens, lighting installations and surround sound place audiences at the heart of Bowie’s performance. The creative team includes documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen, known for “Moonage Daydream”, who will attend the world premiere in Berlin. Further concerts and tribute events at the beginning of the year celebrate Bowie and his special relationship with the city. More about “David Bowie Stage”

Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026, offers distinctive exhibition experiences at the start of the year. Until 10 January 2027, Lina Lapelytė’s “We Make Years Out of Hours” invites visitors to build together using 400,000 wooden cubes.

Opened in 2026, the collection display “Tausendmal Berlin” explores Berlin’s art scene in an international dialogue through more than 70 works by over 50 international artists. Works by Katharina Grosse, Mona Hatoum, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Katharina Sieverding, Thomas Struth and Danh Vo, among others, reflect the city’s reputation as a place of subculture and hedonism within an international context.

The group exhibition “Next Door” is also on view until 27 June 2027. Tacita Dean, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Henrik Håkansson and Tomás Saraceno, who once worked in the museum’s neighbourhood, fill the Rieckhallen with large-scale works. These include an installation by Olafur Eliasson in which circles of light respond to a sound composition.

At the Neue Nationalgalerie, “Maurizio Cattelan. NIGHT” runs until 7 March 2027. The Italian artist’s first major solo exhibition in Germany brings key works and new pieces into a dialogue with Mies van der Rohe’s architecture.
 

From Verner Panton to Arnold Böcklin: At the Kunstgewerbemuseum, “Verner Panton – World of Colours” brings the Danish designer and architect’s visionary world to life from 4 March to 18 July 2027. More than 100 exhibits explore his vibrant designs and living environments.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Arnold Böcklin’s birth, the Alte Nationalgalerie presents “Böcklin. Beyond the Myth” from 19 March to 1 August 2027. For the first time, all four surviving versions of his most famous motif, “The Isle of the Dead”, will be brought together from Basel, Berlin, Leipzig and New York. Around 150 works provide insights into the Symbolist artist’s practice.

From 24 April to 29 August 2027, the Neue Nationalgalerie honours Katharina Sieverding with a comprehensive retrospective. Large-scale photographic montages, slide projections and immersive film projections trace six decades of her work.

Ai Weiwei and Thomas Gainsborough: From 5 May 2027, Ai Weiwei, one of contemporary art’s most influential international voices, engages with the Bode-Museum. Existing and newly created works, alongside personal objects, enter into a dialogue with 2,000 years of art history until 4 June 2028. The interventions offer perspectives on belonging and exclusion, power and resistance, memory and loss.

To mark the 300th anniversary of Thomas Gainsborough’s birth, the Gemäldegalerie presents “Thomas Gainsborough: Painter of Life” from 14 May to 12 September 2027. Around 50 works bring together Berlin’s collection of British painting and international loans.

Light art in autumn: From 3 September 2027 to 2 July 2028, Hamburger Bahnhof dedicates a comprehensive survey exhibition to the American light artist James Turrell. Light sculptures, spatial installations, designs and models trace six decades of his work.

Further reasons for a cultural visit include Berlin Art Week, Musikfest Berlin and the Festival of Lights from 9 to 18 October. Interactive and immersive exhibitions add digital art and participatory experiences to the programme.

An overview of Berlin’s top exhibitions here 

The Bauhaus Archive / Museum für Gestaltung plans to reopen in winter 2027/28. The museum building, designed by Walter Gropius, is undergoing extensive renovation and is being complemented by a new extension. Approximately 2,000 square metres of exhibition space will house the world’s largest Bauhaus collection.

A glass tower approximately 20 metres high will become a new architectural landmark. The expanded museum complex will also include spaces for events and educational activities, a public library, a café and a shop. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, followed by the fit-out and preparations for the museum’s reopening.

Around Berlin Central Station, MuseumsMeileMitte connects four institutions within walking distance: the Museum für Naturkunde, Hamburger Bahnhof, Futurium and the Berlin Museum of Medical History at the Charité. Together, they offer different perspectives on science, medicine, contemporary art and questions about the future.

The Hohenzollern Crypt at Berlin Cathedral has been accessible again since 2026. Following six years of restoration, visitors can rediscover this important dynastic burial site.

Berlin is also a magnet for major live events. International stars take to the city’s stages in summer 2027: Ed Sheeran plays four concerts at Tempelhofer Feld, while Harry Styles performs there on 2, 3 and 9 July.

Cinema News from Berlin
Berlin is one of Europe’s leading film and cinema capitals. The Deutsche Kinemathek has opened its first permanent exhibition at its new location in the E-Werk, exploring Berlin’s special role as a centre of international film and subculture. The iconic Kino International on Karl-Marx-Allee has celebrated its reopening following extensive heritage-sensitive renovation work. Meanwhile, arthouse cinema Arsenal has reopened at the Silent Green cultural quarter in Wedding, a former crematorium that is now one of Berlin’s most exciting cultural venues. The cinema scene is also expanding in Prenzlauer Berg: in spring 2027, a new arthouse cinema with two screens is set to open in the former Bassy Club on Pfefferberg; as well as film screenings, it aims to bring together school cinema and cultural events under one roof.

Experience design in Berlin

Berlin has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2006 and celebrated its 20th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Design in 2026. Design remains a reason to explore the city in 2027: festivals, museums, independent labels and creative spaces showcase everything from fashion and product design to architecture and digital applications.

Ocean Berlin: A new destination at Rummelsburger Bucht

Ocean Berlin, a marine experience centre, is taking shape in Lichtenberg, with its opening planned for spring 2027. Around 10,000 square metres of exhibition space will introduce visitors to different marine habitats. The concept includes interactive educational experiences and a publicly accessible coral nursery. The complex will also include event spaces and the NYX Hotel Berlin Ocean, featuring 169 rooms. The hotel is scheduled to open in summer 2027.

Between the future and tradition: Berlin’s hotel highlights

Estrel Tower: New perspectives in Neukölln: The Estrel Tower expands Berlin’s offering for overnight stays, events and business travel. The first guests are expected to be welcomed from 1 December 2026 as part of the soft opening. The official opening is planned for 1 March 2027. The 45-storey tower combines hotel rooms with event spaces and workspaces. The sky restaurant and bar are scheduled to open during 2027.

120 years of the Adlon: In 2027, the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin celebrates its 120th anniversary. Opened in 1907, the hotel by the Brandenburg Gate has a rich and eventful history. Following its destruction during the Second World War, it reopened on Pariser Platz in 1997. Anniversary plans include events and historical guided tours led by Adlon historian Erik Flemming, offering guests and Berliners insights into the history of this renowned hotel.

More hotel news from Berlin

Spreepark opens in 2027 as a park for art, culture and nature
In spring 2027, Spreepark in Plänterwald will reopen as a new kind of park dedicated to art, culture, nature and relaxation rather than a conventional amusement park. Across 23 hectares, preserved and reinterpreted remnants of the former amusement park will sit alongside contemporary art, event venues, spacious green areas, play facilities and places to unwind. At its heart is the restored and artistically redesigned 45-metre-high Ferris wheel, which will turn again for the first time in more than 25 years. Berlin will regain an extraordinary public space for both residents and visitors from around the world to enjoy.

Experience History and Freedom in Berlin
Berlin’s history remains tangible at numerous sites across the city. The Berlin Wall Memorial, the East Side Gallery and other places of remembrance tell the stories of division, the Peaceful Revolution and the value of freedom. Exhibitions, guided tours and eyewitness accounts offer different perspectives on the city’s history.

From the end of November, the Christmas markets in Berlin’s districts provide further seasonal reasons to visit.

Berlin as a trade fair and convention destination

International trade fairs, scientific congresses and events in the digital and creative industries provide further reasons to visit Berlin. The visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office brings together information about the city as a conference destination and supports event planners. Current dates and venues can be found in the Berlin Convention Office’s congress calendar.

Sporting Moments
The Berlin Marathon and other international competitions combine elite sport with a stay in the German capital. Matches featuring Berlin’s professional teams offer further opportunities to experience the city’s sporting scene.

An NFL game in Berlin has also been confirmed for 2027. The date and participating teams will be announced separately.

Berlin Recognised in International Rankings
Berlin has received numerous accolades in international rankings, confirming its appeal as a travel destination: the German capital ranks among the world’s top ten cities, is one of the four most sustainable metropolises globally, and ranks second among the best solo travel destinations. The Berlin Marathon’s reputation as Europe’s most popular marathon and Berlin’s status as a leading live music capital further underline the city’s international appeal.

You can find an overview of all the highlights for 2026/27 here, new openings in Berlin here, and news from Berlin’s hotel industry here.