Second Berlin Freedom Week Begins: Berlin Becomes an International Forum for Freedom and Democracy

Berlin, 6 November 2026 As Berlin marks the 37th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city will once again become an international forum for freedom and democracy. From 7 to 14 November, the second Berlin Freedom Week will connect Berlin’s history of division and the Peaceful Revolution with the challenges facing today’s freedom movements around the world. At a press conference at the Brandenburg Gate this morning, the organisers, together with Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and international guests, presented the key themes of this year's Freedom Week. Berliners and visitors to the city are invited to explore current issues surrounding human rights, civic participation and democratic values at around 170 events.

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin and Patron of Berlin Freedom Week: “Berlin, as a city of freedom, stands alongside all those who stand up for freedom, democracy and human rights. Following its successful debut, we will establish Berlin Freedom Week as a tradition in our city – an annual fixture around 9 November, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Especially in these challenging times, we need places where we talk to one another rather than about one another, because democracy thrives on dialogue. We must do everything we can to strengthen our democracy and protect freedom wherever it is under threat.”

Rebecca Hernandez Garcia, Managing Director of the Robert Havemann Society: “After months of intensive preparations and such positive feedback, we are delighted that Berlin Freedom Week is finally getting underway! Together with our many partners, we have put together a diverse programme featuring engaging events and opportunities for dialogue and exchange. Around the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we want to send a strong message in support of freedom and democracy and give a platform to those who are fighting for these values around the world today. Their stories remind us of what we know from our archive of the GDR opposition: the courage to stand up against oppression and the hope that together, we can bring about change.”

Berlin Freedom Conference on 10 November

A highlight of Berlin Freedom Week is the Berlin Freedom Conference on 10 November at the Colosseum cinema. Under the theme “Change is possible”, prominent international speakers including former world chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, security expert Dr Claudia Major, Josephine Ballon from HateAid and Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo López will discuss how democratic alliances can be strengthened against autocratic regimes and freedom defended around the world.

Further information and tickets: berlin-freedom-conference.com 

Burkhard Kieker, Founder of the Berlin Freedom Society and Director of the Berlin Freedom Conference: “People from around the world who are fighting for freedom and democracy are coming together for the Berlin Freedom Conference and Berlin Freedom Week. Many well-known personalities will be among them. On 10 November, we will give them a platform and a voice.”

Freedom and Security Women Summit at the German Bundestag

The Freedom and Security Women Summit on 9 November at the German Bundestag will focus on women's rights and democratic resilience. Participants include President of the German Bundestag Julia Klöckner, President of the French National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, Iranian-American women's rights activist Masih Alinejad, Afghan tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob, Cuban opposition activist Rosa María Payá and Uyghur human rights activist Rushan Abbas.

Further information: https://womensummit.netlify.app/

Evelyn Zupke, Federal Commissioner for the Victims of the SED Dictatorship at the German Bundestag: “Only one in five people worldwide is fortunate enough to live in a free, democratic country. In far too many countries, it takes courageous people to stand up against dictatorships. And it takes many courageous women. How can those of us who live in a free and democratic country support women fighting for freedom and democracy? I have invited women who are leading the fight for democracy around the world to the German Bundestag to bring them into dialogue with political decision-makers. Our democracy stands alongside all those who fought for freedom in East Germany before 9 November 1989 and became victims of the SED dictatorship. But our democracy must not only look back – it must also stand alongside all those fighting against dictatorships and oppression around the world today.”

Antje Schippmann, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, a partner organisation of the Freedom and Security Women Summit at the German Bundestag: “For Berlin Freedom Week, we invite people who are persecuted and targeted by the regimes in Beijing, Tehran and Moscow, while also drawing attention to political prisoners held under dictatorships. With the Award for Courage on 9 November at the German Bundestag, we send a strong message of support to all those who pay a high personal price for freedom and democracy. The regimes want them to be forgotten. We will make sure that does not happen.”

Around 170 Events Across Berlin

On 11 November, the “Stories of Freedom” documentary film day at the Colosseum cinema will feature international films about people standing up against oppression and injustice. Film discussions and two free screenings for schools will complement the programme.

Historical sites will also become venues for Berlin Freedom Week. On 7 November, the “Ostfrauen*Salon” at the former Stasi headquarters will host readings and discussions. At the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), LUNA PARK's dance performance “BEYOND LINES” will explore the theme of overcoming boundaries. During guided tours of escape tunnels organised by Berliner Unterwelten e. V., eyewitnesses will share their experiences of fleeing East Germany.

Other events include the discussion “Between Two Dictatorships: Remembrance, Responsibility and Freedom” with Holocaust survivor Boris Sabarko and historian Irina Scherbakowa, as well as “1989 as a Call to Action: Missed Opportunities? New Perspectives” on 12 November at the Humboldt Forum. The “Taiwan Night Market” on 12 November at Markthalle Neun and the family event “Letters to Political Prisoners in Russia” on 13 November at Reforum Space Berlin will round out the programme.

“Berlin Freedom Week reflects what Berlin stands for: freedom, democracy and open dialogue,” says Sabine Wendt, Managing Director of visitBerlin. “With its wide range of events at historic sites across the city, it invites Berliners and visitors alike to engage in discussions about freedom and democracy. My heartfelt thanks go to all the organisers and partners whose dedication makes this special week possible.”

Initiators, Media Partners and Supporters

Berlin Freedom Week is a joint initiative of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation gGmbH, Berlin Freedom Society e. V., Robert Havemann Society e. V., World Liberty Congress and visitBerlin. The Berlin Freedom Conference is organised by Berlin Freedom Society e. V. in collaboration with the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation gGmbH, World Liberty Congress and visitBerlin. Both Berlin Freedom Week and the Berlin Freedom Conference are supported by the Berlin Senate Chancellery, Airbnb and Berliner Sparkasse. Additional supporters of Berlin Freedom Week include Postcode Lotterie, the Civitas-Bernhard-Vogel-Stiftung and Jacob Waitz Industrie GmbH. Media partners are Der Tagesspiegel, Deutsche Welle, radio3 and WALL.

Media Information

The full programme, including information on possible access restrictions and ticket requirements, is available at berlin-freedom-week.com/programm. Information about the Berlin Freedom Conference and its speakers is available at berlin-freedom-conference.com.

Media representatives are warmly invited to a media breakfast marking the opening of the Berlin Freedom Conference on 10 November, followed by the opportunity to attend the conference. The organisers and selected speakers of the Berlin Freedom Conference will address the media.

Time: 9:00 am; Berlin Freedom Conference opens at 10:00 am

Venue: Filmtheater Colosseum, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin

For interview requests and accreditation enquiries for the Berlin Freedom Conference and the media breakfast, please contact presse@visitberlin.de.

Media service: https://about.visitberlin.de/en/media-service-berlin-freedom-week