Berlin announces first „Berlin Freedom Week“ in November 2025

Berlin, April 11, 2025 Berlin is organizing the “Berlin Freedom Week” for the first time from November 8-15, 2025. As part of this new initiative, numerous events on the topics of freedom and democracy will take place across the city to mark the 36th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Conference formats, cultural events, workshops and interactive offers for all generations are planned, aimed at German and international guests as well as Berliners. Organizations and institutions are invited to participate in the first “Berlin Freedom Week” with their own events. 

The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner: “Berlin is the city of freedom - and therefore the right place for the first ‘Berlin Freedom Week’. In view of the war in Europe, the global crises and challenges, we must do everything we can to secure and strengthen democracy and defend people's freedom wherever it is threatened. The exchange at the conferences and events of Berlin Freedom Week is of the utmost importance - for us and for all those who stand up for freedom, the rule of law and our democratic values.” 

Burkhard Kieker, Managing Director of visitBerlin: “With the Berlin Freedom Week, the capital is creating a new platform for global exchange on freedom, democratic values and human rights. In future, it will take place every year around November 9. The German capital will once again show why it is regarded worldwide as a symbol of freedom and democracy. No other city would be better suited than Berlin to celebrate freedom and give a stage to committed voices from all over the world who stand up for freedom, democracy and human rights.”

Patron of the “Berlin Freedom Week” is Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner. The initiators of Berlin Freedom Week include visitBerlin, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, the World Liberty Congress, the Berlin Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship and the Robert Havemann Society.

“Berlin Freedom Conference” on November 10
A highlight of the week of events is the “Berlin Freedom Conference” on November 10. Leading players from national and international politics, civil society, business, culture and the media will come together to forge new alliances for the defense of freedom and democracy and to promote democratic change in unfree societies worldwide. The conference is organized by visitBerlin in cooperation with the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and the World Liberty Congress and funded by the Lotto Foundation Berlin.

“World Liberty Congress": United dissidents from around the world meet in Berlin
More than 200 freedom fighters and activists from more than 50 authoritarian countries around the world are traveling to Berlin for the II General Assembly of the World Liberty Congress to discuss the issues of democratic change in their countries of origin. The World Liberty Congress is the largest global alliance of pro-democracy leaders. For this activists, the fall of the Berlin Wall is a symbol of hope. That is why they have chosen Berlin as the city for their General Assembly. This underlines the symbolic importance of Berlin as a city of freedom and a place for democracy and human rights.

Leopoldo López, leading member of the opposition movement in Venezuela and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress: “The Berlin Wall once stood as a stark line between tyranny and freedom—its fall was a triumph of courage over oppression. But today, new Berlin Walls still rise in the form of authoritarian regimes that silence, imprison, and kill those who dare to dissent. As brave freedom fighters continue their struggle around the world, Berlin reminds us that no wall is too high, no regime too strong, to be brought down. That’s why the World Liberty Congress is bringing together dissidents and democracy leaders from across the globe for Berlin Freedom Week—to unite, learn from one another, and strengthen the global fight for freedom.”

“Freedom is on the retreat worldwide. Authoritarian regimes, from Moscow to Caracas, support each other militarily, technologically and politically. This makes it all the more important for democratic forces around the world to work together more closely. As the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, we are continuing to work together with the city of Berlin to achieve this. Berlin Freedom Week creates new spaces for encounters, ideas and networks. It connects courageous dissidents who fight for democracy in dictatorships with international decision-makers from politics, business, defense and technology and a broad public,” says Antje Schippmann, Managing Director of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation.

More details coming soon at visitBerlin.de/en/berlin-freedom-week.