First Berlin Freedom Week & Conference: Berlin becomes international forum for freedom and democracy in November 2025

Berlin, 17 July 2025 In autumn 2025, Berlin will become an international forum for freedom and democracy with the launch of the first Berlin Freedom Week. Starting this year, the Berlin Freedom Week will take place annually around the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, serving as a new flagship format that links historical legacy with the challenges of the present. At a press conference held today at Berlin’s City Hall, Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and the initiators of the Berlin Freedom Week presented the key elements of the week’s program.

The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner: “Berlin is the City of Freedom. On the 36th anniversary of the fall of the Wall, our city is once again sending a powerful message in support of freedom, peace, and democracy. With the first Berlin Freedom Week, Berlin becomes an international forum for those who fight for liberty — people of extraordinary courage who stand up for their vision of a free and democratic world.”

The Berlin Freedom Week will take place from 8 to 15 November 2025, linking the city’s historic commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the courage of the Peaceful Revolution with today’s global challenges. The program will feature a wide variety of high-level conferences and dialogue formats, workshops, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, theatre performances, guided city tours, and conversations with contemporary witnesses. Organizations and institutions are invited to contribute their own formats on the themes of freedom and democracy. The week is aimed both at a politically engaged expert audience and at the broader public in Berlin and beyond. With this initiative, Berlin once again positions itself as a City of Freedom and provides a platform for all those committed to human rights and democratic values.

Key event: Berlin will host the General Assembly of the World Liberty Congress, the world’s largest global alliance of pro-democracy leaders that brings together more than 200 delegates from more than 60 autocratic countries. 

A highlight of the week is the first Berlin Freedom Conference, taking place on 10 November at the Gasometer Schöneberg. It will bring together around 800 representatives and leading figures from politics, business, civil society, culture, and the media. The goal of this new conference format is to connect decision-makers with fresh voices and thought leaders — to develop new responses needed to defend and strengthen freedom and democracy around the world. The conference is a joint initiative of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, the World Liberty Congress, and visitBerlin, and is supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin.

Following the opening of the Berlin Freedom Week on 8 November at the Campus for Democracy — organized in cooperation with the Stasi Records Archive – The Federal Archive, a central partner of the Berlin Freedom Week on site, a citywide program will unfold. Highlights include a thematic film day at Filmtheater Colosseum, an interdisciplinary cybersecurity event at the former Stasi headquarters, and a wide range of partner events — such as a Freedom Tech Forum at the French Embassy, events hosted by the Polish and Czech Embassies, the German-Taiwanese Dialogue Platform, and the Taipei Representative Office in Berlin. 

The program also features democracy workshops for school classes at the Bettina-von-Arnim Library, a public day at the Foreign Intelligence Service of Germany, a Youth Academy with evening panel discussion at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and further contributions from partners such as the Friends of Yad Vashem, the Aspen Institute, the Better Politics Foundation, Be an Angel e.V., the American Jewish Committee, WIIS.de, the Berlin Science Week, and many more.

International defenders of democracy will share their perspectives and experiences throughout the week — contributing to a collective debate on the value of freedom in a world under pressure. The circle of partners will continue to grow through November. Organizations, educational and cultural institutions, and companies are invited to actively participate in the first Berlin Freedom Week.

Leopoldo López, leading member of the Venezuelan opposition and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress: “Berlin has always stood at the crossroads of liberty and tyranny. From the shadows of the Berlin Wall to the fall of totalitarian regimes, the city has been a beacon for those fighting for freedom. World Liberty Congress members are the next chapter in that legacy. We are more than survivors of modern authoritarian regimes. We are architects of a freer future.”

Frank Ebert, Berlin Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship: “The confrontation with the SED dictatorship reminds us that freedom must never be taken for granted. The memory of the injustice suffered and the courage of those who stood up for their rights serve as a constant reminder. The Berlin Freedom Week connects this historical reckoning with today’s global struggles and shows that the lessons of the past are more relevant than ever.”

Rebecca Hernandez Garcia, Head of the GDR Opposition Archive at the Robert Havemann Society: “With its archive of East German opposition, the Robert Havemann Society contributes vital historical context to the Berlin Freedom Week — through testimonies and stories of resistance against the communist dictatorship. As head of the archive, I am proud to support this work in strengthening democratic values and preserving the memory of the struggle for freedom — for a vibrant culture of debate and a shared commitment to human rights around the world.”

Antje Schippmann, Managing Director of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation: “Autocracies are joining forces, undermining democratic institutions, and aggressively expanding their influence. For more than three years, Russia has waged a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, while China’s military threats against Taiwan continue to grow. It is high time for democratic forces to stand up resolutely for their values and to find common responses to these challenges. Germany has an important strategic role to play in this. The Berlin Freedom Week aims to become a vital forum to put freedom and democracy back on the offensive.”

Burkhard Kieker, Managing Director of visitBerlin: “Once again, the German capital shows why it is recognized worldwide as a symbol of freedom and democracy. No other city is better suited than Berlin to celebrate freedom and to give a stage to committed voices from around the world who stand up for freedom, democracy, and human rights. That is exactly what we are initiating with the conference and the Freedom Week.”

Initiators, media partners, and sponsors

The patron of the Berlin Freedom Week is Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner. The first Berlin Freedom Week is initiated by 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. Confirmed media partners include POLITICO, WELT, Tagesspiegel, and WALL. Sponsors of the first Berlin Freedom Week include the German Postcode Lottery, Airbnb, and Ideas Beyond Borders. The Berlin Freedom Conference is funded by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin.

Program and details: berlin-freedom-week.com and berlin-freedom-conference.com
Instagram:@berlinfreedomweekand @berlinfreedomconference

From 8 to 15 November 2025, Berlin will become the international capital of exchange on freedom, human rights, and democracy. The Berlin Freedom Week brings together decision-makers, thought leaders, institutions, cultural actors, and citizens from around the world — to develop new perspectives and alliances, and to find common responses to the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes. The program ranges from high-profile conferences and panel discussions to cultural events, youth formats, film screenings, and digital sessions. A selection of events at a glance:

8 November, Campus for Democracy

Opening of the “Berlin Freedom Week”

The official opening will take place on the historic grounds of the former Stasi headquarters — now the Campus for Democracy — and is supported by our key partner on site, the Stasi Records Archive – The Federal Archive.

10 November, Gasometer Schöneberg

”Berlin Freedom Conference”

The central conference of the Berlin Freedom Week takes place on 10 November, bringing together powerful voices from international politics, business, civil society, culture, and the media — to develop new perspectives, alliances, and concrete joint responses to strengthen democracy worldwide. The conference is jointly organized by visitBerlin, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, and the World Liberty Congress, and is supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin.

11 November, French Embassy
Freedom Tech Forum by La French Tech (partially open to the public)
Tech founders, CEOs, innovators, and leading policymakers will come together to explore how technology can be harnessed to advance freedom around the world.

11 November, Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Youth Academy & Panel Discussion
During the day, around 100 young people will engage in dialogue on the topics of freedom and tolerance. In the evening, a high-profile panel discussion will bring together diverse perspectives on current challenges and opportunities for freedom and tolerance.

12 November, Campus for Democracy (partially open to the public)
Cybersecurity Event: “From Stasi to Spyware – Old Methods, New Technologies”
How do Stasi-style surveillance and modern digital spyware affect individuals and societies? People affected by authoritarian surveillance mechanisms will share their personal experiences. Organized by the Stasi Records Archive / Federal Archives, the Robert Havemann Society, the Campus for Democracy Support Association, and Citizen Lab.

15 November, Filmtheater Colosseum
Film Day: “Stories of Freedom”
Film screenings and discussions with dissidents from the World Liberty Congress about courage, resistance, and the longing for freedom — with a special focus on ”Women as Voices of Freedom.”

General Assembly of the World Liberty Congress

For the General Assembly of the World Liberty Congress, more than 200 pro-democracy leaders from more than 60 autocratic countries will gather in Berlin to advance democratic change. For them, Berlin symbolizes the triumph of democracy over dictatorship. Bringing exiled activists and dissidents together sends a clear message: walls may fall, but solidarity endures. For security reasons, specific locations and times will not be disclosed. However, many of the participants will contribute to the public events throughout the week.

More information available at berlin-freedom-week.com

The stream of the press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkTbpTBUoBA