The best cultural tips for the weekend: 48h Neukölln, Sonic Pluriverse Festival and Fashion Week

For the week ahead, it looks like we should keep an eye on the weather forecast (now because of rain). But also the cultural content! There’s a lot going on, from Fashion Week to “48h Neukölln”, have fun!

1 Two days full of art

It’s not just the “Kreuzkölln” nightlife area that proves that (district) borders should be permeable. This year, Berlin’s largest independent art festival “48h Neukölln” will be about borders and freedom under the motto “OUT/SIDE/IN”.

The ongoing process of deciding who to include and who to exclude is perhaps nowhere more starkly expressed than here.

The 1,400 artists in the district prove that friction also creates energy in 600 events in studios, pubs or public places. This year, a festival app will help you keep track.

Or you can join one of the guided tours: “Habitus Habitat” explores the thresholds between nature, humans and non-humans (Cank, Karl-Marx-Str. 92-98, Sun July 5, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., English), the “Arab Berlin Tour” explores the stories of the Palestinian community and the Arab diaspora (Sat/Sun July 4/5, 4 p.m., Tempelhofer Feld/entrance Herfurthstr.).

The opening ceremony in the former Cank department store takes place on Friday at 7 p.m. (ipa)

2 Global Echoes of Gnawa

Even if some do not see the “Sonic Pluriverse Festival” as an equivalent successor to the “Water Music” at the HKW, one must recognize that the curators have organized a remarkable program in 2026.

After the furious start with Vieux Farka Touré last weekend, an Afropop legend follows with the Senegalese singer Baaba Maal (Thu July 2nd, 7:30 p.m.).

A highlight will be the triple concert on Saturday (from 6 p.m.): After Aficionado – Flamenco Moro and the Aly Keïta Trio, the evening culminates in the Gnawa concert with Hassan Boussou from Casablanca (photo). To wind down, Kabylie Minogue plays in the bar. (wun)

3 Birthday party in the Humboldt Forum

Two invitations to the fifth birthday, both without any pot-hitting: The Humboldt Forum is celebrating the opening in July 2021 with five days of action (four more dates: July 4th/11th/12th/19th).

The “Berlin Global” exhibition is also having its own little party on the first floor this weekend. There are free guided tours, discussions and drop-in workshops in the show, including breakdancing and upcycling.

Starting in the afternoon there will be a live program in the courtyard – including several DJ sets, a concert with Shelly Coral (8 p.m.) and the cabaret artist Sigrid Grajek as Claire Waldoff (5 p.m.). (ans)

4 Galaxies full of books

16,300 light years: This is how far away the star “V762” in the constellation Cassiopeia is, which is just visible to the naked eye.

Potsdam is just over 35 kilometers away. This is good for literature lovers to enjoy in order to enjoy what artistic director Denis Scheck has attracted to LIT:potsdam under the motto “The Language of the Stars”.

Tickets are also available for Frank Schätzing (photo, Sat 7 p.m.). You can easily come to the big book festival on Sunday (2 p.m. – 6 p.m.).

Under the motto “free and outdoors” there is a book market in Schiffbauergasse where book-related trades are presented. Numerous readings take place on the reading stage. (meh)

5 It’s going to be chic again!

Berlin is not Paris, Milan or New York. After Berlin swallowed this bitter pill, creatives were able to present themselves much more freely.

Berlin functions as a creative hub between fashion and art and is celebrated with great publicity by stars such as Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

The Senate and the Ministry of Economic Affairs are now also generously supporting event formats that are aimed not only at celebrities and the trade audience, but also at all fashion victims, the curious or critical end consumers.

For example at “Raum Berlin”, where the boundaries between traditional fashion shows and interactive installations are blurred. (ipa)

6 The neighborhood is celebrating

Bridges are what we have to build to find each other. At the Schöneweider Bridge Festival, the Kaisersteg is celebrated as a symbol of neighborhood, diversity and exchange in the neighborhood – with a colorful program:

Concerts will take place on the stage, for example by JuJu P (Positive Rap) and the SchöneVibes Combo, and there will also be a swimming demo by the citizens’ initiative “Schöneweide Ufer frei!” (Arrival 12:45 p.m.).

On the meadow you can, for example, do acro yoga (2 p.m.). Of course there are also food stalls. (ero)

7 Symphonic start

The large Sauer organ with its 7,269 pipes and 113 registers was planned for the cathedral and inaugurated with the building in 1905. It was the big organ in Germany at the time.

She is the focus when the Berlin Cathedral invites you to the Organ Summer. The nine concerts (always on Fridays!) will be kicked off by cathedral organist Andreas Sieling (Friday July 3rd, 8 p.m.). He plays the 2nd Symphony by the Paris organist Eugène Gigout (1844-1925) as well as works by Saint-Saëns and Vierne.

This year too, international organists are invited to play a diverse program from Bach to Brahms to Messiaen. (wei)