Long Night of Museums

26 January

Highly popular with both locals and visitors, during this night over 100 museum and cultural attractions stay open until dawn, inviting night owls and the curious to get cultured in a whole new way.

The Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival

7 - 17 February

The biggest and most important cultural event in Berlin comes to town once again with film screenings, parties and other movie-related activites.

Carnival of Cultures

9 - 12 May

A huge street festival, this event showcases the city's multicultural population in a four day long carnival in the Kreuzberg district.

Berlin Air Show

27 May - 1 June

The show consists of 12 exhibition halls, a conference and media centre and a huge static display of aircraft. There are also demonstrations of parachute jumping, micro-light aircraft and gliders and freestyle aerobatics.

Berlin Christopher           Street Day

1 June - 31 July

One of the rivals for the title of Biggest Berlin Parade, this event draws well over 400,000 spectators every year - i.e., this is one event that is impossible to miss.

Heimatklaenge

June - July

A major summer event, this six-week long festival regularly draws over 50,00 visitors.

Berlin International          Beer Festival

1 - 31 August

Beer, beer and more beer… over 1 million visitors will visit to taste of the golden brew, and if you're in the city during this event, it would be impossible to miss it.

Fête de la Musique          Berlin

1 - 30 September

Over 100,000 visitors take part in this massive summer celebration, and this year there will be well over 60 live shows on stages throughout the city.

Berlin Marathon

27 - 28 September

The famous Berlin Marathon starts in Strasse de 17 Juni at the Charlottenburg Tor close to Ernst-Reuter Square and ends at Kurfurstendamn.

Oktoberfest

1 - 31 October

Its more famous counterpart in Munich, very much to do with beer, with a supporting role played by brass bands and men in leather shorts. The annual Oktoberfest is a great opportunity to try a wide variety of German beers as well as guest beers from across Europe.

JazzFest Berlin

1 - 30 November

One of the highlights of Europe's festival calendar, this event draws jazz musicians and lovers from all around the world for top-notch concerts in various venues throughout the city.

Christmas Market at the Gendarmenmarkt

24 November - 20 December

This is one of many festive season markets in the city, filled with seasonal surprises and tasty snacks served under twinkling fairy lights. A large number of kiosks and stalls sell crafts and gifts and there is a great cultural programme of music and song with a distinct Christmas flavour.

Berlin Fairy Tale               Festival

November (tba)

In the country that produced the Grimm brothers, it's hardly a surprise that fairy tales are popular, and over 50,000 people - adults as well as children - come to the city for some good old-fashioned story-telling, in venues around the city.