✍️ From the Editor
Hey Berliners!
Three weeks after the election, Berlin finally has something that looks like movement. Die Linke, the Greens and the SPD opened formal exploratory talks on Thursday, and their leaders meet again today. Whether this leads to a government is another question: Friday's budget talks ended without agreement, while more than 120 Linke politicians have signed an open letter opposing the deal that cleared the way for negotiations.
Elsewhere, the calendar is turning. The Festival of Lights enters its final full week, and the Köpenickiade marks its 120th anniversary on Friday.
Every date, price and link below was checked before sending, with the exceptions flagged inline. Where details remain in flux, we say so.
One practical note before you go: bring the balcony plants in Monday night. Ground frost is possible outside the city.
— Dr. Yassir A. Shuaib

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💰 Best Deals in Germany This Week
🎻 Philharmonie lunch concert — Wed 14 Oct, 13:00 · Free
Duo Cano-Moix (flute and piano) play Poulenc, Fauré and Jolivet in the foyer. No reservations; capacity limited, so arrive early.
👉 More info here
🇪🇺 DiscoverEU rail pass — closes Thu 15 Oct, noon Brussels time
Born in 2008? Winners get a rail pass for up to seven travel days within one month, plus a discount card.
👉 Apply here
🎭 ClassicCard, opera from €13, ages 14–29
€28/year, 11 houses; €18 opera/ballet; €16 concerts in advance; €13 and €11 from two hours before. Under-30 companion: +€5.
👉 See prices and rules here
🧥 Lidl cashmere jumper — €49.99 (from €150)
STRENESSE men's, black and blue, M–XXL. Online now; stores from Mon 12 Oct. Delivery extra.
👉 View the product here
👨👩👧 Family — two Berlin schemes
KinderKulturMonat, free weekend events for ages 4–12 across 100+ venues, all October. Register per event.
👉 Browse the programme here
Super-Ferien-Pass — €9. Free daily swim, ice rinks, zoo, and tierpark for children up to 15. Autumn holidays from 19 Oct.
👉 See benefits here
MediaMarkt's Let’s Go Deals
👉 Check the deals here

🚦 Five Things to Know This Week
· Coalition talks resume today — Die Linke, the Greens and the SPD are back at the table, with internal opposition to the deal still running inside Die Linke.
· Cold nights, then warm — the coldest air arrives Monday night into Tuesday, then temperatures climb to around 17° by Thursday.
· Festival of Lights' final full week — free citywide illuminations nightly 19:00–23:00 through Sunday 18 October, plus ten ticketed concerts inside the Berliner Dom from Tuesday. Several are already sold out.
👉 Programme & Dom tickets here
· Union host Borussia Dortmund — Saturday 17 October, 15:30 — the biggest fixture in the city this week.
👉 Tickets here
· Führungszeugnis as a PDF — available since 1 October, delivered to your BundID inbox. One catch below if you need it legalised for a foreign authority.
👉 More info here
🎶 The Week’s Lead
On Thursday, Die Linke, the Greens and the SPD opened formal exploratory talks, clearing a two-week deadlock.
Two documents unblocked it: an eight-section antisemitism paper — Israel's right to exist non-negotiable, boycotts and "No Zionists welcome" rejected, an expert panel to review incidents — and a short set of organised-crime rules.
The gap: the paper does not name a definition. It keeps Berlin's existing state framework; Die Linke has endorsed the Jerusalem Declaration. Reuters reads the deal as committing to IHRA — the agreement itself does not say so.
120 Linke politicians called it a "serious political mistake". Friday agreed on street cleaning, nothing on the budget. Housing remains the fault line: Die Linke wants socialisation of the large property companies; the SPD opposes it.
On Monday, the Landeswahlausschuss certifies the result. After a Spandau 1 recount, the AfD takes the mandate from the CDU, and the projection drops from 158 seats to 153. The House must convene by 1 November.
👉 Read the agreement in full (official German PDF)
👉 Official results and Monday's certification

📍 Today in Berlin
Running and the roads it closes
🏃 Great 10K · Schloss Charlottenburg forecourt · Bambini 800m 10:15 · Children's 1.5km 10:30 · 10km and relay 11:00 · 4.2km 12:30 from Olof-Palme-Platz.
🚧 Closures: Spandauer Damm both ways from 06:00 · Bismarckstraße towards Ernst-Reuter-Platz from 09:00 · full route from about 10:00, reopening progressively from 14:30, Spandauer Damm clear by 18:00.
Late entry on the day, up to an hour before each start: 10 km for €55, relay for €70, 4.2 km for €45, children's for €20. Use public transport.
👉 Timetable and late entry
Sport today
· Hertha BSC v Greuther Fürth · 13:30 · Olympiastadion · matchday 7
· Füchse Berlin v TBV Lemgo Lippe · 18:00 · Max-Schmeling-Halle
👉 Hertha tickets here
👉 Füchse tickets here
Free today
· Domäne Dahlem's double anniversary — 50 years of the museum and its Friends association · 11:00–17:00 · choirs, big band, Galli Theatre, craft demonstrations, new exhibition
· Weddingmarkt · 11:00–18:00 · Leopoldplatz · See Shopping Pick
· We Make Berlin Market · 12:00–18:00 · Manifesto Market at The Playce
· KiezKram flea market · 12:00–18:00 · Fritz Heyn Höfe, Pankow
· Schöneberg Flowmarkt · 10:00–16:30 · Crellestraße
· Südwestpassage Kultour · 13:00–19:00 · Friedenau open-studios trail
· Festival of Lights · 19:00–23:00 · 37 locations citywide
· Berliner Herbstrummel · 14:00–22:00 · Zentraler Festplatz
👉 Südwestpassage programme
Last day
· Festival of Animation Berlin · FAB Awards 20:00 · silent green · closing party from 21:00
· Female Filmmakers Festival · closing feature Isola 19:30 · Moviemento
· PEOPLE Festival · Funkhaus · around 200 concerts across 11 stages
· Berlin Food Week and the KGBerlin Kunstwoche with free entry at municipal galleries
👉 FAB programme
👉 FFFB programme
Ticketed
· The Big Queer Market · 12:00–20:00 · Festsaal Kreuzberg · ticketed
· FEZ — Einfach Spielen: Herbstedition · 11:00–14:00 or 15:00–18:00 · €4.50, or €4 each for two or more · ages 2–12
· FRATZ International · productions today for ages 2–5 · See Performances
👉 FEZ tickets
Music, stage, film and comedy
Full listings in Music, Film, Performances and Comedy below.
Also today
· The World Health Summit opens at the InterContinental, to Tuesday · On-site participation requires registration; online participation is available
👉 Official programme
🌤️ Weather
Today is the coolest and wettest day of the seven; Thursday is the warmest. The October norm for Berlin-Dahlem is 13.9° by day and 5.8° at night.
Day | High / Low | Conditions |
Sun 11 | 12° / 8° | Showers, breezy — a brief thunderstorm possible |
Mon 12 | 13° / 6° | Cloudy, dry — clearing overnight |
Tue 13 | 15° / 3° | Sunny and dry, cold start |
Wed 14 | 17° / 10° | Cloudy, dry |
Thu 15 | 17° / 9° | Cloudy, warmest day |
Fri 16 | 16° / 8° | Unsettled |
Sat 17 | 14° / 6° | Sunny, dry |
📰 City News
🏅 Berlin researcher shares Nobel Prize in Medicine
Peter Hegemann (Humboldt-Universität Berlin) shared the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Georg Nagel of Würzburg and Karl Deisseroth of Stanford for optogenetics — a light-triggered protein that lets researchers switch individual brain cells on and off. An early trial has reported limited vision recovery in one patient with retinitis pigmentosa.
👉 Nobel press release & background
🔥 Arson cuts power to 19 Marzahn businesses
An early-morning fire on a cable bridge at Boxberger Straße damaged two 110 kV cables and several 10 kV lines, cutting power to 19 businesses. No households were affected, and a generator took over from about 09:00. Berlin's LKA state-security branch is treating it as aggravated arson; a group calling itself "Kinder des Zorns" claimed responsibility on Indymedia, which police have not confirmed.
👉 Reporting on the fire
👮 1,100+ officers deployed for 7 October
Berlin police deployed more than 1,100 officers to 13 events marking the third anniversary of the Hamas attack — eight pro-Israeli assemblies, two pro-Palestinian, two memorial services and a vigil. The Israeli flag was projected onto the Brandenburg Gate from 18:30 to midnight. Police recorded 43 restrictions or deprivations of liberty, opened 46 criminal investigations, and ended one march early at about 21:00.
👉 Police's own account
📍 Berlin Picks
🏢 Lange Nacht der Manufakturen, Saturday, 17 October, 18:00–22:00 ⭐
First Bezirk Mitte edition: over 20 studios and ateliers across Mitte, Wedding, Moabit, Tiergarten and Gesundbrunnen open for demonstrations and workshops. Free entry; optional tastings and workshops €10–€20.
👉 Programme and map
🎖️ 120 Years of the Köpenickiade, Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 October
Marking Wilhelm Voigt's 1906 impostor raid on Köpenick Town Hall.
· Fri 16 · 16:00 Hauptmanngarde · 17:00 exhibition opening · 17:45 the 1931 film Der Hauptmann von Köpenick · all free
· Sat 17 · 11:00 Hauptmanngarde · free, donations welcome
📍 Rathaus Köpenick, Alt-Köpenick 21 — S Köpenick + tram
👉 More info here
🎭 Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic, Tuesday, 13 to Saturday, 17, 19:30
German premiere: Abramović directs a live stage version of her 2005 video work on Balkan myth and ritual. "Language no Problem" — no German needed. 16+, nudity. Tickets €20–€75.
📍 Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Schaperstraße 24 — U9 Spichernstraße
👉 Tickets here
💃 14th Berlin Burlesque Festival, Thursday, 15 to Saturday, 17
Three-night international variety showcase. 18+.
· Thu 15 · Grand Opening · Heimathafen Neukölln · Doors 20:00, show 21:00 · From €59.61
· Fri 16 · Friday (Odd) Night · Heimathafen Neukölln · doors 20:00, show 21:00 · from €70.96
· Sat 17 · Saturday (Even) Night · Wintergarten Varieté · doors 22:00, show 22:45 · from €59
📍 Heimathafen Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Str. 141 — U8 Leinestr. · Wintergarten Varieté, Potsdamer Str. 96 — U/S Potsdamer Platz
👉 Tickets here
🎬 7th Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin: Emergency Spaces, Wednesday, 14 to Sunday, 18
Features, documentaries and shorts across independent cinemas. Opening film: The Illusion of a Quiet Night, Wednesday 18:30 at Kino in der KulturBrauerei, Ukrainian with English subtitles and a director Q&A. Subtitle languages vary — check each listing.
👉 Full programme here
🍷 WINE in the CITY, Thursday, 15 to Sunday, 18 · Breitscheidplatz
Ten family-run German and Austrian wineries with food stalls and a KaDeWe raw bar. Thu/Fri 14:00–22:00, Sat 12:00–22:00, Sun 12:00–20:00.
📍 Breitscheidplatz — U/S Zoologischer Garten
👉 More info here
🎞️ 10th Obscura Filmfestival, Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 · Zoo Palast
Berlin's indie genre and horror festival: six features plus shorts, all in English or English-subtitled. 18+: Passes sold out; single tickets €14 Friday, €12 Saturday.
📍 Zoo Palast, Hardenbergstraße 29A — S+U Zoologischer Garten
👉 Programme and tickets here
🎆 Special Event of the Week
The 22nd Festival of Lights (Colours of Love) runs nightly 19:00–23:00 through Sunday 18 October, with around 40 locations citywide and the outdoor route free.
Key sites: TV Tower, Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, Victory Column, THF Tower, and — new this year — the Olympiastadion, separately ticketed.
One note: Unter den Linden between Karl-Liebknecht-Straße and the Brandenburg Gate can be closed to vehicles on police order when crowds build, mostly at weekends. Pedestrians can still walk.
👉 Programme, map and all locations
Berliner Dom: Festival of Lights in Concert — 13–17 October
A ticketed series pairs 3D projection mapping inside the cathedral with electronic and ambient sets. From €58 plus booking fee, online only — none at the door. Not part of the free outdoor route.
· Tue 13 · Chris Bekker 19:30 · Klangkarussell 21:30
· Wed 14 · Westbam 19:30 and 21:30 — both sold out
· Thu 15 · Klangkarussell 19:30 — sold out · Anja Schneider 21:30
· Fri 16 · Alle Farben 19:30 and 21:30 — both sold out
· Sat 17 · Anja Schneider 20:00 · Chris Bekker & Ukãi Ndame 22:00 — the finale
Five of the ten shows had gone by Saturday.
👉 Check live availability
Tonight only — Beyond the Light
A 30-minute projection shows inside the Dom at 20:00 and 21:15. €28, ticketed separately.
👉 Beyond the Light tickets

🗓️ Events Calendar
Today's events are in the Sunday section above; recurring markets are under Markets.
MON 12
· Coalition leaders reconvene · Haus der Statistik · election result certified
· Freya Ridings · 19:30 · Admiralspalast · from €51.65
· Lichtblick-Kino · four films, one in English · see Film
· A Judgement in Stone · 20:00 · Babylon Mitte · English subs
· MASS Debate · 20:30 · Süss war gestern · English
· World Health Summit continues · InterContinental
TUE 13
· Marina Abramović: Balkan Erotic Epic opens · 19:30 · Haus der Berliner Festspiele · 👉 Tickets here
· Festival of Lights in Concert opens · Berliner Dom · see Special Event
· ALBA Berlin v Igokea m:tel · 20:00 · Uber Arena · 👉 Tickets here
· Krallice · Berghain
· Back Door Comedy · 21:00 · Mysliwska · English
· Big Berlin Comedy · 20:00 · Hier wo du strahlst · from €12.34
· Belektro and gedatec trade fairs · Messe Berlin · to 15 Oct
WED 14
· Philharmonie lunch concert · 13:00 · free · see Deals
· Westbam · Berliner Dom · both shows sold out
· Eisbären Berlin v Klagenfurter AC · 19:30 · Wellblechpalast — not the Uber Arena · 👉 Tickets here
· Alex Cameron · Kantine am Berghain
· A Modern Man · 20:00 · Konzerthaus · Reuter's Feininger oratorio, world premiere · 👉 Tickets here
· Andreas Gabalier · 20:00 · Punch L!ne Club · sold out; second show added Thursday
· Kinderwagenkino · 11:00 · Babylon Mitte · baby-friendly, German
· Berliner Herbstrummel reopens · 14:00–22:00 · free · closed Mon and Tue, to 25 Oct
THU 15
· Berlin Burlesque Festival — Grand Opening · Heimathafen Neukölln · from €59.61
· Ukrainian Film Festival · two screenings · Königstadt
· The Strokes · 19:00 · Uber Arena · 👉 Tickets here
· Klangkarussell and Anja Schneider · Berliner Dom
· WINE in the CITY opens · 14:00–22:00 · Breitscheidplatz
· FINK · 20:00 · Metropol
· Shaun das Schaf 3 · 17:30 · Il Kino · no dialogue
· Hidden Processes opens · feldfünf · to 31 Oct
· DB's station alcohol ban completes its rollout
FRI 16
· 120 years of the Köpenickiade · from 16:00 · free · Rathaus Köpenick · 👉 More info here
· Burlesque Festival — Friday (Odd) Night · Heimathafen Neukölln · from €70.96
· Obscura Filmfestival opens · Zoo Palast
· Alle Farben · Berliner Dom · both shows sold out
· James Blake · Astra Kulturhaus · sold out
· Hertha BSC away at Holstein Kiel · 18:30 · matchday 8
· Eisbären Berlin v Red Bull München · 19:30 · Uber Arena
· Herbstzauber · 17:00–22:00 · free · Breitscheidplatz
· World Brain · LARK, Holzmarktstraße 15–18
· London, English subtitles · 21:00 · City Kino Wedding · €9
· Offenes Randori · 19:00–21:00 · free · Randori-Pro Tegel · open judo, all grades
· Pimp My Jokes 19:00 and Comedy Neat 20:30 · Mein Freund Harvey · English
SAT 17
· Lange Nacht der Manufakturen · 18:00–22:00 · free · across Bezirk Mitte · 👉 Programme here
· Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund · 15:30 · An der Alten Försterei · matchday 6 · 👉 Tickets here
· Hauptmanngarde · 11:00 · free · Rathaus Köpenick courtyard
· Burlesque Festival — Saturday (Even) Night · Wintergarten Varieté · from €70.96
· Anja Schneider, then Chris Bekker & Ukãi Ndame · Berliner Dom · the finale
· Ólafur Arnalds · 20:00 · Admiralspalast · 👉 Tickets here
· SportScheck RUN Berlin · from 17:00 · former Tempelhof Airport
· Autumn Market at Domäne Dahlem · 10:00–18:00 · also Sunday
· Schöneberger Modellbautage · Weiße Rose · free · also Sunday
· Geisterwelten opens at FEZ · ages 7+
· Herbstzauber · 17:00–22:00 · free · Breitscheidplatz
· Neukölln Trophy swimming · Europasportpark · free · also Sunday
· Obscura Filmfestival · six screenings from 13:00 · Zoo Palast
· Ukrainian Film Festival · two screenings, German subs
· Konzerthausorchester 19:00 and Vogler Quartett 18:00 · Konzerthaus
· BeMarket design market · 11:00–18:00 · Kantstraße 127
· Three English comedy shows · see Comedy
🚆 Berlin: Getting Around This Week
Roads
A100 closed between Detmolder Str. and Konstanzer Str. until 05:00 Monday, while concrete cures on the Mecklenburgische Str. bridge. Cars via Mecklenburgische Str., lorries via Hohenzollerndamm.
A115 ramp to Halenseestraße Ost stays closed until summer 2027. Traffic runs via the Avus rest area to Alte Jafféstraße and Messedamm — expect queues at peak times. Halenseestraße Ost itself is open.
A113 closes overnight 21:00–05:00 between Späthstraße and Schönefeld-Nord, ramps from 20:00: both directions Mon & Tue, towards Schönefeld Wed, citybound Thu.
Pankow — Dietzgenstraße / Schönhauser Straße junction closed 12–30 October. Diversions via Pastor-Niemöller-Platz. 👉 Live traffic
U-Bahn and tram
U1 back to normal since 5 October.
U3 — southbound skips Podbielskiallee until 2 Nov. Ride to Dahlem-Dorf and back one stop.
Bus replacements, Sun–Thu 22:00–01:30: U2 Zoo–Bismarckstraße to 12 Nov · U5 Hellersdorf–Wuhletal and U8 Paracelsus-Bad–Gesundbrunnen to 22 Oct. Weekends unaffected.
M1 partly closed until about 13 Dec — replacement bus to Zionskirchplatz via U Eberswalder Str.; M6 extended from Hackescher Markt. Line 21 truncated Lichtenberg–Holteistraße to 2 Nov.
S-Bahn and regional
Until ~01:30 Monday: no S41/S42/S46 (Bundesplatz–Beusselstraße), no S1 (Hohen Neuendorf–Oranienburg), no S8 (Mühlenbeck–Birkenwerder). S8 notes: Schönfließ replacement stop is in the village, 1.4 km from the station; S1X/S1A change at Hohen Neuendorf.
RE1 cancelled Erkner–Ostbahnhof through Friday 22:00 — use S3. Extends to Frankfurt (Oder) from Friday night.
Hanover line (correction to last week): not one 14-month closure. The 227 km corridor is being renewed in phases; the current phase closes Fallersleben–Spandau to mid-December. Long-distance trains divert via Braunschweig and Magdeburg (+60–80 min); Amsterdam via Hamburg (+70 min). Stadtbahn closed Charlottenburg–Ostbahnhof to 12 Dec — Hamburg trains cannot call at Spandau. 👉 Corridor details
No drinking at the station
DB's alcohol ban completes its rollout at 5,400 stations Thursday. Hauptbahnhof and Gesundbrunnen have been alcohol-free since 1 September. Station bars are exempt; sealed bottles are fine; onboard drinking on trains is still permitted. No fine — first breach, you're asked to leave; repeat, you're banned. 👉 DB announcement
🎬 Film
Lichtblick-Kino — Monday 12 October · Kastanienallee 77
A four-film original-language evening:
· Vaterland 17:30 (German original)
· Naza 19:00 (OmU — German subtitles)
· Trainspotting 20:30 (English original, 4K restoration)
· In the Mood for Love 22:15 (OmU — German subtitles)
€9 standard, €5 reduced. No reservations; box office is cash only.
📍 Kastanienallee 77 — U2 Senefelderplatz / M1
👉 Programme
Babylon Mitte — Hitchcock & Chabrol, to Wednesday
A joint retrospective running through 14 October, most in English or with English subtitles:
· A Judgement in Stone · Mon 12, 20:00 · OmeU
· Story of Women · Tue 13, 20:00 · OmeU
· Les Bonnes Femmes · Tue 13, 22:15 · OmeU
· The Breach · Wed 14, 17:30
📍 Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 30 — U2 Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
👉 Programme
Elsewhere
· Ukrainian Film Festival · from Wed 14 · opening film The Illusion of a Quiet Night, 18:30 at CineStar Kino in der Kulturbrauerei — Ukrainian with English subtitles and director Q&A
· London, English subtitles · Fri 16, 21:00 · City Kino Wedding · €9
· Naza with English subtitles at Il Kino five times this week — tonight 19:30, Mon 20:00, Tue 17:00, Wed 21:30, Thu 16:00
🎭 Performances
🧸 FRATZ International — through, Thursday, 15 October
Non-verbal dance, circus and physical performance for ages 2–5, across six venues in four Berlin districts. Ideal for multi-language families.
Tickets: Children €7 · adults €13 · reduced €9 · BerlinPass €3 · solidarity tickets €15 or €20.
Today's shows: Build 11:00 · Baobab 16:00 · Shelter 17:00. The Sticky Dance is sold out. Several weekday morning slots are block-booked by groups, so check availability before travelling.
👉 Programme and tickets
🦁 In Fur (Im Fell), Tuesday, 13 to Sunday, 18 October · Schaubude Berlin
Relaxed, sensory-friendly contemporary dance for ages 3+ by Ulrike Kley and Isabelle Schad. 35 minutes, wordless.
Schedule: Tue 13–Thu 15 at 10:00 · Saturday 17 at 15:00 (premiere) · Sunday 18 at 15:00. Tuesday morning is sold out.
Tickets: Children €7 · adults €10 regular, €9 reduced, €15 supporter.
📍 Greifswalder Straße 81–84 — S Greifswalder Str. / M4
👉 Tickets and info
🎵 Music
🎸 The Strokes — Thursday 15 October · Uber Arena
Reality Awaits Tour with special guest Fat White Family and opener Alex Cameron. Doors 18:00, show 19:30. Cameron also plays a headline set at Kantine am Berghain on Wednesday.
📍 Uber Platz 1 — S+U Warschauer Str.
👉 Tickets here
🎹 Ólafur Arnalds — Saturday 17 October · 20:00 · Admiralspalast
Falling Apart Together. Instrumental — ambient electronics and chamber strings. No language barrier.
📍 Friedrichstraße 101–102 — S+U Friedrichstraße
👉 Tickets here
🎼 Also this week
· James Blake · Fri 16 · Astra Kulturhaus · both Berlin shows nearly sold out
· Freya Ridings · Mon 12, 19:30 · Admiralspalast · Mother of Pearl Tour with Amber Run · from €51.65
· FINK · Thu 15, doors 19:00 · Metropol · support from Angela Autumn
· Classical · OPUS KLASSIK Gala today · A Modern Man oratorio world premiere Wed 14 · Konzerthausorchester under François Leleux Sat 17 at 19:00, plus Vogler Quartett at 18:00
· Clubs · Krallice at Berghain Tue 13 · Girls of the Internet at Kantine Thu 15 · Sister in Panorama Bar Fri 16 · Anthony Hüseyin vinyl release at Kantine Sat 17
Changed since first announced: El Tri has moved from Astra to Lido (Tue 13), Betontod from Columbiahalle to Huxleys (Sat 17), with existing tickets valid. Loi's Metropol show on Tuesday is cancelled, with refunds at the point of sale.
🔄 Ongoing
🌙 Maurizio Cattelan: NIGHT — Neue Nationalgalerie · to 7 March 2027
Cattelan transforms Mies van der Rohe's glass pavilion for the Preis der Nationalgalerie 2026 — the first time the prize has used that space. His first major solo show in Germany, exploring power and memory through site-specific sculptures and marble works. €16 / €8 reduced (€20 all-building pass). Closed Mondays; 10:00–18:00, to 20:00 Thursdays.
📍 Potsdamer Straße 50 — U/S Potsdamer Platz
👉 Details and tickets
🔊 Ryuichi Sakamoto: seeing sound, hearing time — Hamburger Bahnhof · to 20 June 2027
The first major European retrospective of the composer and sound artist, across 1,500 m² in the Rieckhallen. Seven works in five large-scale installations, including IS YOUR TIME — built around a piano damaged in the 2011 tsunami, driven by live global seismological data. €16 / €8 reduced. Closed Mondays.
📍 Invalidenstraße 50–51 — S+U Hauptbahnhof
👉 Details and tickets
🖼️ Rubens, Jordaens, van Dyck: Flemish Master Drawings — Kupferstichkabinett · to 31 January 2027
Over 100 drawings by 28 Flemish Baroque masters from 1570 to 1650, all from the museum's own collection. Correction to last week: entry is the €22 Kulturforum day ticket (€11 reduced), not the €8 we listed. Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00, weekends from 11:00.
📍 Kulturforum, Matthäikirchplatz — U/S Potsdamer Platz
👉 Details and tickets
Also running
· Hidden Processes · feldfünf · opens Thu 15, to 31 October · free
· Berliner Herbstrummel · Zentraler Festplatz · to 25 October · free entry, closed Mon & Tue
👉 Herbstrummel details
🛖 Markets this Week
Sunday markets are listed in Today above.
🌿 Türkenmarkt — Tue 13 & Fri 16 · 11:00–18:30 · Maybachufer
Up to 180 traders along the Landwehrkanal. Prices drop after 16:00.
👉 More info here
🍜 Street Food Thursday — Thu 15 · 17:00–22:00 · Markthalle Neun, Eisenbahnstraße 42/43
👉 More info here
🍷 WINE in the CITY — Thu 15–Sun 18 · Breitscheidplatz · see Berlin Picks
Ten German and Austrian wineries, KaDeWe raw bar, tarte flambée, Tyrolean food. Thu/Fri 14:00–22:00 · Sat/Sun from 12:00.
👉 More info here
🍂 Herbstzauber — Fri 16 & Sat 17 · 17:00–22:00 · free · Breitscheidplatz
Crafts, stalls, live music. Runs Fridays and Saturdays to 24 October, not daily.
👉 More info here
🥬 Winterfeldtmarkt — Sat 17 · 08:00–16:00 · Winterfeldtplatz, Schöneberg
Over 250 stalls, running since 1990.
👉 More info here
🎃 Autumn Market at Domäne Dahlem — Sat 17 & Sun 18 · 10:00–18:00
€4.50 · €2 reduced · free under 12. Around 30 artisan and produce stalls.
📍 Königin-Luise-Straße 49 — U3 Dahlem-Dorf
👉 More info here
🛋️ BeMarket Design Market — Sat 17 · 11:00–18:00 · Kantstraße 127 · see Shopping Pick
Around 30 local makers at Dufte Berlin inside the Kant-Garagenpalast.
👉 Organiser's page

⚽ Sport
🔵 Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund — Saturday 17 October ⭐
Bundesliga matchday 6 at Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The marquee Berlin fixture of the week.
📍 An der Alten Försterei 2 — S Köpenick
👉 Tickets here
🏆 More sport this week
· ⚽ Hertha BSC — away at Holstein Kiel · Fri 16 Oct · 2. Bundesliga matchday 8
· 🏀 ALBA Berlin — v Igokea m:tel · Tue 13 Oct · Uber Arena · Basketball Champions League · ALBA's only home game this week
👉 Tickets here
· 🏒 Eisbären Berlin — v KAC Klagenfurt · Wed 14 Oct, 19:30 · Wellblechpalast (not the Uber Arena — this is the club's CHL home venue) · then v Red Bull München · Fri 16 Oct, 19:30 · Uber Arena
👉 Tickets here
· 🏃 SportScheck RUN Berlin — Sat 17 Oct · former Tempelhof Airport · Bambini 17:00 · Kids 17:30 · 5km 18:00 · 10km 19:00 · half marathon 19:05 · from €6 (Kids) to €40 (half marathon)
👉 Register here
· 🏊 9th Int. Neukölln Trophy — Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct · Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark · free entry for spectators, stands open 30 minutes before each session
📍 Paul-Heyse-Straße 26 — S Landsberger Allee
· 🥋 Offenes Randori — Fri 16 Oct, 19:00–21:00 · free · Randori-Pro Tegel, Ernststraße 2–4 · open judo, all grades and ages welcome, walk-in
😂 Comedy in English
🎤 The American Apology Tour — Saturday 17 October · Kara Kas Bar
Pat Moore's touring hour. Doors 20:00, show 20:30, done by 22:30. Early bird €12, student or group-of-four €15, regular €18, €25 on the door.
📍 Kara Kas Bar, Kurfürstenstraße 9 — U1/U3 Kurfürstenstraße
👉 Tickets here
More English comedy this week
· 🚤 Laughing Spree — Comedy on a Boat · Sun 11, Mon 12, Tue 13 and Thu 15, 20:30 · The Floating Lounge, Mühlenstraße 73 · from €16.88
· 🗳️ MASS Debate — improvised comedy debating, audience votes · Mon 12, 20:30 · Süss war gestern, Wühlischstraße 43 · free plus €7–15 donation
· 🎤 Back Door Comedy Late Mic · Tue 13, 21:00 · Mysliwska, Schlesische Straße 35 · free plus donation
· 🍻 LAUGH on TAP · Sat 17, doors 20:30, show 21:00 · BRLO Brwhouse, Schöneberger Straße 16 · from €16.88
· 🍸 Top Shelf Comedy · Sat 17, doors 19:00, show 20:00 · Mein Freund Harvey, Kurfürstenstraße 20A · €17
👨👩👧 Family Picks
🏎️ Schöneberger Modellbautage — Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October · Free
Remote-controlled ships, trucks and construction vehicles at the Weiße Rose cultural centre. Four interactive driving tracks for children, model demonstrations, an illuminated ship display, and the German Sea Rescue Service. Complete all driving stations to earn an RC driving licence. Opening hours were still not published when we sent — check before setting out.
📍 Jugendkulturzentrum Die Weiße Rose, Martin-Luther-Straße 77 — U4 Rathaus Schöneberg
👉 More info here
👻 Geisterwelten at FEZ — opens Saturday 17 October
Eerie interactive holiday adventure with escape rooms, Halloween mazes, theatre and creative workshops for ages 7+. Weekends 12:00–18:00, Tuesday to Friday 10:00–16:30, closed Mondays — running to 1 November.
Tickets: €6.50 single · €5 per person for groups of two or more.
📍 FEZ-Berlin, Straße zum FEZ 2 — S3 Wuhlheide
👉 Tickets here
🐑 Shaun das Schaf 3 — Thursday 15 October, 17:30 · Il Kino
No dialogue at all, so language is no obstacle. €6 children, €8 adults.
📍 Nansenstraße 22 — U8 Schönleinstr.
👉 Tickets here
🎭 FRATZ International — through Thursday 15 October
Non-verbal dance and theatre for ages 2–5, across six Berlin venues. Tickets €3 (BerlinPass) to €13.
👉 Programme and tickets
🎡 Berliner Herbstrummel — Wednesday to Sunday, to 25 October · Free entry, rides extra
More than 80 attractions at the Zentraler Festplatz. Wed/Thu 14:00–22:00 · Fri/Sat 14:00–23:00 · Sun 14:00–22:00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
📍 Zentraler Festplatz, Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207
👉 More info here
🎼 Konzerthaus family tour — Saturday 17 October, 11:00 · In German
A tour for families with children aged 5–12, showing the interiors of the Konzerthaus. €3 per person.
📍 Gendarmenmarkt — U2 Hausvogteiplatz
👉 Tickets here
🍽️ Restaurant Pick
FLANEUR European Brasserie — Kurfürstendamm 27 (Hotel Bristol)
The newly opened restaurant at Hotel Bristol Berlin, with Executive Chef Catalin "Cata" Ghinea — ex-Bibendum, Chiltern Firehouse, Eleven Madison Park and Layla Berlin. Accessible, high-end French brasserie cooking, with many dishes served as half portions for sharing. The hotel says plainly it is not chasing stars. 120 seats inside and 86 on the terrace.
Hours: Breakfast 06:30–10:30 · Brasserie 11:30–21:30. Book ahead in the first week.
📍 Kurfürstendamm 27 — U1/U3/U9 Kurfürstendamm
👉 Book a table here
👉 Menus and the restaurant's own site

🛍️ Shopping Pick
🎨 Weddingmarkt — Sunday 11 October · 11:00–18:00 · Leopoldplatz · Free
Around 100 Berlin artists and makers gather on Leopoldplatz with ceramics, screen prints, illustration, jewellery, fashion, photography and wildflower bouquets, alongside international street food and the surrounding restaurants. One Sunday a month through November — today and 8 November are the last two of the season.
📍 Leopoldplatz — U6/U9 Leopoldplatz
👉 More info here
🛋️ BeMarket — Saturday 17 October · 11:00–18:00 · Kant-Garagenpalast · Free
Over 30 local makers inside Dufte Berlin at the historic 1930s Kant-Garagenpalast — one of Charlottenburg's strangest listed buildings. Curated design, art, illustration, drinks, food and music.
📍 Dufte Berlin, Kantstraße 127 — S Savitzkyplatz / U7 Wilmersdorfer Str.
👉 More info here
🏠 Flats of the Week
€361.38 cold (€596.53 warm) · 2 rooms · 45.4 m² · Fennpfuhl, Lichtenberg
Anton-Saefkow-Platz 3 · 19th of 23 floors, lift · loggia ~3.8 m² · WBS required · free from 1 December · HOWOGE
👉 View listing and apply
€364.00 cold (€565.00 warm) · 2 rooms · 54.21 m² · Kaulsdorf Nord, Marzahn-Hellersdorf
Luzinstr. 30 · 5th floor, no lift · no WBS required · cellar, caretaker service · free from 1 January · Berlinovo
👉 View listing and apply

€380.13 cold (€496.93 total) · 1 room · 33.78 m² · Märkisches Viertel, Reinickendorf
Wilhelmsruher Damm 148 · 1st floor, lift · barrier-free, step-free shower · no WBS, but single-person households aged 60+ only · free from 16 December · GESOBAU
👉 View listing and apply
€410.59 cold (€591.40 warm) · 2 rooms · 53 m² · Neu-Hohenschönhausen
Borner Str. 18 · 4th of 6 floors, no lift · WBS 160 for a two-person household, or qualifying income of 140–220% of the federal limit · free from 1 November · HOWOGE
👉 View listing and apply
€625.03 cold (€870.03 warm) · 2 rooms · 47.95 m² · Bötzowviertel, Prenzlauer Berg
Jablonskistr. 25 · 1st floor · balcony · not step-free · no WBS, but household income must be above 140% and no more than 220% of the federal limit · free from 1 November · Gewobag
👉 View listing and apply
€757.29 cold (€890.50 warm) · 1 room · 44.26 m² · Marzahn
Cecilienstraße 193 · 2nd of 5 floors, lift · balcony · barrier-free · no WBS · available immediately · degewo
👉 View listing and apply
💼 Job Board
🔬 Ferdinand-Braun-Institut · PhD Researcher, gallium oxide for power electronics
Full-time, two years initially, TVöD Bund up to E13. Wide-bandgap semiconductor devices. Very good English required; German not listed. Ref. 22/26.
Deadline: 21 October
👉 Apply here
🏗️ Bezirksamt Spandau · Team lead, building construction and project control
A13 S / E13. German C1 required, degree in architecture or civil engineering, leadership experience. Ref. 225/2026.
Deadline: 26 October
👉 Apply here
⚡ Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe · Renewable energy policy
E13 TV-L — part-time, 19.4 hours a week. Fixed-term cover to June 2028, starting February 2027. German C1 required.
Deadline: 30 October
👉 Apply here
🏢 Max Delbrück Center · Technical building manager, BIMSB
Permanent, full-time 39 hours, TVöD Bund up to E11. Good German and English. Starts 1 January 2027.
Deadline: 30 October
👉 Apply here

🧬 Max Delbrück Center · Head of research division, AI-enabled systems biology
Berlin-Mitte · W3-level position · international research environment · entire posting in English. Desired start: 1 December 2026.
Deadline: 4 November
👉 Apply here
💻 Buena · Senior Software Engineer
€80,000–€120,000 base plus virtual stock options · English-language advert, German not required · no deadline stated.
👉 Apply here
🔮 Coming Soon
Sun 18 Oct · Final day — three events close
Festival of Lights (19:00–23:00) · Ukrainian Film Festival · WINE in the CITY — see Berlin Picks for wine-market details.
Sun 18 Oct · Müggelsee Half Marathon — 21.1km loop around the lake. Half marathon from 10:00.
👉 More info here
Sun 18 Oct · Holland textile market — 11:00–16:00 · free · Kaufland car park, Hermann-Blankenstein-Straße 38.
Sun 18 Oct · Union Berlin women v 1. FC Nürnberg — 14:00 · An der Alten Försterei.
👉 Tickets here
19–31 Oct · Berlin autumn school holidays. Separately, the M1 tram is interrupted between Pastor-Niemöller-Platz and Schillerstraße from 19–24 October for the Dietzgenstraße junction works — replacement buses planned.
Wed 21 Oct · BR Volleys v FT 1844 Freiburg — 19:00 · Max-Schmeling-Halle.
👉 Tickets here
Wed 21 Oct · 5. Spandauer Familientag — 10:00–14:30 · free · Zitadelle Spandau.
23–25 Oct · Ostpro consumer fair — 10:00–17:00 · Trabrennbahn Karlshorst · €3, free for children up to 10.
Night of 24–25 Oct · Clocks go back — from 03:00 to 02:00 on Sunday 25 October.
26 Oct onward · Jazzfest Community Week — free satellite events in Moabit (2026 dates to confirm). Jazzfest Berlin runs 29 Oct–1 Nov.
👉 Official programme here
28–30 Oct · Sound Metaphors Festival — Berghain, Panorama Bar, Säule and Kantine.
👉 Programme and tickets here

That’s it for this week.
Make Berlin yours.
Forward this to someone who needs it. Berlin Brief is always free.
See you next time. Same time. Same Kiez.
— Yassir