Waldbühne

Visitors watch the concert of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Waldbühne in Berlin.

The Waldbühne is part of the Olympia complex built by the National Socialists in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Today, it is one of the most popular open-air stages in the world.

The Waldbühne (Woodland Stage or Forest Stage) in Berlin's Westend district is a popular venue for concerts and film screenings and is internationally regarded as one of the most popular open-air stages. It is part of the Olympia complex built between 1934 and 1936 by architect Werner March.

Greek amphitheater as a model for the Waldbühne

Today's Waldbühne was built by the National Socialists based on the model of Greek amphitheaters. The 1936 Olympic Games and other sporting events were held there under the name Dietrich-Eckart-Bühne. After the Second World War, the British occupying forces took over the area, but partially released it for public use in 1948.

From sports venue to concert stage

Until 1960, the facility was mainly used for boxing events. In the following years, it began to be used as a concert stage. During a performance by the Rolling Stones in 1965, the open-air stage was completely destroyed and remained largely unused after its renovation in 1969. It was not until 1978 that regular concert programs began again. The Waldbühne had its real breakthrough as an internationally recognized open-air arena with a legendary concert by Bob Marley in 1980.

The Waldbühne today

In 1981, concert promoter Peter Schwenkow rented the site and subsequently established a balanced cultural offering for an average of half a million visitors per season, ranging from oldies nights and rock and pop concerts to atmospheric classical open-air evenings with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. For more than ten years, a summer open-air cinema program with classics of film history and current cinema successes has also been held.

The three tiers of the Waldbühne can accommodate more than 22,000 visitors. The height difference between the first and last row is 30 meters. The wooded embankment behind the natural stage, which has a large tent roof, also acts as a visual and acoustic boundary.

Information

• Address:
  Glockenturmstraße 1
  14053 Berlin
  City map
• Architect: Werner March
• Phone: [phone]
• Accessibility: Information about accessibility

Waldbühne: Events and Concerts