People from more than 160 nations and with different backgrounds, religions and world views live in the Neukölln district. This diversity can cause tensions but it also makes Neukölln an exciting part of the city to live in.

To show the potential of this diversity, the art festival "48 Hours Neukölln" was established in 1999 by the registered society "Kulturnetzwerk Neukölln e.V.". The Kulturnetzwerk works closely with the district's cultural office to make the festival a success.

Artists, groups and organizations based in the district are invited to participate with performances, art events or exhibitions. Many of the festival events even allow visitors to participate and be creative themselves. The festival's theme in 2019 was "Futur III".