Berlin Freedom Week

November 7 - 14, 2026

Word sculpture "Freedom" at the Hohenschönhausen Memorial

Symbolic image: The word sculpture "Freedom" by artist Hüseydin Arda in the Rosenhof at the Hohenschönhausen Memorial.

Every year around the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin organizes a Freedom Week, a city-wide program around the theme of freedom.

Guided tours, workshops, films, readings, discussions, children's events and exchange formats make up a diverse program. The Freedom Week approaches the concept of freedom from different perspectives: It will look at current events in several countries as well as global protest movements, the concept of digital freedom and the understanding of freedom in the past. A special highlight of the week of events is the Berlin Freedom Conference, at which activists and politicians as well as academics and cultural practitioners will have their say.

Ostfrauensalon at the Stasi Headquarters

On November 7, the Ostfrauensalon invites you to the former Stasi headquarters. Where control, mistrust, and isolation once reigned, encounters now take place. A long, festively set table will serve as a place for encounters and conversation. The program will be complemented by a photo gallery, readings, a panel discussion, and a podcast lounge. Starting at 8 p.m., the evening will wrap up with a party featuring music.

A contemporary witness recounts: Helping people escape across the Berlin Wall

At the Berliner Unterwelten, Klaus-M. von Keussler will speak on Tuesday about his efforts to help people escape the GDR border regime. Together with Wolfgang Fuchs and other fellow activists, he organized escapes in the 1960s using ladders and through tunnels they dug themselves, among other methods. In the process, the people smugglers came under the scrutiny of various intelligence agencies.

History, Culture, and Dialogue

Berlin Freedom Week combines historical insights with current issues surrounding freedom and democracy. The Berlin Freedom Conference on November 10 brings together international voices from politics, business, civil society, culture, and the media. Exhibitions such as “Everyday Life in the GDR” and “Skaters & Skateboarders Before and After the Fall of the Wall” showcase different facets of life before and after reunification. On November 14, a guided tour of the Stasi Records Archive will provide insights into the history of state surveillance. The program also includes guided tours in various languages, offering international perspectives on Berlin’s history.