© dpa
From tango on Museum Island to folk dances in Mauerpark: Every summer, capital city dwellers and visitors can shake a leg under Berlin's starry sky at these outdoor dance events.
If you want to dance the night away in Berlin to techno beats in the fresh air, you will find what you are looking for at numerous clubs. But Berlin also has some outdoor highlights in store for fans of exotic rhythms and slow dances.
Please note: The missing 2026 dates will be added to on an ongoing basis.
With its colorful string lights and stunning view of the Bode Museum, the beach bar in Monbijou Park has long since ceased to be an insider’s tip. During the warm summer months, people dance every evening on the banks of the Spree and on the northern Monbijou Bridge. Salsa is on the program on Mondays and Thursdays, ballroom and Latin dances on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Bachata on Sundays, and swing on Wednesdays and Fridays. In bad or cold weather (below 18 degrees), the dance evenings are canceled.
Set against a stunning backdrop, the Berlin State Dance Sport Association (German: Landestanzsportverband Berlin) offers free dance classes in the Gardens of the World during the summer. Every two weeks, professional dancers teach beginners a variety of dance styles. The classes focus on teaching the basic elements, which participants can immediately put into practice on-site. The variety of dance styles on offer is vast - from dancehall to salsa, from ballet to breakdance, from the Rose Waltz to jazz dance. The two-hour classes are free, but admission to the Gardens of the World must be paid.
Every Friday at Mauerpark, the focus is on traditional music and dance. Everyone is welcome to make music or dance under instruction. Depending on the style, circle, line, street or partner dances of varying difficulty levels are taught. Regular participants soon notice similarities between folk dances of different origins - whether they come from Israel, Brittany or Greece. In case of bad weather, a sign on the fence and the Folkwiese Twitter account will let you know where the dancing will take place instead.
Once a month, people get their dancing shoes on at the Späth Nurseries. The dance evenings begin at 5:30 p.m. with a class for beginners. This is followed at 6:45 p.m. by a class for dancers with prior experience. The open dance starting at 8 p.m. is particularly popular, featuring all kinds of ballroom dances. The classes are led by competitive dancer Josefina Rückewoldt. When the weather is nice, dancing takes place on the tree nursery’s festival grounds. When it rains, participants move into the tent. The program includes the waltz, cha-cha, foxtrot, rumba, boogie and NightClub2Step.
Fast moves and dynamic techniques: Every Sunday this summer, free swing and Lindy Hop classes are held at Summer of Dance in Volkspark Friedrichshain. The classes build on each other. However, you can join at any time: the basics are reviewed at the start of each session. The swing class is designed for beginners, while Lindy Hop is offered for both beginners and advanced dancers. Those who attend regularly throughout the summer will see impressive progress by fall.
The spacious and exquisitely manicured garden of the Liebermann Villa stretches all the way to the shore of Lake Wannsee. The music and dance event "Wannsee after Work" takes place once a month from June through September. During these events, the garden’s lawn, surrounded by flowers and string lights, is transformed into a dance floor under the starry sky. Refreshments are available at the Museum Café Max.
Southern Italian joie de vivre in Tempelhof! Every Thursday during the summer, the "Paranza del Tempelhofer Feld" invites everyone to come together to make music and dance. The name comes from a Neapolitan tradition: according to the organizer, a "paranza" is a group that celebrates spontaneous parties with dance and music. Accordingly, on Thursdays, the sounds of southern Italian melodies and rhythms fill Tempelhofer Feld.
Latin America on Kurfürstendamm: During the popular "Summer in the City" event, Breitscheidplatz transforms into a large open-air dance floor. Whether it’s tango or salsa, bachata or swing, dance classes, dance performances and live music shows take place every day. The highlight, of course, is dancing together under Berlin’s starry sky. Afterward, a variety of culinary delights await.
A picturesque setting and an enchanting fragrance: The rose garden in Pankow’s Bürgerpark is the perfect open-air dance venue. During the summer months, Argentine milongas are held there regularly. Those interested can take part in a one-hour introductory workshop. Afterward, there is live dancing until nightfall. The music features a mix of traditional tango and neo-tango.
Every summer evening, the Kolonnaden Bar invites you to enjoy cozy, interesting, and lively moments beneath the distinctive columns of the Lustgarten on the Spree. Every Thursday, the unique atmosphere comes alive with dancing! Upbeat DJ sets and disco beats invite you to dance into the sunset.
In front of the newly restored Eierhäuschen (German: Egg House) in Berlin’s Spreepark, visitors can try out and show off various dance styles during the summer. On three weekdays, an introductory dance class is held from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by open dancing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. While tango is on the program on Mondays and standard/Latin on Thursdays, the dance style on Wednesdays is not set.
© dpa
Events, concerts, festivals and more: experience Berlin outdoors! more
© dpa
Parks, lakes, open-air events, beach bars, beer gardens and festivals: To enjoy summer to the fullest, life in Berlin takes place outside during the warmer months. more
© dpa
From musicals and show to theatre plays and concerts: Discover the cultural life and entertainment offers in Berlin. more