October in Berlin enchants us anew every year: As the days slowly get shorter, the Festival of Lights bathes the city and many sights in colourful illuminations. The leaves are also slowly turning colourful and create a particularly beautiful atmosphere in autumn in Berlin. You can also look forward to numerous other event highlights this month. Here are our 11 tips.
Tip 1: Festival of Lights - see the city's most beautiful lights
Under the motto "Colours of Life", this year's 19th edition of the Festival of Lights invites you to celebrate together the multifaceted life in a diverse society. The facades of the participating buildings will become projection surfaces for stories. What is special about this year's festival is that it will also provide insights into the facets of the capital that are not usually given the same attention - and yet contribute to Berlin's creative diversity. On a lightseeing tour by boat or bus you can see the most beautiful light installations in comfort.
When: 6 to 15 October, 7 - 11 p.m.
Where: Various locations throughout Berlin
Tickets for Tours to the festival of Lights
Tip 2: Try something new at Berlin Food Week
Exciting events and menu creations await you at Berlin Food Week. This year, the focus is on the food of the future. At the House of Foods in Bikini Berlin, dedicated start-ups, manufacturers and producers will be presenting themselves. And at the French Affair, wine shops and wine bars in Berlin's neighbourhoods will spoil you with a mixture of French food culture and Berlin lifestyle.
Tip: In October, foodies in Berlin can also look forward to the Beachfood Festival on 21 and 22 October, and from 2 to 8 October tipBerlin invites you to a Foodfestival in Clärchens Ballhaus.
When: 10 to 15 October
Where: various locations in Berlin
Tip 3: Fall in love with the new Grand Show at Friedrichstadt-Palast
With the new Grand Show Falling | In Love, the Friedrichstadt-Palast invites you not to give up your belief in love. The story revolves around You, who is repeatedly rejected in his passion. When the world completely breaks for him, he falls into the garden of love, where it only sparkles with Swarovski crystals. 650 kilograms in total! 280 of the 550 costumes by star designer Jean Paul Gaultier are also adorned with crystals. Let yourself be enchanted by shine, glitter and a magical show.
When: from 21 September
Where: Friedrichstadt-Palast
Tip 4: See exciting portraits at the Dokuarts Festival
The time of open-air cinemas may be over for this year, but film fans will still get their money's worth in October in Berlin. At the Dokuarts Festival, extraordinary life stories are brought to the big screen. Stories about changing identities are told in cinematic essays. Among the highlights is the European premiere of Going to Mars. The cinematic portrait of poet Nikki Giovanni has already won an award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Apolonia, Apolonia, for which filmmaker Lea Glob accompanied the artist Apolonia Sokol for over 13 years, will kick off the festival.
When: 4 - 15 October
Where: various venues in Berlin
Tip 5: Discover the cultural side of Berlin nightlife at "Tag der Clubkultur"
"Never conforming ever evolving": this is the motto under which Berlin's clubs present themselves on Tag der Clubkultur (Club Culture Day). In the meantime, this city-wide festival organised by the Berlin Club Commission has become an integral part of Berlin's cultural calendar. The aim is to honour the commitment of Berlin's clubs and collectives. Because Berlin's clubs are more than just party places. They offer space for creative ideas and you can regularly experience exciting cultural events here in addition to DJs, parties and music. Be there when selected clubs present their very own individual programmes on Club Culture Day.
When: 3 to 8 October
Where: All over the city
Tip 6: Visit Islamic communities on Mosque Open Day
Take a look inside different mosques and gather personal impressions when Muslim communities across the country open their doors on 3 October during the Open Mosque Day. At the Open Mosque Day, you can not only discover the premises, but also get to know members of the community and exchange ideas with them. There will also be exhibitions, guided tours and lectures.
When: 3 October
Where: various mosques in Berlin
Tip 7: Listen to artists from all over Germany at Jazz in the Minister Gardens
Listen to jazz from all over Germany. At Jazz in den Ministergärten, seven German states invite musicians from their region to a day full of music and improvisation. Starting at 7 p.m., around a dozen different performers will hand the microphone to each other in turn. Clear the stage and have fun with jazz from Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.
When: 21 October
Where: Minister Gardens between Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz
Tip 8: Marvel and dream at the new Cirque du Soleil show "Ovo"
In der neuen Cirque du Soleil-Show OVO wird die wundersame Welt der Insekten liebevoll in Szene gesetzt wird. Die Geschichte dreht sich um ein mysteriöses Ei, anhand dessen die kunterbunten Wimmelwesen das Wunder ihres eigenen Lebenszyklus erkunden. Seid dabei, wenn die phantastisch kostümierten Tänzer:innen und Akrobat:innen durch die Mercedes-Benz Arena wirbeln.
Wann: 5. - 8. Oktober
Wo: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Mercedes-Platz 1, Friedrichshain
Tip 9: Join the Family Night Berlin
Let's get out and about. At the Family Night you can discover many exciting places in Berlin together for free or just a little money. Over 150 institutions and places are taking part this time, including the Berlin State Ballet, the Panoramapunkt, ANOHA, the Samurai Museum, the Britzer Garten, but also many neighbourhood initiatives, youth centres and church congregations. Dance in the moonlight, experience adventures in the forest, look behind the scenes and let yourself be surprised by the extensive hands-on programme. The opening party is at Stadtvilla Global in Neukölln.
When: 7 October 5 pm - midnight
Where: various locations in Berlin, opening at Stadtvilla Global, Neukölln
Tip 10: Discover new, beautiful and nostalgic things
Zeughausmesse (Armoury Fair)
Touching allowed! At the Zeughausmesse, artists present their very personal versions of everyday objects and commodities. An invitation to browse and perhaps already a treasure trove for the first unusual Christmas gifts. For the first time, the NatureArt prize for environmentally friendly aesthetics will be awarded at the 2023 Armoury Fair.
When: 16 to 19 October
Where: Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck, Luckenwalder Straße 3, Kreuzberg
Ostpro
Nostalgics will find what they are looking for at the Ostpro. Here 100 companies from the former GDR present culinary, decorative and practical items - from the past and present.
When: 27 to 29 October
Where: Karlshorst harness racing track, Treskowallee 159, Karlshorst
Designbörse
Vintage furniture and other beautiful things can be found at the Designbörse, which brings 25 selected vintage galleries to Berlin.
When: 1 to 3 October
Where: Karlshorst harness racing track, Treskowallee 159, Karlshorst
Tip 11: Celebrate October with fairs & festivals
Autumn is harvest time. And the last sunny days invite you to celebrate outdoors and enjoy life. These festivals and markets offer a few nice occasions to do so.
- At the Schöneberg Pumpkin Festival on Akazienstraße on 30 September and 1 October, of course, you'll find the most beautiful pumpkins. Perfect for autumnal soups and carving pumpkin ghosts
- You can let the autumn wind blow around your nose until 9 October at Berlin's Herbstrummel.
- Celebrate the old days at the Jugglers' Festival in the Spandau Citadel. Let yourself be enchanted by acrobatics, music and stories from 30 September to 3 October. Discover medieval handicrafts and handmade delicacies.
- Toast in the capital's festival tent until 21 October at the Berliner Wiesn-Gaudi at Zitadelle Spandau.
Tip for sport fans: World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023
The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup is the first international highlight of the 2023/24 Olympic season in pool swimming. For three days, top international stars will compete for their nations for placings, prize money and the title of World Cup winner.
When: 6 to 8 October
Where: Swimming and diving hall in the Europa-Sportpark, Paul-Heyse-Strasse 26, Prenzlauer Berg
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup
For even more event tips in October you can click through our event calendar.
