In February, the year really picks up speed. Berlin Fashion Week attracts stylish people to Berlin. Shortly afterwards, international stars and filmmakers flock to the capital for the Berlinale. And Valentine's Day also leaves its mark on the still wintery Berlin and puts you in a romantic mood. The whole thing is topped off with a strong statement for tolerance and equality at the first Berlin Winter-CSD.
Tip 1: Honour cinematic masterpieces at the 75th Berlinale
The highlight of February is the Berlinale. From 13 to 23 February, the annual film festival makes the hearts of film enthusiasts from all over the world beat faster. World premieres, stars on the red carpet and lots of information about the coming film year are available here without end.
Point on the Berlinale programme: Teddy Award
As every year, the Teddy Awards, which will be presented on 21 February at the Volksbühne Berlin, are among the numerous awards at the Berlinale. This award is dedicated to the Queer Film Industry. Here you can find out more about the development, growing acceptance and success in the world of film and which films deserve to be honoured.
When: 13 to 23 February
Where: various cinemas in Berlin
Tip 2: Spend Valentine's Day in Berlin
Before Valentine's Day on 14 February catches you off guard again this year, why not spend a few romantic days with your loved one in Berlin? Berlin has many romantic sides, in our blog post about the Top 11 romantic places in Berlin Read more. Stroll hand in hand through Charlottenburg Palace, enjoy the view over the rooftops of the city or snuggle up to each other in extraordinary Berlin cinemas.
Here are a few suggestions for events:
- Reading with short stories on Valentine's Day
- Concert date at the Komische Oper
- Romantic under the starry sky of the Zeiss-Großplanetarium
Tip 3: Discover fashion at Berlin Fashion Week
Dive into the glittering world of fashion, because Berlin Fashion Week is just around the corner! Every year at the beginning of winter, the international fashion scene gathers in Berlin to celebrate avant-garde designs, sustainable visions and young culture. From dazzling runway shows to exciting presentations and interactive talks - fashion is not only shown here, but also discussed. Particularly exciting: The Emerging Talent Showcase, where up-and-coming designers present their trend-setting creations.
When: 31 January to 3 February
Where: Various fashion shows from 3 to 6 February
KU'DAMM 59 - The Musical! Only until February 2025 in Berlin
Experience a magnificent work about the Schöllack sisters Monika, Eva, Helga and their mother Caterina - four fearless women fighting for emancipation and self-discovery in Berlin at the end of the 1950s.
Tip 4: Visit the first winter edition of the CSD
In the middle of February, the Berlin CSD brings colour and warmth to the capital! The first winter CSD is a special event that not only celebrates the queer community, but also draws attention to urgent social issues. Under the motto "Choose love - while you still can" , the demonstration will march through the streets of Berlin and call for queer people to finally be enshrined in the constitution, for queer projects to receive sustainable support and for the community to be protected from hate and violence.
When: 15 February
Where: Route starts at the Bundestag
Tip 5: Marvel at Geometric Abstraction at the Museum Barberini
Dive into the fascinating world of geometric abstraction in the 20th century! Over 100 works by more than 70 artists - including greats such as Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian and Sonia Delaunay-Terk - will immerse you in avant-garde art. The exhibition shows how geometric shapes were used to capture cosmic themes and spiritual dimensions on canvas. Loans from famous museums such as the Tate Modern and the Guggenheim Museum make this show an absolute highlight.
When: From 8 February
Where: Museum Barberini, Potsdam
Tip 6: Visit the Biennale of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
The third Biennale of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to combine music and environmental awareness in an extraordinary way. Inspired by climate change and species extinction, the festival is dedicated to the pressing issues of our time under the motto "Paradise Lost?". In three impressive symphony concerts, the Berliner Philharmoniker under the direction of Kirill Petrenko and guest conductors Marin Alsop and François-Xavier Roth will unleash the emotional power of music.
When: 13 February to 1 March
Where: Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, Mitte
Tip 7: Swing into new spheres of music at the "Projections" festival
The Projections Festival at the Konzerthaus Berlin transforms late winter into an experience for the senses. For ten days, it celebrates the combination of music and visual art that transcends all boundaries. The highlight of the programme is a piano sonata marathon on 8 February, accompanied by an impressive cycle of paintings by Berlin artist Jorinde Voigt. Artificial Intelligence ventures into Beethoven's "33rd Sonata" in the late hours of the night, while the experimental Jack Quartet indulges in virtual worlds. In the mini-series Visual Music Night, DJs and visual artists meet classical musicians, and opera lighting designer Franck Evin immerses Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe in fascinating light landscapes.
By the way: In February, the newly renovated Gendarmenmarkt will be accessible again. Among other things, a sustainable rainwater concept and measures for greater accessibility have been implemented here.
When: 7 to 15 February
Where: Konzerthaus Berlin, Am Gendarmenmarkt 2, Mitte
Tip 8: Celebrate 75 years of Stachelschweine Cabaret
A cheese roll for 14 euros? Berlin as the nation's silverware? Welcome to the biting vision of the future of the Cabaret Stachelschweine! To mark the 75th anniversary of the legendary Berlin cabaret, Frank Lüdecke and Sören Sieg whisk their audience away to the year 2029. In their programme "Ich hab' noch einen Tesla in Berlin" , Chancellor Sahra Wagenknecht descends into political chaos. With her typical black humour and a pinch of Berlin snark, one of Germany's oldest cabaret stages serves up socio-critical entertainment that makes you think and laugh at the same time.
When: Various performances in February
Where: Cabaret theatre Die Stachelschweine, Tauentzienstraße 9-12, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 9: Cheer on the pros at the ISTAF Indoor
For all athletics enthusiasts, the ISTAF Indoor (International Stadium Festival) starts on 14 February in the Uber Arena. Here you can watch well-known winners from various international and national competitions compete against each other in many disciplines. Sprint, hurdles, long jump and pole vault, everything is represented.
When: 14 February
Where: Uber-Arena, Uber-Platz 1, Friedrichshain
ISTAF INDOOr 2025
Tip 10: Have fun with the defiant NEINhorn
Look forward to a play that is bursting with linguistic wit and will not only delight children aged 4 and over! Das NEINhorn, based on the cult bestseller by Marc-Uwe Kling, tells the story of a very special unicorn who simply doesn't want to be friendly and happy all the time. In Herzwald, a sugar-sweet magical world, the permanently cheerful fellow unicorns don't suit his grumpy nature at all - so the NEINhorn says "Bye then!" and sets off. A theatre adventure that also makes adults smile! Ideal for a family-friendly afternoon.
When: From 13 February
Where: ATZE Musiktheater - Studiobühne, Luxemburger Straße 20 C, Mitte
Tip 11: Discover new perspectives from Africa
Immerse yourself in an exhibition that broadens horizons and changes perspectives. Under the title "Rethinking Africa", over 20 artists present works that celebrate Africa's rich cultural heritage as well as its current socio-political dynamics.
Inspired by the philosophy of thinker Achille Mbembe, the exhibition invites you to consider Africa as the centre of a shared global future. Photography and film are the focus - with works that overcome stereotypical representations and instead emphasise the diversity of the continent and its ability to reshape stories.
When: From 1 February
Where: C/O Berlin (in the Amerika-Haus), Hardenbergstraße 22, Charlottenburg
You can find even more tips for February and the rest of the year in the Event Calendar.
