Waldbühne open-air stage

In the middle of the woods, the Waldbühne is an idyllic place for all kinds of concert, where the greats of rock, pop and classical music perform in front of enthusiastic audiences. Many people consider it as one of the most beautiful open-air arenas of all.

The shell-like stage and white tent roof nestle between the trees. The design of the open-air auditorium is based on an amphitheatre and can hold 22,290 concert-goers.

A varied history

The Waldbühne was built in 1936 as an open-air stage for the Olympics. It hosted the gymnastics events and also served as a stage for the accompanying events.

The architecture is based on the form of an ancient amphitheatre and features steeply rising stands, making use of the area’s natural slope. After the war, it was used as an open-air cinema, including for the Berlinale. Starting in the 1960s, rock bands began playing open-air gigs here.

The Rolling Stones hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in 1965. After a truncated concert, fans started ripping up the seats and fighting the police. The Waldbühne was severely damaged and was not used again until it was renovated seven years later.

In 1980, Bob Marley performed at the Waldbühne and the legendary gig restored its reputation as as an open-air venue. Since then, countless stars have appeared there, including:

• Prince
• Herbert Grönemeyer
• Bruce Springsteen
• David Garrett
• Sting
• Celine Dion
• Plus many more besides.

And the bill for this year’s open-air season from May to September once again features this some very big names.

A musical picnic

One of the highlights of the year at the Waldbühne is the concert by the Berlin Philharmonic at the end of the season, featuring a lovingly compiled programme performed with stars such as Lang Lang. The audience bring picnic hampers with them and enjoy salads and sausages, antipasti and desserts. The concert always ends with golden oldie Das ist die Berliner Luft – with an audience of thousands joining in.

Goosebumps are also guaranteed with Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which consists of Arab and Israeli musicians who share their love of playing with an enthusiastic audience and thus promote understanding across the divide.

A concert by torchlight

A highlight for families is the annual torchlight concert, where the band Rumpelstil plays popular songs, with the children singing along, dancing and drawing circles in the sky with their torches.

The Olympiapark

Right next to the Waldbühne is the Olympiapark, which includes

• The Olympic Stadium
• The Maifeld
• The Bell Tower

Parking options

There is a paid car park on Passenheimer Straße. Only limited parking is available in the surrounding streets, so it’s better to take public transport. The Waldbühne can be reached by S-Bahn, U-Bahn or bus.

Tickets