Music on two stages, open museums, lively squares and a programme for all generations: on 21 June, the Nikolaiviertel will be transformed into a vibrant festival site as part of the Fête de la Musique.
Regular: free of charge
Nikolaiviertel | 10178 Berlin
From 10 am, the museums will be open; guided tours begin at 2 pm, followed by creative activities from 3 pm and the stage programme from 4 pm.
Parking around the Nikolaiviertel is very limited. We recommend arriving by public transport.
During the Museum Festival, video and photo recordings will be made and may be used for an unlimited period for public relations purposes by the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin. By taking part, you agree that these recordings may be published.
We reserve the right to make changes to the programme at short notice in the event of bad weather.
7h
For the second time, Stadtmuseum Berlin is combining its Museumsfest with the Fête de la Musique and inviting visitors to rediscover historic Berlin. From 2 pm, the museums will open and guided tours will begin; creative activities follow from 3 pm, and the stage programme starts at 4 pm.
History Meets Music
Look forward to a varied music programme on two stages. Experience the talented singer-songwriter Oranya, rousing sounds from around the world performed by various Berlin choirs, music with groove and heart for children from Richards Musikladen, and German-language pop by Trille.
In addition, explore the historic Nikolaiviertel on engaging guided tours, and visit our exhibitions at the Knoblauchhaus Museum, the Museum Nikolaikirche and the Ephraim-Palais Museum. Gain exclusive insights into our collections, build musical instruments with your children, dance in a breakdance workshop and test your knowledge in our museum quiz.
Moderators: Anjouna Novak, Melanie Huber
We are continuously updating the programme for you. Details about the bands, creative activities and guided tours can be found on this page.
Programme
16:00 – 16:05 | Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
Opening of the Museum Festival by Sophie Plagemann, Artistic Director of the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin
Concerts
16:05 – 16:30 | Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
Choir “Women in Harmony”
16:40 – 17:25 | Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
Richards Kindermusikladen
17:30 – 17:55 | Dance area in front of the Nikolaikirche
Breakdance workshop on the history of breaking in Berlin, led by StreetUniverCity
18:00 – 18:30 | Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
Die UKULELERS from Glienicke
18:35 – 19:10 | Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
Die QuerChorallen Berlin
19:25 – 20:10 | Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
ORANYA
20:15 – 20:55 | Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
Special Guest
21:00 – 22:00 | Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
Trille
Creative Activities
15:00 – 21:00 | in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais
The large instrument sound workshop
15:00 – 21:00 | next to the children’s laboratory at the Museum Knoblauchhaus
Summer accessories for hot days
Guided Tours (in German)
14:00 | Foyer, Museum Ephraim-Palais
Family tour: Racing through BerlinZEIT
14:00 – 14:30 + 18:15 – 18:45 | Ticket desk, Museum Knoblauchhaus
“Jewelled Berlin Women” – the incredible story of fashion, politics and foundry art
15:00 – 15:30 + 16:15 – 16:45 + 17:15 – 17:45 | Ticket desk, Museum Knoblauchhaus
“Vintage furniture from the Biedermeier period?” – a chair model based on a design by Schinkel
15:30 | Ticket desk, Museum Nikolaikirche
Through the Nikolaikirche Museum in 60 minutes
15:30 – 16:00 + 16:30 – 17:00 + 15:30 – 16:00 | Foyer, Museum Ephraim-Palais
Behind the scenes by lift – exclusive insights into the Graphic Collection
16:00 – 17:00 + 18:00 – 19:00 | Meeting point in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais
Tour for everyone through the Nikolaiviertel
16:30 – 17:15 | Meeting point to the left in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais Museum
Exploring the neighbourhood: guided walk from the Museumsfest to the Fête at the Park × Waisenbrückentag at Köllnischer Park
16:45 – 17:15 | Ticket desk, Museum Nikolaikirche
Who ruled the city? Church, power and coexistence before 1800
18:30 – 19:15 | Meeting point at the information stand at the Fête at the Park × Waisenbrückentag, Märkischer Platz
Exploring the neighbourhood: guided walk from the Fête at the Park × Waisenbrückentag at Köllnischer Park back to the Museumsfest
The detailed programme
Concerts
Women in Harmony
16:05 – 16:30Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
“The Women in Harmony Choir is at the heart of Berlin’s vibrant Arabic music scene and emerged from the work of the Arab Music Initiative Berlin e.V. The choir brings together women from diverse backgrounds who weave their personal stories of migration, culture and identity into a shared musical expression. Their voices move through the Arabic repertoire – from classical maqamat to contemporary songs – combining traditional ornamentation with sensitive, precise polyphonic choral singing.
Richards Musikladen
16:45 – 17:25Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
“Richards Musikladen has become a firm favourite in the world of family-friendly music. His songs revolve around chaotic family life, quirky ideas and amusing discoveries. Music with groove and heart for children – and the adults who come with them – featuring imaginative lyrics that invite questions and spark further ideas. Organic rhythms, real instruments, no sugary cartoon pop! Behind the project is Richard Haus, who scored a summer hit as P.R. Kantate with Görli Görli. He takes to the stage with his band and always teams up with the audience – everyone is welcome to join in!”
Breakdance workshop – the history of breaking in Berlin
17:30 – 17:55Dance area in front of the Nikolaikirche
A dance-driven journey through the history of Berlin breakdance.
José, aka Beatsurfer (City Rockers Crew), offers insights into the beginnings of breakdance in Berlin from 1983 onwards, with clear, hands-on examples from the Old School.
B-boy Niven (Got the Flava Crew) shows how breaking has continued to evolve and which styles and techniques shape the scene in 2026.
The workshop is aimed at a broad audience – from curious beginners to dance-loving families.
An activity by
Die UKULELERS from Glienicke
18:00 – 18:30Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
The UKULELERS were formed three years ago. With ukuleles and vocals, they mainly reinterpret well-known songs – light-hearted, carefree and full of joy in making music together.
Die QuerChorallen Berlin
18:35 – 19:10Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
The QuerChorallen Berlin are a gay, lesbian and queer choir with around 40 singers: “Whether Orlando di Lasso or Mikis Theodorakis, Fanny Hensel or Queen, folklore or contemporary music – we sing a cappella from the heart and with conviction. We are usually heard in four-part harmony, occasionally in eight parts, ranging from low D to high G, in German, English, Romance, Slavic and other languages. We sing about spring and the Northern Lights, about music and silence, and with great passion about love in all its many facets.”
ORANYA
19:25 – 20:10Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
“Honest, danceable and dreamlike: Berlin-based singer-songwriter ORANYA combines electronic beats with sensitive lyrics to create a sound that gets under your skin and onto the dancefloor at the same time. Between pulsating synths, warm basslines and clear arrangements, she unfolds her very own take on German-language pop.”
Special Guest
20:15 – 20:55Stage in front of the Museum Laboratory
Further information will follow.
Trille
21:00 – 22:00Stage in front of the Nikolaikirche
“Trille is back on stage: following his period of parental leave, the Berlin-based musician is playing his first concert and presenting songs from his latest album Aus meiner Haut. Honest German-language pop, navigating vulnerability, pressure and the attempt to come back to oneself.”
Creative Activities
The large instrument sound workshop
15:00 – 21:00To the right in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais
It’s all about measuring, sawing, hammering, sanding, drilling, screwing and threading – lively, busy and loud. Here you can discover and try out which materials are needed to build an instrument and how it’s done. Depending on age and the time available, participants can create simpler or more elaborate instruments to take home and play. For children, there is a dedicated area where they can explore a small world of sound.
Summer accessoires for hot days
15:00 – 21:00Museum Knoblauchhaus, in front of the children’s laboratory
In our open workshop, young and old alike can design small historical summer accessories themselves. A Biedermeier-style Schute protects from strong sunlight and provides welcome shade. A hand-folded fan brings a refreshing breeze to the face – perfect for a long summer’s day of music. Decorated with musical notes, ornaments and playful details, simple materials are transformed into cheerful companions for the festival – a creative greeting from the past that beautifully complements the music of the moment.
Guided Tours (in German)
Family tour: Racing through BerlinZEIT
14:00Meeting point: Foyer, Museum Ephraim-Palais | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket from the ticket desk at the Museum Ephraim-Palais on the day of the event.
This family-friendly activity offers an accessible and entertaining guided tour through the permanent exhibition on the city’s history at the Museum Ephraim-Palais. Families explore Berlin’s past in different ways: sprinting through the centuries, they discover remarkable objects and surprising stories together. Along the way, there is plenty to try out, experiencing history with all the senses.
“Jewelled Berlin Women” – the incredible story of fashion, politics and foundry art
14:00 – 14:30 + 18:15 – 18:45Meeting point: Ticket desk, Museum Knoblauchhaus | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket from the ticket desk at the Museum Knoblauchhaus on the day of the event.
A necklace made of iron and yet weighing just 12 grams! What is the secret behind this foundry art? Why did people donate precious gold in exchange for iron? Was Berlin iron jewellery merely a fashion trend, or a political statement?
Stories surrounding the most delicate iron castings ever made are shared by our collections curator in the cabinet exhibition on Berlin iron.
“Vintage furniture from the Biedermeier period?” – a chair model based on a design by Schinkel
15:00 – 15:30+ 16:15 – 16:45 + 17:15 – 17:45 Meeting point in front of the Museum Knoblauchhaus | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket at the Museum Knbolauchhaus ticket counter on the day of the event.What do a winged staff and a snake have to do with a wedding in 1833? What does a red wool thread beneath an upholstery nail tell us? Why doesn’t the gold shine? And why are there so many chairs that look almost identical?
Our conservator and our collections curator talk about their detective work at the museum and provide answers to all of these questions.
Behind the scenes by lift – exclusive insights into the Graphic Collection
15:30 – 16:00 + 16:30 – 17:00 + 17:30 – 18:00Meeting point at the foyer of the Museum Ephraim-Palais | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket at the Museum Ephraim-Palais ticket counter on the day of the event.
From aquatint to drawing
The Graphic Collection comprises more than 100,000 works on paper, with depictions spanning from the 16th century to the present day.
City views, portraits, caricatures or fragments of wallpaper – the collection not only covers an extensive range of subjects, but also showcases the full spectrum of graphic techniques. We offer a look inside the storage facilities, explain techniques and motifs using selected examples, and provide insights into the day-to-day work of the collection.
Museum Nikolaikirche in 60 minutes
15:30Meeting point at the ticket counter in the Museum Nikolaikirche | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket at the museum’s ticket counter on the day of the event.
Guided tour of the permanent exhibition: Step into Berlin’s past at one of the city’s iconic landmarks! What role did Berlin’s oldest surviving church building play in earlier times? What do the remains of the late Romanesque basilica’s foundations tell us? What traces did the bombing war leave behind? And why is the former church now a museum? These questions – and many more – will be answered on this tour.
The Nikolaiviertel – a tour for everyone
16:00 – 17:00 + 18:00 – 19:00Meeting point: to the left in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket from the ticket desk at the Museum Ephraim-Palais on the day of the event.
Together, families set off on a journey of discovery through the Nikolaiviertel. Along the way, they encounter the Berlin Bear and learn how the rib of a giant came to Berlin. They meet the Paddenwirt, find out what his name means, and make the acquaintance of the “Kaak”. A visit to Saint George the dragon slayer is also on the programme, as well as a walk through Berlin’s shortest street.
Exploring the neighbourhood: guided walk from the Museumsfest to the Fete at the Park ×Waisenbrückentag at Köllnischer Park
16:30 – 17:15Meeting point: to the left in front of the Museum Ephraim-Palais.
Two festivals, one route, plenty of music. As part of the Fête de la Musique, we invite you to a special walk through the centre of Berlin. Join us on a journey from the atmospheric Museumsfest in the Nikolaiviertel to the lively Fête at the Park × Waisenbrückentag, and experience the neighbourhood between the banks of the Spree, history and future perspectives. Along the way, you’ll gain fascinating insights: learn more about our sites in the Nikolaiviertel, the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus, and discover which visions might shape Köllnischer Park in the future.
Who ruled the city? Church, power and coexistence before 1800.
16:45 – 17:15Meeting point: Ticket desk, Museum Nikolaikirche Museum | Limited capacity | Please collect a free ticket from the ticket desk at the Museum Nikolaikirche on the day of the event.
What did the church mean to the people who lived around it? The fact that, in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, the church was much more than just a place of worship is the focus of a new narrative trail through the permanent exhibition Berlin’s Centre – and the focus of this guided tour.
Using seven objects from the permanent exhibition, the church is presented as both a place of urban community-building and a site of exclusion. Leon Pschierer, research fellow and curator of the exhibition, introduces the exhibition project and its background.
Exploring the neighbourhood: walk from the Fete at the Park × Waisenbrückentag to the Museumsfest
18:30 – 19:15Meeting point: Information stand at the Fete at the Park × Waisenbrückentag at Märkischer Platz
Two festivals, one route, plenty of music. As part of the Fête de la Musique, we invite you to a special walk through the centre of Berlin. Join us on a journey from the lively Fete at the Park to the atmospheric Museumsfest in the Nikolaiviertel and experience the neighbourhood between the banks of the Spree, history and future perspectives. Along the way, you’ll gain fascinating insights: learn more about our sites in the Nikolaiviertel, the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus, and discover which visions might shape Köllnischer Park in the future.
Museums
Our museums in the Nikolaiviertel are open to you during the Museum Festival. Admission on this day is free.
An event within the framework of
Please note
During the Museumsfest, video and photo recordings will be made and may be used for an unlimited period for public relations purposes by the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin. By taking part, you agree that these recordings may be published.
Parking spaces around the Nikolaiviertel are very limited. We recommend travelling by public transport.
There are two public parking spaces for people with disabilities on Rathausstraße, approximately 150 metres from the museum.
The bus stop “Nikolaiviertel” is around 150 metres away, and the bus stop and underground station “Rotes Rathaus” are approximately 500 metres away.
Due to the cobblestone paving, paths in the Nikolaiviertel are only moderately accessible for walking and wheeled mobility.
Information on the accessibility of our museums can be found under “Our Museums” for each location.
In the event of bad weather, we reserve the right to make short-notice changes to the programme.