#125StundenChor — Choir World Record for the Anniversary of the Berlin Choir Association

Berlin Sings for 125 Hours Straight

With over 200 member choirs, the Berlin Choir Association is one of the oldest and largest choral associations in Germany. Founded in 1901, it turns 125 years old in 2026 — and is celebrating not just with a classic ceremony, but with a unique, globally recognized format: a choir world record attempt. 125 hours of uninterrupted singing, starting September 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM, until September 26, around 6:00 PM. Five days and five hours.

Format: 30-Minute Slots, Choir Relays Choir

The principle is simple and logistically demanding: Each participating choir gets a 30-minute slot during which they sing without interruption. During the handover, at least one singer must be audible continuously — the sound must not stop at any point. Over 200 Berlin choirs have registered, along with association choirs from Swabia, Brandenburg, Hesse, Bavaria, and international guests. Registration was open to all choirs — association membership was not required.

Venue: ATZE Musiktheater in Wedding

The venue is the ATZE Musiktheater at Luxemburger Straße 20 in the Wedding district (Mitte borough). ATZE is one of the largest stages for children's and family theater in Berlin and has the necessary stage and sound technology to handle 24-hour operation. The stage is freely accessible to the public for the entire 125 hours — day slots, multi-day visits, or the whole week, if you have the stamina.

In Context: A Full Anniversary Year

The world record attempt is the main attraction, but not the only event. The anniversary program spans the entire year 2026: in April, the third edition of the festival Vielstimmig takes place at the Humboldt Forum, and on June 22 — exactly 125 years after the first founding meeting — the association invites you to a ceremony at the Rotes Rathaus. Concerts, competitions, and open-air performances fill the Berlin choral season from January to December.

Berlin and German Choral Tradition

Berlin is a city of choirs: from the Berliner Knabenchor to the Rundfunkchor and hundreds of amateur choirs in church communities, neighborhoods, and schools, singing in the capital is of high quality and great diversity. The #125StundenChor aims to make this diversity visible — from Bach cantatas to Swabian folk songs, Berlin pop choirs, and queer a cappella formations.