Bachfest Karlshorst & Rummelsburg – Bach bewegt

Bach in Berlin's East

Those seeking Johann Sebastian Bach in Berlin usually hear him at the Philharmonie or the Konzerthaus. In Berlin's East – in Karlshorst and Rummelsburg (Lichtenberg district) – an association has been working for several years to establish Bach in an unusual location: the neighbourhood around the church 'Zur frohen Botschaft' and the Erlöserkirche Rummelsburg. The Bachfest 'Bach bewegt' is its most important format.

The Idea

'Bach bewegt' aims not to preserve Bach as a museum piece, but to place him within a vibrant urban context. The festival therefore combines chamber music concerts with film and literary formats (Bach in the Cinema, Bach as a Film Theme), a sing-along service, a family programme, and a grand final performance of the Mass in B minor BWV 232 – one of the most monumental works in music history.

Four Days, Three Churches, One Work at the Centre

The 2nd edition runs from May 28th to 31st, 2026. The main venue is the church 'Zur frohen Botschaft' at Weseler Straße 6, a remarkable organ location in Berlin with its historic Amalien organ. In addition, there is the Erlöserkirche Rummelsburg, where the sacred concerts take place on Saturday evening, and the Kulturhaus Karlshorst (Thursday evening, film discussion with Knut Elstermann).

Karlshorst and Rummelsburg

Karlshorst and Rummelsburg, both in the Lichtenberg district, are quiet Berlin residential areas with their own history. Karlshorst, once a military centre for the Soviet forces, is now a well-established bourgeois neighbourhood with a racecourse, several churches, and an active cultural scene. Rummelsburg connects to Friedrichshain via the Rummelsburger See.