Berlin Industrial Culture Festival
Three weeks of industrial culture at over 30 industrial sites in Berlin — from the AEG factory in Schöneweide to the BVG depot
About Industrial Culture Festival
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Berlin as an industrial city — rediscovered
For decades, Berlin was one of Europe's largest industrial cities: AEG, Siemens, Borsig, Knorr-Bremse — brands that shaped entire city districts. Today, this history is scattered between residential conversions, decay, and creative hubs. Once a year, the Berlin Industrial Culture Festival, organized by the Berliner Zentrum Industriekultur (bzi), brings these dispersed traces to life for three weeks: a festival without a fixed site, which instead moves across the entire city, opening new doors every weekend.
September 12 to October 4, 2026
The 2026 edition runs from September 12 to October 4 — three weeks spread over four weekends. The opening on September 12 deliberately coincides with the nationwide Day of the Open Monument: on this day, many of the festival sites are open anyway, and the festival uses this kick-off for focused attention on Berlin's industrial monuments.
Over 30 sites, seven districts
More than 30 partner sites and hidden gems in Berlin participate in the program. The focus is on the Industriesalon Schöneweide on the former AEG site in Niederschöneweide, one of the largest contiguous industrial monument areas in Berlin. But also the old Borsig works in Tegel, the Schultheiss Brewery in Spandau, the Markgrafendamm substation in Friedrichshain, the Knorr-Bremse works in Marzahn — seven Berlin districts are connected through the program.
Silent Disco in a power plant, improv theater in a locomotive shed
The program is deliberately broad and experimental: silent discos in extraordinary locations, historical transport rallies with vintage trams and old buses, improv theater on industrial history themes, exclusive city tours with insider access, photo walks through abandoned industrial buildings, culinary evenings against an industrial backdrop. In addition, there are lectures, readings, and workshops with Berlin's architectural, economic, and social historians.
Funded by the State of Berlin
The festival is a cooperative project with over 30 partners and is supported by the Berlin Senate Department, visitBerlin, and the economic development agencies of seven Berlin districts. Initiatives, cultural centers, and educational institutions that want to contribute to industrial culture themselves can register their own contributions. This makes the festival an open format that changes from edition to edition — embedded in the history of Berlin as an industrial center in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Industrial Culture Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 Berlin Industrial Culture Festival uses the Day of the Open Monument on September 12 for its kick-off and continues for three weeks with distributed program points on weekends. More than 30 Berlin industrial sites open their doors, supplemented by curated special events at exclusive locations. The festival is deliberately decentralized: those who want to participate can put together their own route from the online program.
Programme Industrial Culture Festival 2026
Program framework for the 2026 edition (as of preliminary announcement by Berliner Zentrum Industriekultur):
Opening weekend — September 12/13, 2026
- September 12 — Day of the Open Monument: Festival opening; many partner sites are accessible free of charge nationwide.
- Opening event at the Industriesalon Schöneweide on the former AEG site.
Weekends until October 4, 2026
- Exclusive city tours with insider access to factory halls, control rooms, and disused industrial buildings.
- Silent Discos in extraordinary locations (e.g., power plant, locomotive shed, substation).
- Historical transport rallies with old buses, trams, and vintage vehicles.
- Improv theater on themes of Berlin's industrial history.
- Photo walks through abandoned industrial buildings in several districts.
- Culinary events in unique industrial settings.
- Lectures, readings, and workshops with historians.
Festival center
- Industriesalon Schöneweide, Reinbeckstraße 9, 12459 Berlin — starting point for many tours and meeting point for "Electric Berlin" tours.
The complete program will be published from early June 2026 on industriekultur.berlin. Contributions from cultural institutions and initiatives are welcome.
Highlights Industrial Culture Festival 2026
- Three weeks of festival, 4 weekends, 7 Berlin districts
- Opening on the Day of the Open Monument (September 12, 2026)
- Over 30 industrial sites as partners
- Silent Disco, improv theater, and photo walks at lost places
- Festival center: Industriesalon Schöneweide (AEG site)
Prices Industrial Culture Festival 2026
Admission prices vary by event — from the free Day of the Open Monument to paid special tours (usually €10–€20). Advance booking and registration via industriekultur.berlin/erleben/festival from early June 2026.
Practical information — Industrial Culture Festival
Getting there
Festival center: Industriesalon Schöneweide, Reinbeckstraße 9, 12459 Berlin. S-Bahn Schöneweide (S8, S9, S45, S46, S47, S85), approx. 5 min. walk. The other festival sites are spread across the entire city of Berlin and are specified individually for each date — public transport connections are good in most cases.
Tickets
Admission prices vary per event — from free open house days to paid special tours (usually €10–€20). Advance booking via the festival website and partners. Program and registration details at industriekultur.berlin/erleben/festival from early June 2026.
Good to know
Many events are only accessible with advance registration — early booking recommended. Sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are advisable for photo walks and outdoor tours. Languages are predominantly German, with selected tours also in English.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Industrial Culture Festival
Industriesalon Schöneweide und über 30 Industriestandorte in Berlin
Reinbeckstraße 9, 12459 Berlin