#dabei Open Air — Berlin Choir Association on Museum Island 2026
Berlin Choir Diversity for the 125th Anniversary on Museum Island — Free Admission
About #dabei Open Air
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Four Hours of Berlin Choir Diversity in the Kolonnadenhof
The Berlin choral scene is surprisingly large — over 200 choirs are organized within the Berlin Choir Association, ranging from traditional male choirs to girls' choirs, and from gospel and pop ensembles to a cappella formations. Once a year, the association makes its diversity visible: at the #dabei Open Air, which in 2026 is integrated into the supporting program of the Island Festival '200 Years of Museum Island' and takes place on June 5th.
16 Choirs, One Day
On the central stage in the Kolonnadenhof, located between the Alte Nationalgalerie and the Pergamonmuseum, sixteen Berlin choirs will perform curated short sets on June 5th, 2026. The repertoire spans a wide range: classical male and female choirs alongside modern a cappella ensembles, pop choirs next to gospel formations, established capital city choirs alongside young neighborhood choirs. What unites them is their affiliation with the Berlin Choir Association — and the occasion of the 125th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout Berlin with various events in 2026.
Sing Along on Saturday
On Saturday, June 6th, 2026, the format opens up to the public: a community sing-along will take place in the Kolonnadenhof, led by Ilja Panzer. Those who don't sing in a choir themselves can immerse themselves here — lyrics will be provided, and the choirmaster will guide participants through the repertoire. Thus, the festival combines representation (Day 1) with participation (Day 2) — a deliberate programmatic choice.
Part of the Grand Island Festival
The #dabei Open Air 2026 is part of the grand Island Festival organized by the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) and the Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin (National Museums in Berlin) to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Museum Island. In the previous year — during the premiere of the Island Festival in 2025 — over 55,000 visitors came to Museum Island. With the Island Festival day ticket for €16 (reduced €8), all museums on the island, as well as the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche and PETRI Berlin, are accessible. The #dabei Open Air itself remains free of charge throughout — a deliberate gesture by the Choir Association to ensure low-threshold access to choral music.
#dabei Open Air — edition 2026
The 2026 edition coincides with two major occasions: the 125th anniversary of the Berlin Choir Association and the 200th anniversary of Museum Island. This results in a special spatial and programmatic integration: the Choir Association uses its open-air format to animate the opening weekend of the Island Festival, organized by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the National Museums in Berlin.
On Friday, June 5th, the curated choir block with 16 Berlin choirs will take place. On Saturday, June 6th, the open community sing-along led by Ilja Panzer follows — anyone who wants to sing along is invited, and lyrics will be provided. The program is embedded within the extensive Island Festival program of the museums, featuring concerts, guided tours, workshops, and special events throughout the grounds.
Programme #dabei Open Air 2026
Confirmed program according to chorverband-berlin.de/dabei-festival and Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz:
Friday, June 5th, 2026 — Kolonnadenhof, Museum Island
- 16 Berlin Choirs present the diversity of the Berlin choral scene
- Spectrum: classical mixed choirs, male choirs, female choirs, pop choirs, gospel choirs, youth and girls' choirs, a cappella ensembles
- Short performance slots, curated by the Berlin Choir Association
- Free admission
Saturday, June 6th, 2026 — Kolonnadenhof, Museum Island
- Community Sing-Along led by Ilja Panzer
- Open to everyone — lyrics will be provided
- Curated repertoire from the Berlin choral repertoire
- Open-air program in the Kolonnadenhof
Context: Island Festival '200 Years of Museum Island' (June 6–7, 2026)
- Island Festival Day Ticket: €16 (reduced €8) — valid for all museums on the island + Friedrichswerdersche Kirche + PETRI Berlin
- Accompanying museum programs: guided tours, workshops, special formats
Highlights #dabei Open Air 2026
- 125 Years of the Berlin Choir Association — Anniversary edition in the Kolonnadenhof
- 16 Berlin choirs showcase the diversity of the capital's choral scene
- Community sing-along with Ilja Panzer — open to everyone
- Integrated into the Island Festival '200 Years of Museum Island'
- Free admission for the choir program
- Stage located centrally between the Pergamonmuseum and the Alte Nationalgalerie
Prices #dabei Open Air 2026
The choir open-air program in the Kolonnadenhof is free of charge throughout. For access to the Museum Island buildings on the same weekend: Island Festival day ticket €16 (reduced €8), bookable via smb.museum. The ticket grants admission to all museums on the island as well as to the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche and PETRI Berlin during the festival weekend.
Practical information — #dabei Open Air
Getting There
Museum Island Berlin, Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin-Mitte. S-Bahn S5/S7/S9 Hackescher Markt (10 min.) or U-Bahn U6 Friedrichstraße (12 min.). Bus 100/300 stops directly at Lustgarten. The event takes place in the Kolonnadenhof between the Alte Nationalgalerie, Pergamonmuseum, and Neues Museum.
Admission
The #dabei Open Air on the stage in the Kolonnadenhof is free of charge. For access to the museums on the same weekend: Island Festival day ticket €16 (reduced €8), valid for all museums on the island + Friedrichswerdersche Kirche + PETRI Berlin.
Good to Know
June 5th — curated choir performance block with 16 Berlin choirs. June 6th — community sing-along led by Ilja Panzer, everyone can join in. Seating is limited; many visitors bring picnic blankets. In case of heavy rain, the program will be moved to a museum building.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a #dabei Open Air al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place #dabei Open Air
Museumsinsel Berlin (Kolonnadenhof)
Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin