Festival of Cultural Heritage — UNESCO World Heritage Day Potsdam

A City Celebrates Its Heritage

Potsdam is a UNESCO World Heritage site — the palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin have been on the World Heritage list since 1990, and since 1999, "Berlin Modernism" has also been part of the designation. But heritage is more than just palaces: it's also intangible culture, associations, volunteers, craft businesses, and historical techniques. The Festival of Cultural Heritage celebrates precisely these "cultural heritage bearers" every year on the first Sunday in June — UNESCO World Heritage Day.

Program in Front of the Brandenburg Gate

On June 7, 2026, from 2 PM to 6 PM, the Brandenburger Straße in front of the Brandenburg Gate and Luisenplatz will transform into an open festival and activity space. Around 40 associations and initiatives from the fields of monument preservation, crafts, music, science, and natural heritage will present their projects. The festival will be opened by Mayor Noosha Aubel, followed by an intensive stage program throughout the afternoon.

Music from Potsdam's Music School and the Friedenskirche

Various formats will alternate on stage: starting at 2 PM, the pop band "Set Ablaze" from the Potsdam Music School will perform, followed by Jazzkollektiv Babelsberg (3 PM), the children's and youth choir of the Friedenskirche community (4 PM), the children's choir Bambini of ChorWerk Potsdam (4:45 PM), and the jazz combo "JazzyKa" from the Potsdam Music School (5:25 PM). A broad overview of the city's musical potential — and explicitly designed for families.

Participate, Don't Just Watch

A special feature of the festival is the hands-on stations: here, grain is ground by hand, waffles are baked, wood is turned, clocks are restored, and old craft techniques are demonstrated. Those who wish can lend a hand themselves. This clearly distinguishes the Festival of Cultural Heritage from a classic city festival — it aims to make heritage an experience to participate in.

Parallel Events in Park Sanssouci

Park Sanssouci itself is also a venue for World Heritage Day: at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 2 PM, official program points will take place in the park — from guided tours by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation to special openings. Those planning a full day can start in the park and conclude with the program at Luisenplatz.