Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

2,000 Seats Under the Berlin Summer Sky

Freiluftkino Friedrichshain runs every summer from May to September on the open-air stage in Volkspark Friedrichshain — an amphitheater built in the 1950s as a GDR open-air stage, now considered one of Berlin's most beautiful summer spots. The grandstand seats around 2,000 people, the LED screen is one of the largest in Berlin, and the acoustics are surprisingly good thanks to the semi-circular structure. Films usually start around 9:00–9:30 PM during the season — as soon as it gets dark enough.

A Berlin Cinema Tradition Since the 1990s

Freiluftkino Friedrichshain is one of the three major Berlin open-air cinemas (alongside Freiluftkino Hasenheide and Rehberge in Wedding). It has been running since the early 1990s and is considered the most reliable destination for cinephiles who prefer watching films under the open sky rather than in a cinema hall. The organizer is PiffPaffPuff GmbH, which operates several Berlin open-air cinemas.

Program 2026 — From Film Award Nominees to Cinephile Highlights

The 2026 season runs from May 13 to the end of December 2026 (focusing on May–September; from October, only selected dates in indoor or hybrid format). The program includes current film releases, German Film Award nominees, documentaries, and premiere screenings. Confirmed highlights for 2026: 'Hamnet', 'The Secret Agent', 'One Battle After Another' (Paul Thomas Anderson), plus classics, animated films, and special screenings.

Inclusion and Accessibility

The open-air cinema is consistently working on accessibility: films are offered with audio description and subtitles for the deaf, in cooperation with the Greta & Starks app. The grandstand is accessible, and a dedicated wheelchair space is available. Family screenings on weekends (shorter, child-friendly start times).

Friedrichshain and the Volkspark

Volkspark Friedrichshain is Berlin's oldest public park (opened in 1840) and is located in the Friedrichshain district (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough). With the Märchenbrunnen (Fairy Tale Fountain), Mont Klamott (a rubble mountain from post-war times), sports fields, playgrounds, and the open-air cinema, it is one of the city's most versatile parks. A walk or a picnic on the Große Wiese before visiting the cinema makes for an ideal Berlin summer evening.

radioeins as Media Partner — A Mark of Credibility

The rbb station radioeins has been the main media partner for years and has given its name to the program (often appearing on posters as 'Freiluftkino Friedrichshain by radioeins'). Other partners include Hofbräu München, tipBerlin, die taz, and Kulturplakatierung. The partnership ensures a curated program line that is based on cinephile taste beyond just blockbuster programming.