Moon Festival in the Gardens of the World

The largest Asian Gardens in Europe

The Gardens of the World on Blumberger Damm in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, covering over 100 hectares, is one of Europe's largest themed garden parks — and unites different garden cultures from around the world with its Chinese, Balinese, Korean, Japanese, and Cretan gardens. The "Garden of the Reclaimed Moon", the oldest Chinese garden in Europe outside of China, provides the natural backdrop for the annual Moon Festival.

Moon Festival 2026 — September 25th

The Chinese Moon Festival (Zhōngqiū jié) celebrates the full moon night of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar — the harvest moon. In 2026, the central day falls on September 25th. The Gardens of the World typically host the Berlin Moon Festival on the associated weekend, between 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM — with a packed stage program and workshops late into the evening, crowned by a laser show.

Dragon Dance, Tea Ceremony, Lantern Procession

The centerpiece of the program is an evening lantern procession starting from the Confucius Meadow, accompanied by the red dragon from the Lee Sports School. Before that, the stages feature classic Chinese dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, K-Pop choreographies, and performances by the Berlin Association for Chinese Art and Culture. A tea ceremony on the stone boat in the Chinese Garden, Sichuan symphony music, or — in some years — highlights from the Chinese National Circus round off the evening. Workshops for children teach lantern making, mask painting, calligraphy, and paper cutting.

First Play, Then Watch the Moon Rise

The Moon Festival deliberately focuses on the magic of the approaching evening: Those who arrive early experience the Gardens of the World first in daylight — pavilions are reflected in the water, the Balinese mountain garden smells of jasmine, and stone dragon patterns in the Chinese Garden provide a backdrop for family photos. As dusk falls, the stage program takes over; thousands of lanterns transform the park into a garden of light. The laser show around 9:15 PM marks the grand finale.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf in the State of Berlin

The Gardens of the World are located in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district in the far east of Berlin. The park is accessible from Berlin city center in 25 minutes via the U5 subway line to Kienberg–Gärten der Welt. The operator is Grün Berlin GmbH, responsible for Berlin's state-owned parks and promenades. In the state of Berlin, the Moon Festival is one of the most important Asian-influenced city festivals — and also a central meeting point for Berlin's growing Chinese and East Asian community.