Nowruz — Performance Evening at the House of World Cultures

Persian New Year at John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10

For decades, the House of World Cultures (HKW) in Tiergarten has been Germany's most important venue for global contemporary culture. On the banks of the Spree, between the Hauptbahnhof and Brandenburg Gate, the house opens its doors every spring for a Nowruz night, transforming the Persian-Iranian-Afghan-Tajik tradition of the New Year festival into a contemporary performance format. In 2026, the event will take place on Saturday, March 21st, the astronomically correct date of Nowruz.

Haft-Sin as a Stage

At the heart of the evening is an expansive Haft-Sin installation: the traditional table with seven symbolic elements—each starting with the Persian letter 'Sin' and representing values such as love, health, patience, and rebirth—becomes a sculptural stage. Seven performers give voice, body, and movement to these elements; simultaneously, an interactive Hafez Oracle performance unfolds, where visitors draw verses from the classic Persian poet's Diwan.

Mohammad Reza Mortazavi on the Daf

The musical highlight is a solo concert by Mohammad Reza Mortazavi on the Daf, the large Iranian frame drum. Mortazavi is considered one of the most outstanding Daf players worldwide and has lived in Berlin for years. His 30-minute performance is followed by a DJ set by Ava Irandoost and Reza Jalilian, transforming the installation into a dance space until midnight.

Trilingual and Open to All

The evening is conceived in Farsi, German, and English—a deliberate gesture to Berlin's growing Persian-speaking community and an invitation to all interested individuals. HKW uses this format to give a platform to exiled artists and to make visible the engagement with 'Remembrance and Resistance' in the context of the political situation in Iran.

In the Mitte District with a Diaspora Anchor

Berlin hosts one of the largest Persian-speaking diaspora communities outside of Iran, with strong connections to Berlin universities, arts, and politics. HKW, as a venue in the federal state of Berlin's Mitte district, makes this evening a central meeting point: free admission, accessible, and with a high-caliber program. For those wishing to experience Persian New Year in Berlin, this offers the most open door.