Tanz im August — International Festival Berlin

Four Weeks of Dance Bringing the Whole World to Kreuzberg

As Berlin's high summer reaches its peak, a festival that has drawn the international dance scene to Berlin since 1989 begins in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district: Tanz im August. The organizer is HAU Hebbel am Ufer, which, with its three venues HAU1, HAU2, and HAU3, forms the festival center — the main address is HAU2, Hallesches Ufer 34, directly at the Hallesches Tor subway station.

What Makes the Festival Special

Unlike classical ballet festivals, Tanz im August focuses on contemporary dance in all its facets — from physical theatre and performative installations to choreographic research. Artistic direction has been in the hands of Ricardo Carmona since 2023, who will be responsible for the program for the fourth time in 2026. Companies from Taiwan, France, Brazil, Korea, Senegal, Belgium, and Berlin are invited — a polyphony that cannot be experienced with this density anywhere else in Germany.

Program Pillars

• German and World Premieres as the core
• Audience Discussions after each performance
• Dance Films in cooperation with Berlin arthouse cinemas
• Festival Parties in the HAU foyer and Bar HAU 1
• Library in August: open reading zone and meeting point
• Camping in August: residency format for young choreographers

Other Venues in Berlin

In addition to HAU, Tanz im August traditionally uses other stages: the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Wilmersdorf, the Sophiensæle in Mitte, the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg, and the radialsystem hall in Friedrichshain. This allows the festival to span across Berlin and make dance accessible to a broad city audience.

Who Should Visit?

Tanz im August is not art for insiders — the pieces are comment-worthy, physical, and often politically charged. If you are interested in movement, body politics, post-colonial discourses, or simply excellently crafted stage work, this festival is a must-attend event in Berlin's cultural summer.