From Seeing and Being Seen — 30 Years Karneval der Kulturen
Artistic accompanying exhibition for the 30th Karneval der Kulturen anniversary
About 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition
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30 Years Karneval — and a Critical Look at It
The Karneval der Kulturen celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. Instead of just cheering, the Kunstquartier Bethanien in Kreuzberg invites you to a reflective accompanying exhibition: "Vom Sehen und Gesehenwerden — 30 Jahre Karneval der Kulturen". 14 artists present works in Studio 1 that do not romanticize the phenomenon of Carnival, but understand it as an ambivalent space — a stage for liberation and humor, but also a space for stereotypes, exoticizing gazes, and commercial appropriation.
Studio 1 — the discursive sibling of the street festival
While the actual Karneval der Kulturen takes place from May 22nd to 25th, 2026 around Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg, the exhibition at Bethanien offers an indoor counterpart — a place for looking, reading, and discussing. For years, Studio 1 has been one of the most important spaces for intercultural, queer, and post-colonial discourse in Berlin; the exhibition fits the house's DNA.
Program Points
- May 13–26, 2026 — Exhibition "Vom Sehen und Gesehenwerden"
- May 17, 2026 — "Come As You Are: A Day of Open Practices" with a workshop by Edmundo Torres, a curator's tour by Juana Awad, and an open forum
- Mon–Fri 2:00 PM–8:00 PM, Sat–Sun 12:00 PM–8:00 PM
- Free admission
Carnival, Migration, Berlin
The Karneval der Kulturen was founded in 1996 in response to the xenophobic attacks of the early 1990s. From an intercultural demonstration, it has become Berlin's largest volunteer-organized street festival within a generation — with a Pentecost parade, open-air stages at Blücherplatz, and several hundred thousand visitors. The exhibition at Bethanien asks what 30 years of Carnival have done to Berlin — and vice versa.
30 Years Karneval — Exhibition — edition 2026
From May 13 to 26, 2026, Studio 1 at Kunstquartier Bethanien will transform into a space for reflection on the 30th anniversary of the Karneval der Kulturen. 14 artists question Carnival as a cultural and social space in photo, video, performance, and installation works: as a stage for liberation and humor, but also as a space for stereotypes and exoticizing gazes. Free admission, Mon–Fri 2 PM–8 PM, Sat–Sun 12 PM–8 PM.
Programme 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition 2026
The exhibition "Vom Sehen und Gesehenwerden — 30 Jahre Karneval der Kulturen" runs from May 13 to 26, 2026 in Studio 1 of Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, Berlin-Kreuzberg. Sources: kunstquartier-bethanien.de and karneval.berlin.
Exhibition in Studio 1
- 14 artistic positions on the history and present of the Karneval der Kulturen
- Media: photography, video, installation, performance, participatory work
- Focus: visibility, self-representation, external attribution, colonial gaze regimes, community practice
Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday: 2:00 PM–8:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 PM–8:00 PM
Event Day: "Come As You Are — A Day of Open Practices" — Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Workshop by artist Edmundo Torres
- Curator's tour with Juana Awad
- Open Forum: Discussion "What does Carnival mean to us — and what should it mean?"
In the context of the 30th Anniversary
The exhibition runs parallel to the main event of the Karneval der Kulturen from May 22 to 25, 2026, around Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg.
Highlights 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition 2026
- 14 artistic positions for the 30th Karneval der Kulturen anniversary
- Reflective counterpart to the street festival: indoor space, discourse, performance
- Event day on May 17 with workshop, guided tour, and open forum
- Free admission
- Studio 1, one of Berlin's most important intercultural discourse spaces
Prices 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition 2026
Admission to the exhibition is free. For workshops and guided tours, advance registration via the Karneval der Kulturen website is recommended.
Practical information — 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition
Getting There
Take the U1/U3 line to Görlitzer Bahnhof or Kottbusser Tor, then walk for about 10 minutes. Take bus M29 to Mariannenplatz. Kunstquartier Bethanien is located directly on Mariannenplatz in the Kreuzberg district.
Admission
Admission to the exhibition is free. Workshops and guided tours may require registration via the Karneval der Kulturen festival website.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 2:00 PM–8:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 PM–8:00 PM.
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Where it takes place 30 Years Karneval — Exhibition
Kunstquartier Bethanien, Studio 1
Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin