More than 150 events across the city from November 7-14, focusing on freedom, democracy and human rights Berlin Freedom Conference 2026 on November 10 at the Colosseum cinema, bringing together representatives from politics, business, civil society and the media |
| Berlin, October 26, 2026 – From November 7-14, Berlin – the City of Freedom – will host Berlin Freedom Week for the second time. Following its successful debut last year, the event will once again bring together activists, civil society organisations, cultural and educational institutions, political decision-makers and international partners at venues across the city. Marking the 37th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin Freedom Week will reflect on the city’s historical legacy while addressing current challenges around the world. More than 150 events, including conferences, panel discussions, guided tours, exhibitions and performances, will invite Berliners and visitors alike to engage in dialogue and explore issues relating to freedom, democracy and human rights. The event is held under the patronage of Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner. A highlight of Berlin Freedom Week is the second Berlin Freedom Conference, taking place on 10 November at the Colosseum cinema. Under the theme “Change is possible”, the full-day programme will bring together representatives from politics, business, civil society, culture and the media across multiple stages. At its heart is the question of how democratic alliances can be strengthened to counter authoritarian regimes worldwide and defend freedom. Speakers include former world chess champion and Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, American historian and journalist Anne Applebaum, former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, security expert Dr Claudia Major, Josephine Ballon (HateAid) and Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo López. The conference will be opened by East German civil rights activist Marianne Birthler. Further information about the programme and speakers is available at berlin-freedom-conference.com. Another highlight of Berlin Freedom Week is the Freedom and Security Women Summit, taking place on November 9 at the German Bundestag. Participants include Julia Klöckner, President of the German Bundestag; Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly; Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, Belarusian opposition leader; Masih Alinejad, Iranian-American women’s rights activist; Roya Mahboob, Afghan tech entrepreneur; Rosa María Payá, Cuban opposition activist; and Rushan Abbas, Uyghur human rights activist. The summit is a joint initiative of Evelyn Zupke, the Federal Commissioner for the Victims of the SED Dictatorship, My Stealthy Freedom, the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation and Frauen für Freiheit.Further information: https://womensummit.netlify.app/ On November 11, “Stories of Freedom” will present international documentary films at the Colosseum cinema, telling the stories of people standing up against oppression and injustice. The films have been selected by distinguished international juries. The programme includes stories of LGBTQ+ soldiers in Ukraine fighting for their country and equal rights, as well as a Syrian investigator who brings a war criminal to justice. Discussions with filmmakers and an interactive VR experience will complement the screenings. Two free school screenings, followed by discussions, will help young people explore the importance of freedom and human rights. At the same time, Berlin Freedom Week brings the history of Germany’s division and the Peaceful Revolution to life at historic sites across the city. At the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), the dance performance “BEYOND LINES” by LUNA PARK explores the crossing of boundaries through artistic expression. On guided tours of the escape tunnels organised by Berliner Unterwelten e. V., eyewitnesses share their personal experiences of escaping from East Germany. At the former Stasi headquarters, the “Ostfrauen*Salon” (East German Women’s Salon) on November 7 invites visitors to take part in readings, a panel discussion and other conversations. At its heart is a long, laid table where visitors can come together and exchange ideas. Looking beyond German history, the discussion “Between Two Dictatorships: Remembrance, Responsibility and Freedom”, featuring Holocaust survivor Boris Sabarko and historian Irina Scherbakowa, explores historical memory and human rights. The discussion “1989 as a Call to Action: Missed Opportunities? New Perspectives?”, taking place on November 12 at the Humboldt Forum, examines the relevance of the Peaceful Revolution to today’s social challenges. The performance “Reassembled” offers an artistic perspective on the themes of Berlin Freedom Week, with Belarusian artists in exile exploring their experiences of displacement, home and political persecution through dance, poetry and art.Other Berlin Freedom Week events show how freedom and social cohesion can be part of everyday life. On November 12, the “Taiwan Night Market” at Markthalle Neun will offer visitors an evening of Taiwanese street food specialities, celebrating the island’s culinary culture and the values of an open society. The family event “Letters to Political Prisoners in Russia” on November 13 at Reforum Space Berlin invites visitors to take part. While adults write letters to political prisoners, children can learn about their stories through an age-appropriate programme of activities. The programme also includes two further conferences. On November 4, the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel will host “DER OSTEN – Conference for Ideas and Changemakers”, focusing on social and economic developments in eastern Germany. On 12 and November 12 and 13, international participants at the “5th Taiwan Conference” at the Berlin State Library will discuss new perspectives on German-Taiwanese relations. The full programme is available at: berlin-freedom-week.com/en/program Berlin Freedom Week is a joint initiative of the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation gGmbH, Berlin Freedom Society e. V., Robert Havemann Society e. V., World Liberty Congress and visitBerlin. The Berlin Freedom Conference is organised by Berlin Freedom Society e. V. in collaboration with the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation gGmbH, World Liberty Congress and visitBerlin. Both Berlin Freedom Week and the Berlin Freedom Conference are supported by the Berlin Senate Chancellery, Airbnb and Berliner Sparkasse. Additional supporters of Berlin Freedom Week include Postcode Lotterie, the Civitas-Bernhard-Vogel-Stiftung and Jacob Waitz Industrie GmbH. Media partners are Der Tagesspiegel, Deutsche Welle, radio3 and WALL. On visitBerlin.de, Berlin’s official tourism website, visitors can find all the information they need on every aspect of their trip to the city. |
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