Hamburger Bahnhof marks its 30th anniversary in 2026 with a year-long programme that positions the museum at the heart of the Berlin art scene. From February through November, the institution will host eight new exhibitions, performances, concerts, and educational events, highlighting its enduring role in shaping contemporary art both locally and globally.
A year of artistic renewal across the Berlin art scene
The anniversary programme spans the museum’s history and future, presenting Hamburger Bahnhof as a space for collaboration, participation, and collective experience:
- Giulia Andreani (February 27th–September 13th, 2026): New paintings dialogue with Berlin’s historical collections, reframing classical motifs through a contemporary lens.
- Shilpa Gupta (March 27th, 2026–January 3rd, 2027): Engages with Joseph Beuys’ legacy, exploring language, borders, and power structures.
- CHANEL Commission: Lina Lapelytė (May 1st, 2026–January 10th, 2027): Invites visitors into participatory choreography within the Historic Hall, integrating museum architecture into performance.
- Collection Presentation & Ayşe Erkmen (from June 12th, 2026): Showcases Berlin’s art scene from 1989 to today alongside a new work by Erkmen for the Endless Exhibition.
- [materialistin] (July 3rd, 2026–February 28th, 2027): Features eight women sculptors from Leipzig, emphasizing collective practice and solidarity.
- Ryuichi Sakamoto (September 11th, 2026–June 23rd, 2027): A European retrospective exploring his groundbreaking impact on sound art and moving image.
- Studio Rieckhallen: Tacita Dean, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Henrik Håkansson, Tomás Saraceno (October 9th, 2026–February 2027): Revisits the creative energy of artists who once worked in the Rieckhallen studios, highlighting Berlin’s global artistic influence.
- Sophie Calle (November 13th, 2026–May 2nd, 2027): Opens during the anniversary weekend with works reflecting Berlin’s history and a new commission for the collection.
Performances, concerts, and cross-disciplinary projects—ranging from Annika Kahrs’ public interventions to Petrit Halilaj’s opera Syrigana—will punctuate the programme, while Berlin Beats returns to the museum’s garden with open-air DJ sessions celebrating electronic music culture.
A Night in Berlin: gala and patrons for the German cultural landscape
The anniversary kicked off with A Night in Berlin, Hamburger Bahnhof’s first-ever gala, establishing a new model of patronage for the German cultural landscape. Co-chairs Christine Würfel-Stauss and Monique Burger hosted a star-studded event attended by Cate Blanchett, Wim Wenders, Ellen Allien, Elmgreen & Dragset, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Mark Bradford, alongside members of the museum’s international supporters circle. This inaugural gala combined celebration with fundraising, emphasizing Hamburger Bahnhof’s innovative approach to sustaining contemporary art in Berlin.
From November 13–15, the museum will host its anniversary weekend with 30 continuous hours of programming and an international conference on the future of contemporary art collecting, further cementing its status as a central hub of the Berlin art scene.
In conversation with hube, Sam Bardaouil examines how museums can remain alive in moments of social and cultural uncertainty. Topics include rethinking heritage, curating ambiguity, and the responsibility of public institutions.
