Everything will be different, yet much will remain the same. For the first time ever at an opening celebration, we have invited a visual artist to curate the event and, together with artist friends, bring the audience together for a grand celebration. Here, you’ll first encounter the curator Rirkrit Tiravanija himself in numerous performances—from his famous lettering on Götz-Friedrich-Platz to his appearances on stage during concerts and T-shirt designs in the coat check area—and he won’t be skipping his cooking performances either. Throughout the theatre and around the building, you’ll encounter the artistic interventions of Ari Benjamin Meyers as the artists of our theatre perform small, curated concerts alongside him. So: Keep your eyes and ears open! Keep your eyes open also applies to the artistic intervention by Tomás Saraceno, who is carrying 100 «Golden Tickets»: The renowned artist designed the front himself; the back contains a code for a ticket to a performance during the 26/27 season. Keep your nose to the ground for the scent installation by Sissel Tolaas, who has created a very special scent molecule that will be diffused here in the building only on August 29 and 30. Have you always wanted to wear a costume like our artists do? On Saturday, you’ll have the chance. First, join the grand parade around the opera house. Starting at 5:00 p.m., Petrit Halilaj & Álvaro Urbano will use the costumes to create a sculpture that you can admire on Sunday in the coat check hall. Experience artworks by Lou Cantor or Tobias Rehberger, sound installations by Sung Tieu, recitations by Karl Holmqvist, and much more.

And what stays the same? Face painting for children in the Rang Foyer, public Children’s Chorus concerts, Chorus rehearsals, ballet rehearsals, and hands-on activities, an evening jazz concert on Götz-Friedrich-Platz, and two major opening concerts offering artistic previews of the 26/27 season.

EVERYTHING IS A REHEARSAL

During the last weekend of August, Rirkrit Tiravanija swings open wide the doors of Deutsche Oper Berlin together with 20 Berlin-based artists. A series of site-specific, performative interventions will unfold across the opera house. In doing so, the artists put forth a proposition: UNLESS THE PEOPLE LIVE HERE.

As Richard Wagner famously put it, a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) brings together all the elements that make up an opera as we know it: from the singers to the orchestra, the costumes to the set pieces, and the design of the opera house itself. Flipping this idea on its head, Tiravanija asks artists to look beyond the stage––into the orchestra pit, the kitchen, the air conditioning, and everywhere in between. The artists uncover what lies behind the making of a «total work of art,» transforming every possible resource to create new ways of connecting with each other.

Over the course of 30 hours, you are invited to discover Deutsche Oper Berlin like never before. Together, we open the House to time and to THE PEOPLE. In spending a weekend in and around Deutsche Oper Berlin, we use the tools of opera to rehearse what it means to be together. – Rirkrit Tiravanija

Curated by Rirkrit Tiravanija with Landon Wilson

featuring Angela Bulloch, Ari Benjamin Meyers, Lou Cantor, Józefina Chętko, Flower Shop Pho, Petrit Halilaj & Álvaro Urbano, Karl Holmqvist, Dalad Kambhu, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, OMSK Social Club, Tobias Rehberger, Anri Sala, Tomás Saraceno, Sung Tieu, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Sissel Tolaas, Danh Vō, Haegue Yang, and Grillwalker Alexanderplatz

with the Staatsballett Berlin and the Kostümfundus, Restaurant, Technicians, Ushers, Orchestra, and Choruses of Deutsche Oper Berlin

Here you’ll find events for you and your families

At Götz-Friedrich-Platz
Sat., 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
with artist Rirkrit Tiravanija and our new artistic director, Aviel Cahn.

Sat., 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Sat., 2:15–2:45 p.m.
Sat., 3:15–3:45 p.m.
Join-in Dance Event with «Tanz ist KLASSE!»
Just stop by and start dancing! No prior experience required, no restrictions—casual and outdoors—«Tanz ist KLASSE!» invites everyone to a join-in dance event at Götz-Friedrich-Platz.

Sat., 3:00 p.m.
Costume Parade
The grand costume parade, which winds its way around our opera house starting at 3:00 p.m., reaches its spectacular climax with a concert by our chorus at 5:00 p.m. in the foyer. If you’d like to be part of the parade yourself, you can rent costumes at the costume room starting at 12:30 p.m. After the parade, the costumes will be returned to the cloakroom hall and arranged into a large sculpture by Petrit Halilaj and Álvaro Urbano.

Sat., 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Jazz Open Air
Members of the Deutsche Oper Berlin Big Band will transform Götz-Friedrich-Platz into an open-air stage and set the mood for their «Jazz & Lyrics» series with a variety of sets.

Sun., 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
The Junge Deutsche Oper (Young German Opera) flag is raised

On the Main Stage
Sat., 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Open Stage
A unique opportunity to take a look behind the scenes!

Sat. & Sun., 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day
Opening Concert
In a grand concert on stage, the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin will perform excerpts from works on our program for the 2026/27 season, such as The Flying Dutchman and the War Requiem. The program will also feature a piece by our composer-in-residence, the Icelandic composer Bára Gísladóttir. Conducted by Anna Handler and Giovanni Conti; hosted by Aviel Cahn. / Tickets available in the webshop starting August 28, 2026

Sat., 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Late Night
The OMSK Social Club, along with international DJs from Berlin’s electronic music scene – Why Be, Alif Hilal, mi-el und Jan Vorisek –, invite you to a night on the opera stage. / Tickets for €35.00 in the webshop // Access via the stage entrance, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10

Sun., 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Public rehearsal of the Berlin State Ballet
Ballet Director Christian Spuck will host a public rehearsal with dancers from the Berlin State Ballet.

At the Tischlerei
The Tischlerei is the home base of our new program series Unlimited, which will open on 25 September 2026 with the Afrofuturistic music theatre production Sunville by Sofia Jernberg, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, and Stephanie Thiersch.

Sat., 2:00–2:30 p.m.
Sound Bridges – Choral Music from Around the World
The Youth Chorus sings works by Brahms, Trotta, Dowland, and Chilcott under the direction of Christian Lindhorst.

Sat. & Sun., 3:00–3:30 p.m.
Sat. & Sun., 4:00–4:30 p.m.
Public chorus rehearsal
On September 19, 2026, we’ll kick off the 26/27 premiere season with a bang: Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Wednesday from Light will have its German premiere. Experience the first musical impressions as the Deutsche Oper Berlin Chorus rehearses Weltparlament, the first part of Wednesday from Light. Hosted by Jeremy Bines.

Sat., 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
How to Do Pointe Shoes
Dancers from the Staatsballett Berlin offer insights into their daily work with and on their pointe shoes, demonstrate how they prepare their pointe shoes for dance, and share a trick or two along the way. The event will be held in German. English passages will be summarized in German. Featuring dancers from the Berlin State Ballet; moderated by Katja Wiegand

Sat., 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Oral Histories
Who knows the day-to-day lives of the artists at the Deutsche Oper Berlin—the highs and lows, the minor and major disasters—better than the people who have been the heart and soul of this institution for many years, or even decades? Ruth Ferrano, Christoph Seuferle, Curt A. Roesler, and Nina Birsan will share their stories. Host: Konstantin Parnian
Our Poet in Residence, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, offers a first glimpse into Sunville, an Afrofuturist music theatre production premiering in September at the Tischlerei.

Sun, 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
Meet our Poet in Residence – Fiston Mwanza Mujila
The Congolese author is one of the most distinctive literary voices of our time – rhythmic, visually striking, and equally at home across languages. To kick off our opening weekend, he will read from his favourite texts and introduce himself to the audience in a conversation. He will also read from the libretto of Sunville.

Sun., 2:00–2:30 p.m.
Come to the Yellow Beach!
The Children’s Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, together with the Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, will perform works by Chilcott, Zalveris, and Holst under the direction of Christian Lindhorst.

In the Coat Check Hall
Sat., 12:30 p.m. to approx. 2:30 p.m.
Costume Rental for the Grand Parade
If you’d like to take part in our costume parade starting at 3:00 p.m., you can rent a costume here. There are 300 costumes available. You’ll receive one costume upon providing your contact information. You’ll need a valid photo ID for verification. Costumes must be returned starting at 5:30 p.m.

Sun., 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Costume sculpture by Álvaro Urbanos & Petrit Halilaj

In the Foyer Parkett Mitte
Sat. & Sun., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Musical performances
Our orchestra musicians will give chamber concerts in various ensembles throughout the day. There is no stage; the concerts take place right in the middle of the audience. Let yourself be surprised!

Sat., 5:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
The grand costume parade concludes
The grand costume parade, which winds its way around our opera house starting at 3:00 p.m., reaches its spectacular climax with a concert by our chorus at 5:00 p.m. in the foyer. If you’d like to be part of the parade yourself, you can rent costumes at the coat check starting at 12:30 p.m. After the parade, the costumes will be returned to the coat check hall and arranged into a large sculpture by Petrit Halilaj and Álvaro Urbano.

Sat. & Sun., 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Information counter of our Förderkreis (Friends’ Association)

In the 1st-tier foyer, on the right
Sat. & Sun., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Painting the Junge Deutsche Oper Flag
To everyone, young and old: Come to the Deutsche Oper Berlin and help design a flag featuring the Junge Deutsche Oper logo in its new layout! On Sunday at 6:00 p.m., the new flag will be ceremonially raised on Götz-Friedrich-Platz and will be displayed for a few days at a time throughout the year in front of our opera house.

Sat. & Sun., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Face Painting
Whether it’s a kitten, a butterfly, or the Joker: Our makeup artists will paint the faces of our youngest guests.

In the ballet studios of the Staatsballett Berlin (Berlin State Ballet)
Sun., 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Sun., 3:15–4:15 p.m.
Sun., 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Children’s Workshop
In the Berlin State Ballet’s large ballet studio, «Tanz ist KLASSE!» invites children and their caregivers to try out their first dance steps and get acquainted with ballet pantomime. Note: Limited number of participants—tickets will be distributed at the Staatsballett Berlin information desk once the building opens. Participants should meet behind the Staatsballett Berlin information desk in the box office foyer at the specified time.

In the Box Office Hall
Our staff at the information desk of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Saturday and Sunday) and the Staatsballett Berlin (Sunday) look forward to seeing you and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.