Top Summer Music Festivals in Berlin

The Best Music Festivals in Berlin

It’s summer, the nights get longer, the air gets warmer, and there’s only one thing on the minds of the people of Berlin… music festivals! With this great city’s strong history of techno, mixed with Germany’s love for art and culture, Berlin sure knows how to throw a party. Whether you’re looking for a huge techno festival, an intimate charity event, a cultured orchestral affair, an ode to your inner rock god, or the most elusive and secret festival in Berlin, our list of the top music festivals in the city will satisfy all your musical needs.

Melt Festival

If you’re in the music festival scene, you will have heard of Melt. This famous festival is one of the biggest electronic music events in Germany, and each year it surprises its attendees with a killer line-up. You can expect appearances from Florence & The Machine, The XX, Mura Masa, Rin, Fever Ray, and Jon Hopkins… just to name a few. So, this summer you can spend your days dancing inside an abandoned collier listening to some of the world’s best electronic artists. Oh, and don’t forget your bathing suit, this amazing location is surrounded by water, with plenty of places to swim.

Citadel Music Festival

In true Berlin style, this popular festival mixes local culture with music. Citadel Music Festival not only has some of the biggest names in pop and rock, but it’s also home to one of the most spectacular night markets in the region. Over three long months, you will see artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Massive Attack, Steel Panther, Jack Johnson, and Sweet take to the stage. You can also shop ‘till you drop off the magical night market, filled with local vendors, artisans, and delicious treats.

Musikfest Berlin

Each year, Musikfest marks the beginning of the extravagant concert season in Berlin. During this month-long festival, some of the world’s very best orchestras perform in concert halls all over the city. This music festival is for music lovers with a more refined taste, as both national and international choirs, chamber ensembles and orchestras fill the city. Last year, over 80 works were performed by 20 orchestras, and countless vocal ensembles and soloists performed at the Philharmonie, Konzerthaus, Haus der Berliner Festspiele, and the Großer Sendesaal of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg.

Rock im Grünen e.V.

This is a festival full of good vibes and a lot of heart. Rock im Grünen is a 100% nonprofit festival run by a wonderful team of volunteers, all wanting to give new artists their chance in the spotlight. For 20 years, this amazing music festival has opened its stages to newcomers from all genres, including rock, indie, punk, metal and even a few hip-hop and electronic acts. If you’re looking to see the next ‘big thing’ before anyone else, this is the music festival for you. Oh, and did we mention that it’s completely free?!

Lollapalooza Berlin

So, we’ve all heard of the famous Lollapalooza in Chicago right? Well, Berlin has become the fourth international location to host this major music festival, and they know exactly how to wow the crowds. Located in the beautiful Treptower Park, Lollapalooza Berlin has snagged acts such as the Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Two Door Cinema Club, Rudimental, Michael Kiwanuka and The XX. This huge festival is also kid-friendly, so you can rock out with your little ones, or let them enjoy the on-site activities and supervision while you let your hair down. This legendary festival is the perfect way to end the music festival season with a bang.

Her Damit Festival

Ok, this has to be the weirdest and most intriguing music festival you have ever heard of! Her Damit is a small and intimate festival with a limited number of guests allowed to enter each year. This secretive affair is always held in an unusual location, only fully disclosed weeks before the event. This year, Her Damit will be located in Freudenberg, just 50km north of Berlin, and will be held inside The Secret Bunker. Her Damit has released this description “Through airlocks for decontamination, tight passageways lead to three separate sections of the bunker.” For all its morbid charm, this electronic music festival is also one of the cheapest in Berlin, with tickets starting at just €49.