Concerts and shows in Berlin: opera, the Philharmonie, cabaret and tickets

Choosing your evening

On a first visit, three evenings sum up Berlin: an opera at the Staatsoper or the Deutsche Oper, a concert at the Philharmonie and the revue at the Friedrichstadt-Palast. If you do not speak German, go for music, dance, circus and revue, or for theatres that surtitle in English. The classical season runs from late August to June; in summer, the music moves outdoors, to the Waldbühne or the Gendarmenmarkt. For getting around at night, the U-Bahn runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays: our guide to getting around Berlin covers tickets and night lines.

Berlin's three opera houses

Berlin is one of the few cities in the world to keep three opera houses running at the same time, each with its own character. All of them surtitle their performances, and none has a dress code: smart casual is fine everywhere.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden

The State Opera, Unter den Linden 7 (10117 Berlin), occupies Frederick II's building, renovated from 2010 to 2017. It is the most prestigious of the three, home to the Staatskapelle, one of the oldest orchestras in the world. In autumn 2026, the programme includes Spontini's La Vestale, Le nozze di Figaro and L'elisir d'amore; the new production of Cavalli's La Calisto, directed by Stefan Herheim with Christina Pluhar and L'Arpeggiata, premieres on 8 November 2026 during the Barocktage (7 to 27 November). Tickets range from €9 to €115 depending on the work and the category. Surtitles are in German and English.

School pupils, students and apprentices under 30 get 50% off, as do under-18s. About 30 minutes before curtain up, remaining seats are sold for €15 to those entitled to the reduced rate. The box office opens from 12:00 on weekdays and from 14:00 at weekends and on public holidays. U-Bahn station Unter den Linden (U5, U6) or Museumsinsel (U5); S+U Friedrichstraße is a ten-minute walk away. Guided tours of the building are offered at weekends.

The Deutsche Oper Berlin

West Berlin's grand opera house, Bismarckstraße 35 (10627 Berlin), in Charlottenburg, is the largest of the three. Its 1961 building conceals a large stage renowned for Wagner, Verdi and big productions. On 24 October 2026, Milo Rau premieres Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) there, conducted by Giedrė Šlekytė, running until 15 November and again in February 2027. Prices are dynamic: from €18 in the cheapest category to €149 for the best seats on big nights. School pupils, students and apprentices under 21 get 50% off. Surtitles in German and English. U-Bahn U2, Deutsche Oper station, right outside the entrance; Bismarckstraße station (U2, U7) has a lift.

The Komische Oper, at the Schillertheater

The Komische Oper, known for its inventive stagings, its operetta repertoire and its musicals, has left its building on Behrenstraße, closed for works since summer 2023. It performs at the Schillertheater, Bismarckstraße 110 (10625 Berlin), a few stops from the Deutsche Oper, and occasionally at other venues such as a hangar at the former Tempelhof airport. The date of its return to the historic house has not yet been set. Its distinctive feature: screens on the seat backs display surtitles in several languages, including English. Children up to 14 pay €10, 15- to 18-year-olds €15. Main box office at Unter den Linden 41, Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00. U-Bahn Ernst-Reuter-Platz (U2) or Deutsche Oper (U2).

The Staatsballett Berlin

Germany's largest ballet company has no theatre of its own: it dances in all three opera houses. In autumn 2026: Giselle at the Staatsoper in October, then a new production of The Nutcracker premiering at the Deutsche Oper on 27 November 2026. As at the Staatsoper, students and apprentices under 30 get 50% off, and last-minute seats are sold for €15 to those eligible 30 minutes before the start.

The major concert halls

The Philharmonie

The home of the Berliner Philharmoniker, at the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, is a must for classical music lovers. Under-30s pay €18, and a free concert takes place every Wednesday at 13:00 in the foyer, from September to June. Everything is covered in our Berlin Philharmonie page: prices for the orchestra's concerts, when sales open, standing places and the guided tour.

The Konzerthaus

On the Gendarmenmarkt, Schinkel's theatre turned concert hall is home to the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, conducted by Joana Mallwitz. Its white and gold main hall is more intimate than the Philharmonie. Two formats suit visitors short on time: the "Espresso" concerts, at 14:00, lasting about 45 minutes, at €12 in the smaller halls or €20 in the main hall, and the short 8ZEHN30 concerts, on Thursdays at 18:30, lasting about an hour. Students under 30 get 25% off. Box office at Gendarmenmarkt 2, Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 18:00, Sundays and public holidays from 12:00 to 16:00. U-Bahn Stadtmitte (U2, U6) or Hausvogteiplatz (U2).

Summer and autumn festivals

In summer, when the halls close, the music carries on: the Classic Open Air on the Gendarmenmarkt in July, Young Euro Classic, the festival of youth orchestras, at the Konzerthaus from late July to mid-August, then Musikfest Berlin at the Philharmonie from late August to late September, featuring the great international orchestras.

Revue, variety and cabaret

The Friedrichstadt-Palast

The Friedrichstadt-Palast, Friedrichstraße 107 (10117 Berlin), claims the largest theatre stage in the world. Its current revue, BLINDED by DELIGHT, with more than 500 costumes designed by Jeremy Scott, strings together dance numbers, acrobatics, songs and stage effects. You can follow it without understanding German, and it lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes with a 30-minute interval; the theatre recommends it from age 8. Evening performances at 19:30 and matinees at 15:30 on some days. Prices vary by date, start at €19.80 and exceed €130 for VIP seats. The Young Ticket costs €25 up to and including age 25, and the Berlin WelcomeCard gives 25% off some categories (except premieres and 24 to 31 December). U-Bahn Oranienburger Tor (U6); S-Bahn Friedrichstraße or Oranienburger Straße, a 5-minute walk away.

Variety and contemporary circus

• Wintergarten Varieté, Potsdamer Straße 96 (10785 Berlin): the historic variety theatre, beneath a starry sky. The show DISCO, blending acrobatics with music from the disco era, runs until 14 February 2027, Wednesday to Saturday at 20:00, Sundays at 13:00 and 18:00 (about 2 hours 20 minutes with an interval). From €69, dinner-and-show package from €149; Campus ticket at €35 for students on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Chamäleon, in the Hackesche Höfe, Rosenthaler Straße 40/41: a small Art Nouveau venue devoted to contemporary circus. In autumn 2026, the Quebec troupe Machine de Cirque performs Kintsugi there; seats from €39 to €46 in October.

Cabaret and chanson

• Bar jeder Vernunft, Schaperstraße 24 (10719 Berlin), near the Kurfürstendamm: a Spiegelzelt, an early 20th-century tent of wood and mirrors, hosting chanson, cabaret and comedy. Berlin cabaret is often in German: check the language of the show before booking.
• Tipi am Kanzleramt, Große Querallee (10557 Berlin), on the edge of the Tiergarten next to the Chancellery: a large big top for musical shows, cabaret and comedy.

Theatre without speaking German

Berlin's theatre scene is one of the liveliest in Europe, and several stages surtitle in English:

• Maxim Gorki Theater, Am Festungsgraben 2 (10117 Berlin), behind Unter den Linden: all productions in the main auditorium are surtitled in English from the second performance onwards. This is the safest choice.
• Berliner Ensemble, Bertolt-Brecht-Platz 1 (10117 Berlin), the theatre founded by Brecht: a list of performances with English surtitles is published every month. Student tickets at €9 from a limited allocation, and 25% off with the Berlin WelcomeCard.
• Schaubühne, Kurfürstendamm 153: several performances surtitled in various languages every month; reduced rate of €9 for students up to age 30 (excluding category A+).
• Deutsches Theater, Schumannstraße 13a: a selection of performances with English surtitles, flagged in the programme.

On these theatres' websites, look for "English surtitles" or "mit englischen Übertiteln" next to the date.

Jazz, rock and big concerts

Jazz clubs

• A-Trane, Bleibtreustraße 1 (10623 Berlin), on the corner of Pestalozzistraße, in Charlottenburg: the best-known club, with concerts at 20:30, usually €20 to €35. On Mondays, the "Andreas Schmidt & Friends" session is free.
• Quasimodo, Kantstraße 12A (10623 Berlin), beneath the Delphi, near Zoo station: a legendary basement for jazz, soul and funk.
• Zig Zag Jazz Club, Hauptstraße 89 (12159 Berlin), in Friedenau: open Tuesday to Sunday from 19:00, with regular jam sessions.

The big pop and rock venues

International tours stop at the Uber Arena, Uber Platz 1 in Friedrichshain (S+U Warschauer Straße), the city's large indoor arena. Our guide to Friedrichshain suggests where to have a drink before or after. Smaller venues such as the Tempodrom, the Columbiahalle and the Astra Kulturhaus host mid-sized tours. From mid-May to early September, the Waldbühne, Glockenturmstraße 1 (14053 Berlin), a 22,290-seat amphitheatre set into the forest near the Olympiastadion, hosts pop and classical concerts, including the Berliner Philharmoniker's end-of-season concert; S-Bahn S3 or S9, Pichelsberg station. The 2026 season is over; the 2027 season runs from 15 May to 4 September.

Paying less for tickets

• Under 30: the ClassicCard (€28 a year, via an app) gets you seats for €16 for concerts and €18 for opera and ballet, then €11 and €13 from two hours before the start. It is accepted by 11 institutions, including the Philharmonie, the three opera houses, the Staatsballett and the Konzerthaus. It pays for itself from your second outing.
• Students: 50% off at the Staatsoper and the Staatsballett (under 30), at the Deutsche Oper (under 21), and last-minute seats for €15 30 minutes before the show at the Staatsoper and the Staatsballett. Always bring your student card and ID.
• On the night: Hekticket, Hardenbergplatz 1 (at the U-Bahn entrance of Zoo station), sells same-day tickets, often at half price, Tuesday to Saturday from 15:00 to 18:00.
• Berlin WelcomeCard: 25% off at the Friedrichstadt-Palast and the Berliner Ensemble, among others. It only pays off if you also use it for public transport: see our guide to Berlin on a budget.
• Free: the Wednesday lunchtime concert at the Philharmonie and the Monday session at A-Trane.

Buy from each venue's official website: resellers often add high fees, and opera tickets resold at a mark-up come with no guarantee.

Venues at a glance

Prices checked in October 2026.

Further reading

To carry on after the show, read our guide to Berlin at night. To combine a free lunchtime concert with other ticket-free outings, see Free things to do in Berlin, and to find a hotel near the venues, our guide to Where to stay in Berlin.