In my opinion, one of the best events in Germany, and especially in Berlin, is the Carnival of Cultures. That is why I decided to create this overview with the information I consider important to know in advance in order to enjoy it to the fullest. I will keep updating it as new information becomes available. Still, I always recommend checking the official source in case of last-minute changes: www.karneval.berlin
WHEN AND WHERE
In 2026, the Carnival of Cultures will take place from Friday May 22 to Monday May 25.
The large street parade, featuring groups from many different cultures, will take place on Sunday May 24.
The festival area, where the food stalls and concerts are located, will be held at Blücherplatz. The nearest subway station is Hallesches Tor (U-Bahn).
WHICH DAYS TO GO?
In my experience, one day is not enough to fully enjoy everything the carnival has to offer. If you prefer the busiest days for dancing and meeting new people, I recommend going on Friday and Saturday.
If you are visiting with children or prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, Sunday and especially Monday are better options.
Even though attendance varies from day to day, the atmosphere is generally calm until around 5 or 6 pm. After that, mobile phone signal and data often become unreliable due to the large number of visitors.
An exception is usually Friday during the early hours, since the festival starts in the afternoon and attendance is lower at the beginning.
NOT LIVING IN BERLIN?
If you do not live in Berlin but have friends who could host you, I recommend asking them in advance about staying over.
If you are looking for a budget option, Couchsurfing is another possibility. That said, let’s be realistic: this option tends to be easier for women than for men.
Another affordable alternative is staying in a nearby hostel. Personally, I had good experiences at Three Little Pigs Hostel and Grand Hostel Berlin. If you know another place worth recommending, feel free to share it in the comments.
In any case, make sure to book well in advance, as accommodation demand is very high during the carnival and visitors arrive from all over the world.
THE PARADE
According to the information currently published by the organizers, the Carnival of Cultures parade in 2026 will take place on Sunday May 24 and will run along Frankfurter Allee and Karl-Marx-Allee.
In the 2025 edition, the route started at the intersection of Frankfurter Allee and Proskauer Straße and ended near Alexanderplatz, at Karl-Marx-Allee and Berolina Straße. For 2026, the main avenues are confirmed, while the exact starting and ending points are usually announced closer to the event.
A good strategic spot to watch the parade is along Karl-Marx-Allee, especially near Strausberger Platz or Frankfurter Tor, where public transport access is convenient and there is plenty of open space.
MY CULINARY STRATEGY
One of the biggest attractions of the carnival is the food stalls, where you can find dishes and drinks from many different countries. It is almost impossible not to want to try everything.
However, there are two downsides: limited space to eat comfortably and, in many cases, relatively high prices. For that reason, I usually focus on dishes that really catch my attention or that are new to me.
If, like me, you enjoy exploring Berlin, there are a few places I like to visit around midday and that, in my opinion, rarely disappoint:
- Ice cream at “Inka Eis” (Belziger Straße).
- Colombian coffee at “Kaffee Bogotá“.
- Bolivian salteñas near ”Kaffee Bogotá”.
If you have more recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments.
EXTERNAL EVENTS
Concerts and official carnival activities follow schedules that may vary depending on the day and the stage, and these are usually published closer to the event. In previous editions, much of the official program ended around 11 pm.
On the official carnival website, there is a section dedicated to events organized by the different dance groups. These include themed parties, cultural events and dance sessions, so it is worth checking it once it gets updated. I will share the link as soon as there are new details.
On a personal level, I usually attend Latin events, such as those at Havanna Club in Berlin. These activities are not part of the official carnival program, but they can be a good option to continue the night.
If you are curious about Berlin’s kinky scene, KitKat Club is one of the best-known venues. However, it often closes or reduces its program during the carnival. Still, it does not hurt to check their event calendar on Instagram.
CONCERT AREAS
In 2025, the Carnival of Cultures concerts were divided into different areas, and it is very likely that the structure in 2026 will be similar. That said, stage names and the official program are usually confirmed only a few weeks before the event.
In 2025, the main areas were:
- Klang Plaza: One of the main stages, featuring a diverse lineup ranging from Anatolian jazz to Afrobeat. Latin music concerts stood out here.
- Neue Pumpe: Representing Berlin’s musical diversity, this stage featured acts such as Japanese fusion rock, multicultural music, and Balkan rhythms.
- Shantytown: A space dedicated to relaxing and meditative music, perfect for those looking for a calmer festival experience.
- Listen to Berlin: A stage focused on Berlin’s music scene, showcasing local talent.
- Sound Avenue: Featured a wide variety of musical performances, although in my opinion, African rhythms stood out the most in this area.
In addition to these stages, there were so-called Music Corners around the park, featuring street musicians and spontaneous group performances. In previous editions, some of the most memorable spots for me were those dedicated to salsa, Brazilian batucada and roaming concerts with Spanish-language music.
MY RECOMMENDED EVENTS
Even if you already have a planned route, chances are you’ll end up changing your plans at the Carnival of Cultures after discovering something unexpected.
I personally made this selection after reviewing the official website on May 16. Since the program may still change, I strongly recommend checking the latest updates here:
I also created a WhatsApp channel where I’ll be sharing Latin after parties and recommended food spots inside the festival. CLICK HERE to join.
This is neither an official nor a complete guide. It’s simply my tentative route based on the parts of the festival that personally interest me the most.
FRIDAY 22.05
17:00 · Aroeiras
Stage: Klang Plaza
Forró and Samba de Coco with accordion, percussion and warm vocals. A tropical and relaxed beginning to slowly enter the multicultural chaos of the festival.
17:30 · Cumbia Feierabend
Stage: Shantytown
Berlin-born Latin American cumbia with an intercultural neighborhood vibe. Exactly the kind of concert where you accidentally stay much longer than planned.
18:00 · Wayra Puka
Stage: Klang Plaza
South American Andean music right in the middle of Berlin. Probably one of the performances that will hit me with the strongest wave of Latin American nostalgia during the festival.
19:30 · Gabo Naas
Stage: Klang Plaza
Huayno, festejo, son and candombe reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Living folklore without feeling touristy or artificial.
20:00 · Sapucaio no Samba
Stage: Rasen in Aktion
More than one hundred percussionists and dancers bringing Brazilian carnival energy to Kreuzberg. Honestly, this sounds more like an experience than a regular concert.
21:00 · Cayeye
Stage: Klang Plaza
70s-inspired Salsa Brava with a large live band and a lot of energy. Probably a terrible decision for my knees, but an excellent way to end the night.
SATURDAY 23.05
13:30 · Wayra Puka
Stage: Shantytown
A second chance to enjoy Andean music in a much more alternative and community-oriented atmosphere.
14:30 · Palo Santo
Stage: Klang Plaza
Cumbia, bullerengue and Afro-Colombian rhythms full of percussion and Caribbean energy. Sounds like heat, drums and real carnival spirit.
16:00 · Antajayu
Stage: Klang Plaza
Andean folklore mixed with rock and jazz from Chile, Guatemala and Berlin. Exactly the type of cultural fusion that tends to work beautifully at KdK.
17:00 · Candumbe
Stage: Rasen in Aktion
Afro-Uruguayan and Afro-Chilean percussion celebrating the African roots of the Southern Cone. One of the most culturally interesting performances in the lineup.
19:00 · Puto Production
Stage: Shantytown
Chilean percussion blended with electronics and collective trance energy. Feels like Berlin underground culture with a South American flavor.
19:15 · Kumbia Ambassadors
Stage: Klang Plaza
Experimental cumbia mixed with punk and tropical electronics. Honestly, I have the feeling this could end up being one of the hidden gems of the festival.
20:00 · Bloco Explosão
Stage: Rasen in Aktion
More than sixty percussionists performing samba-reggae and rhythms from northeastern Brazil. Very hard not to dance even when your body is already completely destroyed.
21:00 · LA MEKANICA
Stage: Klang Plaza
Cuban timba, salsa and explosive live energy. I’m really excited about this closing set and it will probably turn into a complete party.
SUNDAY 24.05
13:00 · Balkanova
Stage: Neue Pumpe
World jazz and Balkan folklore. Perfect for starting Sunday in a calmer mood somewhere between beer and street food.
15:45 · A Panda do Sol
Stage: Klang Plaza
Brazilian samba, jazz and Caribbean grooves in a warm and relaxed performance, ideal for slowing things down without losing the festival spirit.
18:30 · DJ Marla Roots
Stage: Shantytown
Funk carioca and Brazilian rhythms to raise the intensity once again. Dangerous if the original plan was to rest.
18:45 · Pasaje abierto
Stage: Klang Plaza
Salsa, son and Latin jazz heavily influenced by Cuban music. An excellent way to close Sunday dancing without too much pressure.
MONDAY 25.05
14:00 · Cuatro Piraguas
Stage: Klang Plaza
Afro-Peruvian music, Caribbean folklore and Brazilian rhythms combined into one multicultural performance full of percussion and Latin American roots.
15:30 · Alafia con Iré
Stage: Klang Plaza
Afro-Cuban music and Cuban rumba from Berlin with strong percussion and Caribbean tradition.
16:00 · Samba Reggae Berlin
Stage: Rasen in Aktion
Percussion inspired by Bahia and Brazilian carnival. One of those performances where your body starts following the rhythm automatically.
17:00 · Cortejo Baiano
Stage: Rasen in Aktion
Afro-Brazilian percussion inspired by the blocos afro of Salvador da Bahia. A joyful, intense and very carnival-like ending to say goodbye to KdK.
