Jan 05-11: Dance Festival, Classical Concert, Interactive Music Installation, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Jan 05! & Big Changes of 2026!
Happy New Year everyone! For the first edition of 2026, we have All About Berlin as the *sponsor:
Nicolas is updating All About Berlin‘s guides and tools for 2026. These are the big changes he noticed:
💺 More expensive public transit: €63 Deutschland Ticket, €4 AB ticket, €5 ABC ticket
🍽️ Reduced VAT in cafés and restaurants: previously 19%, now 7%
💶 Higher minimum wage: previously €12.82, now €13.90 per hour
🩹 More expensive health insurance; the starkest price hike in years. Use the health insurance calculator to see the new prices, and ask an expert if switching to another insurance makes sense.
👷♀️ Higher minimum salary for Blue Cards: previously €48,300, now €50,700
👨💻 Higher income requirement for freelance visas and student visas.
He has just finished a map of Berlin median rents, using data from tens of thousands of public apartment listings.
What’s in store for you this week:
🎵 Time Travel Hear Today
💃 Days of Dance Berlin
🎷 STOP OVER 4 – Perspectives
🎼 The National Youth Orchestra of Germany
🎭 Improv Meet Up
🥟 Pierogi Pop-up at Cafe Neukölln
🍽️ Seoul Garden
1. Time Travel Hear Today
The Neue Nationalgalerie hosts a four-night series where Moor Mother collaborates with ensemble mosaik for an interactive music installation. The event combines experimental sounds with classical elements, creating a space for musical exploration and audience participation. Each evening offers different performances, workshops, and interactive sessions that blend hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary classical music. The installation takes place in the museum's glass hall, with the program changing nightly to provide varied experiences. More info.
💵 €15
📅 07 Jan (Wed) - 10 Jan (Sat)
2. Days of Dance Berlin
Days of Dance Berlin presents a contemporary dance festival that highlights emerging choreographers and dancers working in the city. The festival takes place at Sophiensaele and features works that blend dance with other art forms including visual arts, music, and spoken word. Many performances address current social and political themes, while others draw from popular culture including club scenes, television formats, and music genres. More info.
💵 €15
📅 08 Jan (Thu) - 24 Jan (Sat)
3. STOP OVER 4 – Perspectives
STOP OVER 4 is a concert series that presents jazz and improvised music through different perspectives, with each evening organized by a different musician. The evening includes works that combine traditional instruments with electronic elements, exploring the boundaries between composition and improvisation. More info.
💵 €20
📅 08 Jan (Thu) - 10 Jan (Sat)
4. The National Youth Orchestra of Germany
The National Youth Orchestra of Germany performs as guests of the Berliner Philharmoniker, showcasing the country's most talented young musicians. Conductor Anu Tali leads the orchestra through a program that includes narrative pieces and dramatic overtures, demonstrating the ensemble's technical skill and musical interpretation. The concert runs for about two hours with a break midway through the program. More info.
💵 €9-€45
📅 11 Jan (Sun), 11:00
5. Improv Meet Up
A weekly improvisation workshop offers participants the chance to practice spontaneous performance and scene work in a supportive environment. The sessions focus on building confidence through games and exercises that develop storytelling and stage presence. Each meeting includes warm-up activities, scene-building practice, and group games that help you think quickly and work together. The class welcomes beginners and experienced players alike. More info.
💵 €15
📅 Every Sunday, 14:30 - 16:00
Submitted Events
6. Pierogi Pop-up at Cafe Neukölln
A two-day pop-up event brings homemade Polish food to Cafe Neukölln, featuring traditional pierogi and Bigos prepared fresh on site. The event provides a casual neighborhood setting where you can try authentic Polish comfort food. The pop-up runs over the weekend, offering a relaxed way to enjoy these dishes in a local cafe environment. More info.
📅 10 Jan (Sat) - 11 Jan (Sun)
Restaurant Suggestion:
Seoul Garden - Korean Restaurant (⭐4/5)
This is a solid Korean restaurant with three locations in Berlin. The Charlottenburg branch stands out with a broader menu and more options compared to the Prenzlauer Berg location. One thing I really like is the set menu style, where your main dish comes with a variety of small side dishes. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options alongside Korean classics like bibimbap. They also offer Korean BBQ, which comes in at around €40 for two people. We tried the classic bulgogi with beef and a spicy beef stew with glass noodles, both comforting and well balanced. You will also find Korean spirits and beers on the menu. Overall, it is a reliable choice when you are craving Korean food. The staff is friendly, speaks English, accepts cards, and prices average around €25 per person including a drink.
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Days of Dance Berlin sounds fantastic, especially how it's blurring lines between dance and other mediums like visual arts and spoken word. Traditional festival formats can feel so rigid, but when choreographers pull in club culture or TV references it makes the work way more accessible without dumbing it down. I've noticed that contemporary dance festivals thatt address politics through movement tend to land differently than lecture-style performances, the body just communicates certain truths mor directly. Sophiensaele always curates interesting lineups too.