Poesiefestival Berlin 2025

What do a greyhound, a cricket ball, and a swallow tattoo have in common?
What do thunder, a scar, and a rhododendron have in common?

They all come into play from May 15 to June 15 at Poesiefestival Berlin, which celebrates its 25th edition this year with a citywide pre-program and a main program presented for the first time at two festival venues: the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg and at silent green. At the same time, the ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival will take place from June 5 to June 8. With this extensive lineup, the Haus für Poesie will present a whole month of poetry in all its forms – including readings, discussions, and performances, as well as dance, music, visual art, photography, objects, and film – featuring over 150 artistic voices.

Following the opening on June 3 at the Akademie der Künste, a rich program of poetry talks, performances, and themed evenings—such as Writing Identities and Writing Ghosts — will take place at silent green from June 4 to June 13. Over the long Pentecost weekend, more than 50 poets will give readings on the lawn.

This year, the ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival — also organized by the Haus für Poesie — further expands the transdisciplinary presentation of poetry. From June 5 to June 8, it will screen more than 70 poetic short films from 33 countries. The program includes 21 finalist films from this year’s international competition, along with additional curated programs in the Kuppelhalle.

In addition, the first evening of the transdisciplinary series Vocations – open space 2025 will take place on June 9.

A detailed daily program can be found on the website of the Haus für Poesie.

Wednesday, June 4 - Friday, June 13
Kuppelhalle
Tickets & Programme
 

Poesiefestival Berlin has been held annually since 2000 and is the largest of its kind in Europe. Each year, it brings around 150 renowned poets and artists from all over the world to stages across Berlin.

Poesiefestival Berlin is a project by Haus für Poesie in cooperation with Akademie der Künste and silent green, and is funded by the Capital Cultural Fund, the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the state of Berlin.

Presented by Berliner Zeitung, Das Wetter, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Literaturport, radioeins, taz, and tip Berlin.

The ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival is organized by Haus für Poesie and funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the state of Berlin.

The Vocations – open space series is organized by Haus für Poesie in cooperation with the JUNGE AKADEMIE of Akademie der Künste, Berlin, the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program, silent green, and the Schloss Wiepersdorf Cultural Foundation, and is funded by the Capital Cultural Fund.