Berlin Festival of Lights kicks off edition 2020

Berlin's landmarks are at the center of the festival. To assure that audiences only linger briefly and do not form large crowds, this year’s festival will not feature long installations. If the gathering is too large, the lights are switched off for a short time until the visitor groups shrink again.

Berlin's tallest landmark is also part of the festival. The iconic TV tower — Germany’s tallest structure — is bathed in colored light. On September 17, it will glow orange as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) global patient safety initiative. The Bode Museum (center) on Museum Island forms the projection surface for a work of art with the strong primary colors yellow, red and blue.

This year’s festival will once again project at the Berlin Cathedral, which has been an installation location every year. Also located on Museum Island along the famed Unter den Linden boulevard, you can take a short walk from the Cathedral to one of the highlights of this year's festival — Bebelplatz.

On the spacious Bebelplatz, the viewer becomes part of a 180-degree work of art, in keeping with this year’s festival motto "We shine together." The buildings that encircle the plaza are illuminated, from the State Opera to St. Hedwig's Cathedral and the Hotel de Rome to the Humboldt University Faculty of Law.

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of German-Israeli diplomatic relations, the Israeli Embassy has also transformed the facade of the State Opera into a colorful light mural to celebrate the anniversary.

The Hotel de Rome is one of the capital's luxury hotels and once again offers a projection surface for the Festival of Lights. Built at the end of the 19th century as the headquarters of Dresdner Bank, it has served as a hotel since 2006. Its roof terrace offers a good view of the center of Berlin and the light installation on Bebelplatz.

The law school is part of the 180-degree installation on Bebelplatz. The historic building dates from the 18th century and was commissioned by Prussian King Frederick the Great. It long served as a library prior to housing the law faculty of the renowned Humboldt University since 1969.

Participating institutions also include various government ministries. At Germany’s Foreign Ministry, photo artist Carsten Sander presents portraits of hundreds of Europeans that were created on the occasion of the German EU Council Presidency — a work of art about tolerance and common values.

The Festival of Lights also invites visitors to explore and enjoy various districts of the capital — which should help prevent large gatherings of people in central Berlin. In addition to the Berggruen Museum that faces it, Charlottenburg Palace is also shining in color.

Potsdamer Platz is one of the central venues of this year's Festival of Lights. Highlights are the oversized heart by Australian artist Zara Pasfield, illuminated animated swans dancing, as well as large-format projections on the Kollhoff Tower and Forum Tower.