🎶 Fête de la Musique 2025: A Guide for Every Type of Social Butterfly
From jazz gardens to techno raves – follow your wings through the soundscape of the city.
Hello my dear social butterflies! 🦋
This is a special edition of the newsletter – because Berlin is about to explode with music.
With Fête de la Musique just around the corner, the city becomes one big open-air stage. Whether you're a Party Peacock, a Cultural Cobra, or a Cozy Koala – there’s something for every type of butterfly among the 858 (!) events happening this year.
In this issue, I’ll help you find your flow, share my personal picks, and offer a few survival tips for all you FOMO-prone souls.
🎶 See you on the dancefloor, in the choir garden – or the Mongolian folk-electro rave.
Lots of love, Julia 💙
30 Years of Fête de la Musique in Berlin
(Not to be confused with the global version, which is already 43 years old!)
On June 21, 1995, Berlin hosted its very first Fête de la Musique. What began as a modest experiment has now become one of the city's most beloved summer traditions—with over 850 concerts this year alone.
But the idea itself is even older:
🇫🇷 The first Fête took place in Paris in 1982, launched by then Culture Minister Jack Lang. The vision?
"Music everywhere. Concerts nowhere."
A day when anyone—amateur or pro—could play music in public, for free, in celebration of summer, creativity, and community.
Since then, the concept has gone global—today, it’s celebrated in over 1000 cities worldwide.
🌞 Why June 21?
It’s the summer solstice—the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Perfect timing for a musical marathon in the streets.
How to survive FOMO at Fête de la Musique
With 858 events across the city, Berlin's Fête de la Musique is the perfect storm for a FOMO meltdown. But fear not. Here’s how to embrace the madness without trying to be everywhere at once:
Pick a zone, not a plan – Don’t schedule the day by the minute. Choose one neighborhood (e.g. Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Friedrichshain) and let the music find you.
Less is more – You’ll remember the vibe, not the list of artists. Go for atmosphere over agenda.
Stay with your people – It’s better to dance with friends at a random stage than stress alone at a “must-see” gig.
Prepare for spontaneity – Comfortable shoes, water, a charged phone, and a free heart.
Silence your phone – Seriously. Don’t track what others are doing. Be in your moment.
Make your own magic – Missed the “best” act? Maybe you are the best act. Bring a kazoo. Dance in the street.
No wrong choices – The best Fête stories are never the planned ones.
A Guide for Every Type of Social Butterfly
Feeling overwhelmed by 858 concerts? Let your personality be your compass.
Berlin's Fête de la Musique isn’t just a music festival – it’s an urban jungle of sound, soul, and surprise. Whether you're into quiet jazz gardens or open-air techno raves, this guide helps you choose your vibe. Pick your archetype (or mix and match!) and we’ll give you ideas where to start.
🐍 The Cultural Cobra
Loves museums, film festivals, and indie book readings.
2pm-7pm Jazz & Classical Music at Französischer Dom in Mitte https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/parzelle-1-franzosischer-dom/
3pm-5pm Neukölln choirs in the palace garden at Britz https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/neukollner-chore-im-schlossgarten-6356556/
7pm Live broadcast from the Philharmonie Berlin at Kulturforum in Mitte https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/liveubertragung-auf-dem-kulturforum-berlin-berliner-philharmoniker-and-gustavo-dudamel/
🦚 The Party Peacock
Lives for nightlife, rooftop bars, and dancing until dawn.
from 2pm 🎶 Fête de la Musique at Birgit Biergarten Club 🎉 in Kreuzberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/fete-de-la-musique-at-biergarten-club/
from 3pm Techno, Trance and House at Sage Beach in Kreuzberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/fete-de-la-musique-at-sage-beach-8386999/
from 4pm Gretchen Blockparty in Kreuzberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/gretchen-blockparty-5753284/
🐨 The Cozy Koala
Prefers intimate cafés, journaling meetups, and chill picnics.
2:30pm YENI Indie-Folk at Strandbad Wendenschloss https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/yeni/
4pm Julius Bachmann Accoustic Guitar at Seniorenstiftung Prenzlauer Berg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/julius-bachmann-3146681/
4:30pm Gal Greenberg Singer-Songwriter at Theater Expedition Metropolis in Kreuzberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/gal-greenberg/
🦎 The Curious Chameleon
Always trying something new: from improv classes to silent discos.
3pm Multi-sense Flavours in Concert in Sensations Lab @Backhaus Projects https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/mmm-feel-good-multi-sense-flavours-in-concert/
5pm Berlin EARport Ensemble for free improvised music at exploratorium Berlin https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/berlin-earport-9032756/
8pm Machine Woman downbeat minimal electronic music along with melancholic worldwide cinema at Werkstätten des Nordens in Wedding https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/machine-woman/
✈️ The Globetrotter Gull
Loves language exchange meetups, international food festivals, and connecting with fellow wanderers.
12pm-1pm Mongolian folk-electro fusion - BUGAN at Huushuur House Berlin https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/bugan-band-6708028/
2pm Yogada Joshi | Indian Classical (Carnatic) und Folk at Himmlische Höfe in Mitte https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/yogada-joshi-or-indian-classical-carnatic-und-folk/
2:30pm Sapphire & Lorenzo at Zeitgeist Zentrum in Weding https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/sapphire-and-lorenzo-at-zeitgeist-zentrum-or-fete-de-la-musique-2025/
🍃 The Forest Fox
Nature lover, happiest when wandering through parks, foraging markets, or meditating by the lake.
2pm Rehbergepark Outdoor Jam at Volkspark Rehberge https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/rehbergepark-outdoor-jam/
3pm Chor der Naturfreunde e.V. at Seeterrassen am Fennpfuhlpark in Lichtenberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/fenn-de-la-musique-chor-der-naturfreunde-ev/
7pm FRESH LION at Seebad Friedrichshagen https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/fresh-lion-perse-and-ccestres/
🐙 The Maker Octopus
Multitasker, loves to shape, build, sculpt, and remix—especially in group settings.
→ Try sound art installations, instrument-building workshops, or performative happenings off the main path.
12pm Fête de la Moritzplatz at Aufbauhaus with flea market, speeches and workshops in Kreuzberg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/fete-de-la-moritzplatz/
8:45pm Open Stage at minardi STUDIO in Karlshorst https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/open-stage-2025759/
9pm junk-E-cat at Frizzante Fire Truck Stage in Neukölln https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/junk-e-cat-2719096/
🦋 The Social Butterfly
Here’s where I plan to flutter on June 21st:
🕛 12pm–1pm – Starting the day with Mongolian folk-electro fusion by BUGAN at Huushuur House in Prenzlauer Berg https://www.fetedelamusique.de/en/fete-event/2025/bugan-band-6708028/
🕓 From 4pm – Heading to Fête de la Mastul in Wedding: expect indie vibes, quirky performances, and a charming backyard atmosphere
👉 mastul.de/events/mastul-monella-de-la-musique
But hey, if you’re a true Social Butterfly, you’ll want to explore your own route through Berlin’s musical jungle.
🗺️ Plan your personal sonic adventure from over 850 concerts here:
👉 fetedelamusique.de/en/program
See you out there, fluttering from beat to beat 🦋🎶
Discussion
Are you going? What is your plan?