Enjoy a Range of Christmas Concerts at Famous Venues in Berlin:
Christmas is a special time in Berlin and music is very much a part of this city’s Christmas celebrations.
If you’re spending Christmas in Berlin, you too can enjoy one of the many Christmas concerts in the city. Whether it be traditional Christmas music, classical concerts, choir concert, brass band or religious music, there is an impressive array of Berlin Christmas concerts to choose from, including Cuban, Gospel, Russian Christmas music and even hip-hop!
Famous Berlin Attractions
Many of these Christmas concerts are held at venues which are themselves famous Berlin attractions such as the Berliner Dom, Französischer Dom am Gendarmenmarkt, the Philharmonie, etc.
Most of these concerts are one-performance only events and popular concerts will sell quickly, so book early if you don’t want to miss out.
See the calendar of Berlin Christmas concerts and to make your concert ticket bookings, just click on the links below.
Dates: |
Berlin Christmas Concerts 2023 |
Various dates in December
Dec. 31 |
Apostel Paulus Kirche: Harlem Gospel Night with Donna Brown & the Golden Gospel Pearls The famous Golden Gospel Pearls are back in Berlin with their soulful voices and Christmas medleys. They brought the gospel to Berlin in the early 90s and have remained faithful to the city and church ever since. Enjoy their interpretations of ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Mary Had a Baby’, ‘Come and Adore Him’ and other medleys which are sure put you in a joyful Christmas mood. Apostel Paulus Kirche: Festival Orchester Berlin: New Year’s Eve Concert This multicultural association of musicians from leading European orchestras, has been inspiring audiences with its repertoire of Baroque, Viennese Classical and Romantic repertoire, complemented by musical rarities. The orchestra plays on old Italian instruments, creating an outstandingly beautiful sound. |
Nov. 24 | French Cathedral: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Festival Orchester Berlin The Festival Orchester Berlin performs Vivaldi’s masterpiece and other important works by well-known composers. |
Dec. 2 | French Cathedral: Wolfgangseemusi -Advent Sounds of the Salzkammergut Hear genuine folk music from the snow-covered Salzkammergut in the Alps. The artists tell stories with their songs and celebrate music on their traditional instruments which are quite unique in Berlin. |
Dec. 8 | French Cathedral: Axel Zwingenberger: Boogie-Woogie Hits In the words of Axel Zwingenberger, ‘Playing boogie‐woogie is basically something like telling a story’. Let yourself be carried away into the world of pure keyboard sounds and listen to the unique story of Axel Zwingenberger. |
Dec. 9 | French Cathedral: Johannischer Chor Berlin – Christmas Carols from all over the World The 30 members of this mixed choir are accompanied by a rich array of instruments, festive carols from a wide variety of European cultures. Concert goers will be rewarded with magnificent and beautiful local Christmas tunes and multilingual folklore from all over the world in the unique acoustics of the French Cathedral. |
Dec. 10 | French Cathedral: Christmas Folklore with the Original Bolshoi Don Cossacks The coveted male choir of the ‘Bolshoi Don Cossacks’ brings a piece of Eastern European history to Berlin at Advent. The trained opera soloists overwhelm every year with their vocal power and present the musical tradition of the Don Cossacks. Their repertoire consists of sacred songs, Cossack, Russian and Ukrainian folk songs. |
Dec. 15 | French Cathedral: Sonic.Art Saxophonquartett: Saxophonische Weihnachten The four saxophonists play special Christmas pieces from their rich repertoire, including excerpts from J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. |
Dec. 23 | French Cathedral: Comedian Harmonists Forever: Harmonious Christmas The Comedian Harmonists Forever from Berlin are coming together again this time in typical Harmonists style, with stories and poems for the Christmas season. See all French Cathedral events Here. |
Dec. 1 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Dresdner Kreuzchor Experience classical music like never before in this astonishing performance of masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach. In addition to the first three parts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, the choir will also perform familiar Christmas carols. |
Dec. 2 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Advent Organ Lesson In this highly‐anticipated concert, hear the pleasing sounds of classical organ music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Johann Sebastian Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, Max Reger and Marcel Dupré. |
Dec. 3 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Philharmonischer Chor Berlin & Brandenburgisches Staatorchester Frankfurt Oder The Philharmonischer Chor Berlin, the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt (Oder) and outstanding soloists perform masterworks by Schubert and Poulenc under the baton of Florian Benfer. |
Dec. 6 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Festival Concert – 125 years of Deutsche Grammophon Beethoven, Brahms and Mahler – these three great composers will be celebrated at this gala concert marking the 125th anniversary of Deutsche Grammophon. Not to be missed. |
Dec. 19 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Swinging into Christmas with Andrej Hermlin and his Swing Dance Orchester. Andrej Hermlin and his Swing Dance Orchestra have created a beautiful, romantic Christmas revue with their program ‘Christmas in Swing’. This unique revue features famous American Christmas melodies resound in original arrangements of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. |
Dec. 17 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Vienna Boys’ Choir: Christmas Concert With their perfect, crystal clear voices, the world famous Vienna Boys’ Choir captivate audiences everywhere. In their Christmas concert ‘O Du Fröhliche’ they present Advent and Christmas carols as well as classical works. |
Dec. 20 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Windbacher Knabenchor – Christmas The Windsbacher Knabenchor presents a program of Christmas carols in exciting arrangements from old and new times. Classical and international melodies are all part of the program, including ‘Silent Night’ at the end of the concert. |
Dec. 23 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Cinderella’s Party The Konzerthausorchester play music from “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella” which tells of her courage despite the meanness of her stepmother and stepsisters. |
Dec. 25 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Great Berlin Christmas Concert The Great Berlin Christmas Festival Concert is now a firm and beloved tradition. It’s performed by the Dessau Orchestra, one of the oldest and most traditional orchestras in the state of Saxony‐Anhalt. |
Dec. 26 | Konzerthaus Berlin: Brass Band Berlin — Swing´n Christmas Swing into Christmas with the Brass Band Berlin. Enjoy a sack full of Christmas music with jazz embedded in a show of musical acrobatics and a witty moderation.See all Konzerthaus Berlin events Here. |
Dec. 3 | Philharmonie Berlin: Sinfonisches Kammerorchester Berlin: Christmas Oratorio (I‐III) The Symphonic Chamber Orchestra Berlin invites you to experience classical music like never before in this astonishing performance of masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach. |
Dec. 4
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Philharmonie Berlin: London Brass: Joy to the World The ten‐member London Brass has virtuoso arrangements of festive classics as well as traditional Christmas carols in good old brass style, and enriched with a lot of British charm. |
Dec. 5 | Philharmonie Berlin: Khatia Buniatishvili Piano Recital Keyboard lioness and grand piano storming champion are just a couple of descriptions of Khatia Buniatishvili. This Georgian pianist is hailed “as passionate as she is sensual”and whose interpretations are always one thing: incomparable — unique! |
Dec. 7
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Philharmonie Berlin: Mandelring Quartett: Summit — Beethoven & Bartók VI Hear chamber music by Beethoven and Bartók, as performed by the Mandelring Quartett. |
Dec. 8
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Philharmonie Berlin: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Prague: The Great Christmas Gala of Classical Music From Handel to Vivaldi, from Mozart to Schubert — across the history of music, the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Prague presents the most beautiful and impressive Christmas classics with fabulous vocal soloists |
Dec. 12 | Philharmonie Berlin: BREAKIN’ MOZART Klassik meets Breakdance This unforgettable high octave performance blends classical sound with hip‐hop and techno beats, creating a firework of genres that defies expectations. Imagining how Mozart would thrive in the modern era. |
Dec. 18 | Philharmonie Berlin: Christmas with Quadro Nuevo Quadro Nuevo offers an atmospheric pre‐Christmas program with shimmering jazz harmonies, meditative or funky rhythms to Klezmer‐inspired improvisations that could hardly be more present. |
Dec. 20 | Philharmonie Berlin: Freiburger Barockorchester: Angels & Shepherds Enjoy the Christmas season with music by Bach and Praetorius performed by Freiburger Barockorchester, Zürcher Sing‐Akademie and outstanding soloists under the baton of Kristian Bezuidenhout. |
Dec. 21 | Philharmonie Berlin: Christmas meets Cuba Enjoy world‐famous Christmas melodies paired with the temperament of Cuban rhythms and sensual jazz harmonies of the Klazz Brothers. This performance is sure to raise the room temperature. |
Dec. 25 | Philharmonie Berlin: Festive Opera and Operetta Concert On Christmas Day, enjoy selected excerpts from operas and ballets such as The Magic Flute, Carmen, The Pearl Fishers, Lakmé, Rigoletto, La Traviata and more. |
Dec. 25 | Philharmonie Berlin: Curtain Up: The Magic of Film Music For film buffs, enjoy selected clips from films such as: Cinema Paradiso, Lawrence of Arabia, La Strada, Warsaw Concert, Life is Beautiful, The Fabulous World of Amélie and more. See all Philgarmonie Berlin events Here. |
Dec. 2 | Marienkirche Berlin: Christmas with Original Bolschoi Don Kosaken The famous male choir of the ‘Bolshoi Don Cossacks’ brings a piece of Eastern European history to Berlin. The trained opera soloists overwhelm every year with their vocal power and present the musical tradition of the Don Cossacks. Enjoy their repertoire of sacred songs, Cossack, Russian and Ukrainian folk songs. |
Dec. 2 | Marienkirche Berlin: A Festive Concert for Organ and Trumpet: Glanz und Gloria Daniel Schmahl and Sebastian Heindl play masterpieces of the European Baroque. ‘Glanz und Gloria’ is a tribute to this golden age of the high trumpet and its little sister – the corno da caccia. |
Dec. 16&25 | Marienkirche Berlin: Divertimento Vocale Berlin: Christmas à cappella Hear the young 8‐member vocal ensemble sing music rarely heard and thus revives the almost forgotten tradition of vocal art. |
Dec. 26 | Marienkirche Berlin: Festive concert for organ, trumpet & soprano: Freu dich Erd und Sternenzelt (Rejoice earth and starry skies) Three gifted musicians, Daniel Schmahl (trumpet, flugelhorn and corno da caccia) and soprano Anna Gütter and Ivan‐Bogdan Reincke (organ) interpret Christmas pieces from the baroque to the modern. |
Dec. 9 | Berliner Dom: Maria durch ein Dornwald ging This young choir of the Staats‐ und Domchor Berlin sing for Advent. |
Dec. 9 | Berliner Dom: Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Hear seasonal choir music by the Staats‐ und Domchor Berlin in the awe‐inspiring atmosphere of the Berliner Dom with guest performance by ‘German Gents’, a vocal quartet from Berlin. |
Dec. 14 | Berliner Dom: Lucia, the Swedish Queen of Light The Stockholms Musikgymnasiums Kammarkör performs traditional Swedish and German Christmas Carols. |
Dec. 15 | Berliner Dom: Bach Christmas Oratorio, I-III Adrian Büttemeier conducts the Berliner Domkantorei and outstanding soloists, in a performance of the first half of Bach’s monumental Christmas Oratorio. |
Dec. 17 | Berliner Dom: Organ Concert for Advent – Tauf und Traukirche Experience masterworks of organ music performed by outstanding musicians on the spectacular Sauer Organ of the Berliner Dom. |
Dec. 25 | Berliner Dom: Festive Christmas Concert The Lars Ranch Brass Ensemble performs with organist Andreas Sieling and soprano Andrea Chudak. Enjoy Traditional Christmas Music and Christmas Carols. |
Dec. 26 | Berliner Dom: Jauchzet, frohlocket! Bach and Sons meet Ukrainian Christmas music. Hear seasonal music in the awe‐inspiring atmosphere of the Berliner Dom. |
Dec. 27 | Berliner Dom: Christmas Brass Concert – German Brass Ten top musicians form the extraordinary, highly professional GERMAN BRASS. Enjoy their outstanding arrangements of music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky. But GERMAN BRASS also performs jazz, film music and even pop. |
Dec. 31 | Berliner Dom: Musical Fireworks for Organ on New Year’s Eve Send off the old year with the unique sound of organ music at one of Europe’s most impressive basilica cathedrals. Enjoy classical music by Bach, Boëllmann, Saint‐Saëns, Zimmer and others.See all Berliner Dom events Here. |
In addition to the above list of Christmas concerts, there are many other concerts and performances in Berlin. You can see the complete list of Berlin concerts and book your concert tickets HERE.
Thomas says
Thanks for the information Helen
Helen Page says
You’re welcome Thomas. Hope you’ll be enjoying some concerts in Berlin.
Kind regards,
Helen