Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof turns 30 with gala, awards, and exhibitions
On March 14, 2026, Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart will mark its 30th anniversary with a gala event named A Night in Berlin. Housed in a 19th-century railway station, the museum has undergone significant transformations under the leadership of directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. The 2,500-square-meter Historic Hall will host co-hosts Edward Berger, Cate Blanchett, Matt Dillon, among others. The evening's agenda includes a speech from Blanchett, performances by the Berliner Philharmoniker and Staatsoper, a spatial action by Elmgreen & Dragset, and an installation by Monica Bonvicini. Additionally, four awards will be given, with Mark Bradford among the jurors. The anniversary year will also showcase eight new exhibitions featuring various artists.
Key facts
- Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart celebrates 30th anniversary on March 14, 2026.
- Gala titled A Night in Berlin held in the 2,500-square-meter Historic Hall.
- Directors Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath have redefined the museum's role over the past three years.
- Co-hosts include Cate Blanchett, Matt Dillon, Wim Wenders, Monica Bonvicini, Mark Bradford, Elmgreen & Dragset, Anne Imhof, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Ellen Allien.
- Four awards: Lifetime Achievement Award, Global Arts Patron Award, Change Maker Award, and Hamburger Bahnhof Studio Award (three artists under 35 receive €15,000 each).
- Jurors for awards: Mark Bradford, Katharina Grosse, Ayoung Kim.
- Eight new exhibitions in anniversary year featuring Giulia Andreani, Sophie Calle, Tacita Dean, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Ayşe Erkmen, Shilpa Gupta, Henrik Håkansson, Lina Lapelytė, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tomás Saraceno.
- Collection rehang includes works by Pierre Huyghe, Bunny Rogers, Katharina Sieverding, Rirkrit Tiravanija.
Entities
Artists
- Sam Bardaouil
- Till Fellrath
- Monique Burger
- Christine Wuerfel-Stauss
- Edward Berger
- Cate Blanchett
- Matt Dillon
- Nina Hoss
- Thomas Ostermeier
- Wim Wenders
- Monica Bonvicini
- Mark Bradford
- Elmgreen & Dragset
- Anne Imhof
- Wolfgang Tillmans
- Ellen Allien
- Joerg Koch
- Christa Boesch
- Cosima Gadient
- Carla Sozzani
- Kerstin Weng
- Tricia Tuttle
- Andrea Zietzschmann
- Elisabeth Sobotka
- Katharina Grosse
- Ayoung Kim
- Giulia Andreani
- Sophie Calle
- Tacita Dean
- Thomas Demand
- Olafur Eliasson
- Ayşe Erkmen
- Shilpa Gupta
- Henrik Håkansson
- Lina Lapelytė
- Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Tomás Saraceno
- Pierre Huyghe
- Bunny Rogers
- Katharina Sieverding
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
Institutions
- Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart
- Hamburger Bahnhof International Companions
- 032C
- Ottolinger
- Berlinale
- Berliner Philharmoniker
- Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany