Brandenburg Gate’s New Year event is confirmed to proceed
After ZDF announced that its traditional New Year’s Eve celebration at the Brandenburg Gate would be relocated to Hamburg in 2025, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) initially stated that the capital would not host an alternative event. However, he has now reversed this decision.
Berlin Mayor reverses decision on Brandenburg Gate NYE event
Since 2010, German public broadcaster ZDF has organised and televised New Year’s Eve festivities at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. In September, the broadcaster revealed that the event would move to Hamburg this year.
At first, Wegner insisted the city would not step in to host a replacement celebration, arguing that the government had no intention of funding such an event “at the expense of the taxpayer, especially at a time of budget restrictions.” In December 2024, his administration approved €130 million in cuts to cultural funding.
Now, Mayor Wegner, Economics Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD), and Berlin’s Culture Project Manager Moritz van Dülmen have confirmed that the city will fund an official New Year’s Eve celebration at the Brandenburg Gate after all.
According to a press release from Berlin.de, DJs will begin performing from 10 p.m. at the Gate. The event will be broadcast from midnight, featuring a seven-minute fireworks display to welcome the New Year.
20,000 free tickets for Berlin’s New Year celebration
Starting in December, 20,000 free tickets will be made available for the New Year’s Eve event, though details about the distribution process are still pending.
When announcing the decision, Wegner expressed hope that the celebration will make Berlin’s New Year’s Eve imagery as iconic as those from Sydney or New York.