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Opening Hours and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Offers during the Holidays and the 2025‒26 Turn of the Year

15.12.2025

On public holidays, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin buildings are generally open as on Sundays. However, there are a few exceptions and special features planned at the end of this year, in 2025 and the start of the next, in 2026. Around the holidays, guided tours, workshops and other events are offered at all locations. And if you’re still looking for the right gift, a variety of ideas can be found in the shops online and at the museums.

Museum Visits Around the Holidays

Special opening hours of the museums during the public holidays and the turn of the year 2025‒26:

• Most of the museums are open between Christmas and New Year’s.
• All venues are closed on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 24 December 2025.
• The following venues are open on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, from 10 am to 4 pm:
  • Alte Nationalgalerie
  • Neues Museum
  • James-Simon-Galerie
  • Neue Nationalgalerie
• On Thursday, 1 January 2026, the museums open starting at 12 noon.

Further information is available on the overview page Special Opening Hours of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

The Scharf Collection Exhibition

Due to considerable interest and demand, the exhibition opening hours for The Scharf Collection: Goya – Monet – Cézanne – Bonnard – Grosse at the Alte Nationalgalerie have been extended:

• 25–28 December 2025: until 7 pm
• 31 December 2025: until 4 pm
• 1–4 January 2026: until 7 pm
• 30 January–1 February 2026: until 7 pm
• 6–8 February 2026: until 7 pm
• 13–15 February 2026: until 8 pm

Special Events from 20 December to 4 January

The museums offer a variety of special events from the 4th Advent weekend until shortly after New Year’s. An overview of all Staatliche Museen zu Berlin special events taking place between 20 December 2025 and 4 January 2026 can be found in the event calendar.

And even if you can’t make it to Berlin before this year is out, you can still go on a musical tour through the Christmas story at the Gemäldegalerie (Old Masters Gallery). And the Museum Europäischer Kulturen’s (Museum of European Cultures) display of a mechanical Nativity scene from the Ore Mountains can be explored online.

Gift Ideas from the Museums

This year, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin is again offering a variety of gift ideas for art and culture lovers. Moreover, with spotlights on Impressionism, design classics and archaeological highlights, the upcoming exhibition year is sure to provide memorable experiences – ideal for any cultural gift-giving needs and for spending time together.

Overview of Offers: Annual Passes, Gift Certificates and More

• Annual passes are available for as little as €25. For €118, all special exhibitions of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin can also be visited free of charge for one whole year. Digital annual passes can now be purchased directly from the Online ticket shop.
• Gift certificates in varying denominations are available for as little as €10 in the Online ticket shop or at museum ticket counters.
• Pre-Sale exhibition tickets for selected special exhibitions
  • Brancusi: 20 March 2026 to 9 August 2026 at the Neue Nationalgalerie
  • Building Community: Göbeklitepe, Taş Tepeler and Life 12,000 Years Ago: 6 February to 19 July 2026 at the James-Simon-Galerie
• Catalogues, books, plaster replicas and many more gift ideas can be found on the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin webshop.