All information for veneus
What would the Fête de la Musique be without the numerous music venues throughout the city?
Your stage doesn’t need to be a perfect festival location – on June 21, a music venue can also be a community garden, a youth club, a hair salon, or a corner store. Therefore, we’re addressing this information to people, associations, initiatives, clubs, concert organizers who would like to organize a music venue.
On this page, you’ll learn what you need to consider and take care of, and how we’d be happy to help you.
Dates of our information evenings and workshops for venues:
- 21.4., 6pm, venue: Tegeler Seeterrassen, Wilkestr. 1-5, 13507 Berlin and online
- 21.5., 6pm, venue: TBA and online
- 11.6., 6pm, venue: TBA and online
- Please register by writing a mail at hallo@fetdelamusique.de.
Each year at the beginning of summer on June 21, the Fête de la Musique – the Festival of Music – the Worldwide Music Day rings out.
What began as an idea in Paris in 1982 has long since developed into a global and popular event.
The Fête de la Musique brings together a wide variety of participants:
cultural centers, diplomatic networks, municipal cultural offices, local authorities, associations, artists, professional musicians, music schools, and many more.
These public as well as private organizers promote the current music scene in their city and encourage cultural exchange.
From this, the following principles for the Fête de la Musique emerge:
Design Templates
Social Media graphics, poster templates and logos
By downloading the poster print files and social media graphic templates, I confirm that:
- I will use them exclusively for the announcement of official Fête de la Musique 2025 programme items
- the programme content does not violate applicable German law, statutory and official prohibitions or morality
- the content will not be of a discriminatory (e.g. racist, anti-Semitic, sexist)¹, violence-glorifying, pornographic, youth-endangering or one-sided (party) political nature
- I will not put up any ‘wild’ posters in public areas
- I will bear any claims for damages by the City of Berlin, the district authorities or the site owners in the event of unauthorised billposting myself
- if I add my own images and/or graphics to the advertising material, I have the unrestricted right to use them in terms of space and time
- I also ensure that no third-party rights are infringed by this use. This includes, in particular, copyrights, personal rights of persons depicted, rights to depicted works or brands as well as any necessary authorisations from the owners of the location.
- I am liable for damages resulting from the infringement of these rights and indemnify Musicboard Berlin GmbH against all third-party claims.
Revocation
The consent granted here can be revoked for the future by email to info@musicboard.berlin.de. However, for already printed materials or published media, a revocation can only affect future use.
Further information on forms of discrimination: https://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/DE/ueber-diskriminierung/was-ist-diskriminierung/diskriminierungsformen/diskriminierungsformen-node.html
Important information to download
Approval assessment for events in public spaces
The Raumsonde Tool provides a simple way to check approval eligibility for your events in public spaces. Use the application assistant for special use permits and the map tool to find suitable locations.
Use our network. With the matchmaking tool, you’ll find musicians and supporters
Stages, musicians, and supporters can register, create a profile, and thus find each other bilaterally.
Don’t have a profile yet? Register as a user in our matchmaking tool.
Frequently asked questions for music venues and stage partners
How does one become a music venue as part of the official program?
Anyone who would like to organize a stage as part of the “Fête de la Musique Berlin” can register online via the participation form without obligation. The applications are reviewed regarding feasibility, and through joint discussion, advice is given on how a music venue can be made possible. The Musicboard reserves the right to decline for various reasons. Reasons for this include no prospect of official approval for open-air locations, other music venues in the immediate vicinity (within hearing distance), non-compliance with the General Agreement, the values of the “Fête de la Musique” or the German constitution.
If there is nothing standing in the way of participation, a cooperation agreement will be concluded with the Musicboard. Participating music venues receive a program link to be able to publish their events on the websit
What kinds of music venues are possible?
In principle, both indoor (clubs, cultural venues, etc.) and outdoor locations (private and public areas) are possible. However, the “Fête de la Musique” is a music festival which, according to the basic concept (General Agreement), should predominantly take place outside and in the open air. A stage program after 10 PM can, in accordance with the official approvals from the environmental agencies, only take place indoors. All music venues must be accessible for people with disabilities and have free entry.
What needs to be considered when choosing a music venue?
Generally, noise protection must be observed, whereby in addition to the general measures (e.g., sound direction, volume) to protect residents and neighbors, there are also facilities worthy of protection (hospitals, nursing homes, memorials, etc.) that preclude use. All open-air music venues require a noise exemption permit from the environmental offices. These are applied for by the Musicboard for participating music venues. For public areas, approval from the streets and parks departments is also necessary. Also, there should not be another stage within hearing distance. The size of the area or room should be sufficient so that visitor flow does not create conflicts with pedestrians, and traffic routes (pedestrian and bicycle paths, streets) remain free at all times.
The necessary permits from the environmental offices according to §11 LImSchG Bln (for all open-air music venues – private and public areas) are obtained by the Musicboard from the responsible district offices. There are no costs for this.
What permits do I need for a music venue?
Anyone who wants to use an area on public streets or green spaces for a music venue needs a permit from the responsible district office. For this, an informal application for special use of public street land according to the Berlin Street Law and for permission according to §29 StVO must be submitted. For operating food and beverage stands, a permit (e.g., permission according to §12 GastG for the sale of alcoholic beverages) must be obtained from the responsible public order office. The permits must be applied for independently, at the latest 9 weeks before the event. The applicants bear any fees incurred.
Participation itself – as a music venue within the framework of the “Fête de la Musique” – is not subject to any fees.
What costs are incurred when organizing a music venue?
A general or even numerical statement cannot be made here, as music venues can be very different. From a “music carpet” with an unplugged program to a very large show with a covered festival stage, many things are conceivable. Possible costs arise primarily from technology and logistics (sound, lighting, stage), official permits (fees), insurance (event liability), sanitary facilities, security measures, waste disposal and cleaning, etc. The personnel and organizational effort also ties up resources, according to the scope of planning.
What should I consider if I’m planning a street closure at my music venue?
A street closure causes high costs (fees, traffic sign plan, barriers, security personnel, etc.) and means additional organizational effort. Often, the closure of a street is rejected by the authorities or subject to high requirements (especially if public transport lines are affected). For this reason, the Musicboard generally advises against a street closure.
Can I organise my stage program myself?
Yes. Stage organizers are independently responsible and free in their selection of artists and genres. For the benefit of visitors, attention should be paid to a certain length of the program or the number of performances, and sufficient breaks should be planned for changeovers. The Musicboard offers a matching service for musicians through the matchmaking tool.
Can I sell food and drinks at my music venue?
Yes. The organizers of a music venue organize the food and beverage service themselves and independently obtain the necessary official permits (including permission according to §12 GastG for the sale of alcoholic beverages). The number of food and beverage stands should be appropriate to the location and the expected number of visitors. As a music festival – unlike street festivals, for example – only a limited number of stands are usually permitted by the authorities within the framework of the “Fête de la Musique.” Operating a food and beverage stand without official permission is not advisable, as the public order offices carry out regular inspections.
Do I need to register my stage with GEMA and pay license fees?
No. The Musicboard takes care of the entire process with GEMA and also covers the costs for the license fees. The organizers are only obligated to collect the GEMA music sequences from the musicians and transmit them collectively to the Musicboard.
ATTENTION! The parallel TV broadcast (televisions, large screens) of football championships or other major events are not included.
How can I make my music venue sustainable and climate-friendly?
There are various ways to design a music venue to be sustainable and climate-neutral. Starting points can be: energy (use of green electricity), mobility (call to use public transport and bicycles, use of cargo bikes for logistics), resources (waste prevention, reusable and deposit systems), catering (organic food, cooperation with regional suppliers), area (cleaning, measures to avoid soil compaction on green spaces). The Musicboard offers recommendations for action and checklists on the topic of “Greener Fête.”
When is the deadline to register as a music venue?
Outdoor venues can register until March 31, indoor music venues until April 30. Registration after the deadline is not possible.