After slashing €130 million from this year’s budget, Berlin’s cultural sector faces further cuts in the coming years. The city plans to reduce funding for theaters, opera houses, and concert halls by an additional €15 million in 2026, raising concerns about higher ticket prices and fewer productions. While the budget for 2027 is set to increase by €3 million, these funds are primarily allocated to cover potential wage increases, meaning cultural institutions will continue to operate under financial strain.
Berlin’s total cultural budget currently stands at €964 million, but it will drop to €949 million in 2025 before rising slightly in 2027. The exact impact of these cuts remains unclear, but many institutions have already exhausted their financial reserves to compensate for this year’s shortfall. Further savings could lead to reduced programming and increased costs for audiences.
Kultursenator Joe Chialo (CDU) informed cultural representatives that the cuts are part of the financial administration’s broader savings plan for 2026/27 and are non-negotiable. The city’s total budget reduction for those years is expected to reach €1.6 billion, affecting multiple sectors.