The Humboldt Forum Foundation at Berlin Palace is introducing a new, uniform pricing model this fall. The aim is to create a clearly structured offering that combines visitor friendliness, economic stability, and cultural participation. Starting October 3, 2025, visitors will be able to access the special exhibition Beziehungsweise Familie (Relationship: Family), the exhibitions of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art of the National Museums in Berlin, the BERLIN GLOBAL exhibition, and the Knoblauchhaus Museum in the Nikolaiviertel with just one ticket. In addition, visitors will find temporary exhibitions on the second and third floors. They can choose between one-day, two-day, and group tickets—each with standard discount conditions. At the same time, many areas and programs at the Humboldt Forum, such as the presentations on the history of the site and the Humboldt Laboratory, will remain accessible free of charge in the future. The introduction of admission fees is necessary in order to maintain the existing high standard of offerings, renew them regularly, and expand them selectively.
Image above: Foyer im Humboldt Forum, schnellebuntebilder / Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss, Foto: Alexander Schippel.
Thanks to the initiative of the founding directors and the former Minister of State for Culture, Monika Grütters, the new collections presentations of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art on the 2nd and 3rd floors have been open to the public free of charge since the last opening phase in September 2022. However, this offer was limited from the outset: it was already decided in 2019 that free admission would end after three years. Experience in recent years has also shown that public funding alone is not sufficient in the long term to cover rising operating and maintenance costs and finance new programs. In order to maintain the Humboldt Forum as a diverse venue for urban society in the future and to further develop its content, the stakeholders are relying on a financing model that includes admission fees. In this way, the Humboldt Forum is making its own contribution to its financial resources in addition to public and third-party funding in times of tight budgets, so that it can continue to offer an attractive program.
“Our aim is not only to maintain the Humboldt Forum as a vibrant place for everyone, but also to develop it further—open, diverse, and sustainable. With the new pricing model, we are striking a good balance between sustainable financing and maximum accessibility and broad cultural participation. The revenue from admission fees will ensure the further development of our institution, while relevant offerings will remain accessible free of charge,” said Christine Rieffel-Braune, Executive Director of the Humboldt Forum Foundation at Berlin Palace.
New ticket and pricing model
The new admission prices were designed with a focus on clarity and simplicity on the one hand, and moderation on the other. Starting October 3, 2025, the new combination ticket will grant access to the following areas and exhibitions: the collections of the Museum of Ethnology and the Museum of Asian Art on the second and third floors, BERLIN GLOBAL on the 1st floor, and the Beziehungsweise Familie program with temporary exhibitions, interventions throughout the building, and additionally the Knoblauchhaus Museum of the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin.
The following prices apply:
The day ticket is valid for one calendar day and costs €14 at the regular price. Those eligible for a discount pay €7 or €0.
The two-day ticket, valid on the selected day of visit and the following day, costs €18 at the regular price and €9 or €0 at the reduced price.
The group ticket costs a flat rate of €50. It is valid for up to five adults, with or without children, on the selected day of visit (no discounts).
Discounts continue to apply to eligible persons such as school pupils, students, volunteers, trainees up to the age of 30, recipients of ALG I benefits, holders of an honorary card, and severely disabled persons. The SMB annual pass grants free admission to the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art. As before, BERLIN GLOBAL offers a more affordable single ticket.
Many programs remain free of charge
The Humboldt Forum remains a place for everyone: many areas and offerings continue to be available to all groups free of charge. These include the Humboldt Lab with the new exhibition On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin, the workshops, the stairwell with the exhibition Einblicke. The Humboldt Brothers, and the presentations on the history of the site with the palace cellar, sculpture hall, video panorama, and Traces. Numerous events—such as Studio 9, Guest Room, and Airing Out—as well as many educational offerings can also be attended free of charge. Admission remains free for children and young people up to the age of 19 and other eligible discount recipients.
The new pricing structure will initially apply until the end of the Beziehungsweise Familie program in mid-July 2026. At the beginning of 2026, the long-term pricing strategy for the period after this program cluster will be determined.
The diversity that characterizes the Humboldt Forum’s program is also reflected in the collaboration between the various participants: The Humboldt Forum is a collaboration between the Humboldt Forum Foundation in Berlin Palace, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation with the collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art of the Berlin State Museums, Humboldt University of Berlin with the Humboldt Laboratory, and the Berlin City Museum with the Berlin Exhibition.
WHERE?
Humboldt Forum
Schloßplatz
10178 Berlin
