VOLKSBAD
am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
7 August to 1 October 2026
Kicking off the new season under the theatre’s new artistic direction, the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz transforms into the VOLKSBAD AM ROSA-LUXEMBURG-PLATZ for eight weeks. No stage, no podium – instead a public swimming pool is mounted complete with fries stall and all. The street in front of this monumental, socialist-classical architecture is being transformed into a 25-metre-long swimming lane right in the heart of Mitte – free of charge and with no ID required. The VOLKSBAD is open to anyone who wants to cool off during Berlin’s increasingly hot summers, work on their crawl stroke, or just hang out with neighbours and enjoy some downtime.
In a city where infrastructure has been systematically cut back over the past few decades and public spaces are more and more commercialised and monitored, the VOLKSBAD is the first urban initiative under the new direction of the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, and a summer invitation to the people in the capital.
Opening Hours and Ticket Information
Tuesday to Saturday (except Thursday): 12:00 – 20:00
Thursday: 13:00 – 21:00
Monday, Sunday and holidays: day off
You can book a free time-slot ticket to access VOLKSBAD. These are released at 14:00, three days before the relevant swimming day. You’re welcome to drop by spontaneously during our opening hours. Short waiting times may occur if we reach capacity.
Programme Preview
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Volksbad open training: Front Crawl Technique x Synchronised Swimming
For everyone who can already do front crawl and is longing to cross the 25-metre lane at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz with even more confidence, Ina from Regenbogenforellen and Elisa from Vorspiel e. V. invite you to a session where we stretch the disciplines—alongside precise technique input, there'll also be the odd bit of synchronised swimming thrown in. -
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Team VOLKSBAD
Technical Production Management
Dario Brinkmann
Florian Schneider
Programme
Friederike Kötter
Anna Yeboah
Architecture and Design
Simeon Melchior
Fries at VOLKSBAD
Jost Wiegand
With special thanks to
the VOLKSBAD build team, the stage technicians, the building services team, the electrical engineering team, IT, the box office, reception, the housekeeping team, and the Volksbühne’s evening duty staff, our lifeguards and the Flash Security team, as well as everyone who makes this project possible.
VOLKSBAD Open Training
Concept and realization: Elisa Calosi with Ina Blankers, Japhet Johnstone, Thomas D. In collaboration with the Berliner Regenbogenforellen swimming club, Vorspiel – Queer Sports Club Berlin e.V., SEITENWECHSEL e.V. and others.
Safety Concept and Technical Planning Support
Anke Ulbrich, plan + stage (event production agency)
Awareness and Security
Flash Security
Health and Safety
Fredi Simon, Danny de Heij (Asuk GmbH)
Communication Design
HIT
Accessibility Consulting
Berlinklusion e. V.
Artistic Director Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Matthias Lilienthal
Dramaturgy Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Anna Yeboah
Commercial Direction Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Franziska Nordin
Norbert Hentschel
Deputy Technical Director Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Jan Zanetti
Communications, Press and Media Relations Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz
Vanessa Schaefer
Thanks to
Bezirksamt Mitte von Berlin, Berliner Festspiele, Carolina Brinkmann, Elisa Calosi, Helena Eckert, Marlene Engel, Each One Teach One EOTO e. V., GoPool, Florentina Holzinger, Flussbad e. V., IngGeo Baugrund Ingenieurbüro, Tarun Kade, Nikola Knežević, KWS for water treatment and testing, Ann-Sophie Reiser, Esra Sarioglu, Hannah Wahmes, Robert von Baudienstleistungen-Herbst and many others.
VOLKSBAD Open Training is supported by Speedo.