The Beatles are among the most successful bands of all time and sparked a worldwide wave of enthusiasm in the 1960s. Berlin, too, was swept up in Beatlemania—but even though the Fab Four had actually planned to perform in the city in 1966, a concert never took place. Ironically, the Rolling Stones, two figure skating stars, and Winnetou played a decisive role in this.
Even 60 years later, enthusiasm for their music remains undiminished. At the candlelight tribute to the Beatles at Berlin’s Meistersaal, you can experience their legendary songs today in a whole new light. But why did the capital city actually come away empty-handed during that German tour?
14 November 2026 18:15 + more dates
Meistersaal
Rolling Stones chaos, figure skating, and Winnetou: How the Beatles’ concert in Berlin fell through
For the summer of 1966, the youth magazine *Bravo* organized a major German tour featuring the Beatles. Between June 24 and 26, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were scheduled to perform in three German cities. Berlin was initially considered a promising candidate alongside Hamburg, but the search for a suitable venue proved more difficult than expected.
The Waldbühne was ruled out after serious riots broke out during a Rolling Stones concert in September 1965. The Sportpalast had already been reserved for a farewell ice skating gala featuring Marika Kilius and Hans-Jürgen Bäumler. And at the Deutschlandhalle, the schedule included, among other things, a fraternity gathering and a Winnetou show. In addition, those in charge apparently feared further riots.
In the end, the Beatles performed in Munich, Essen, and Hamburg instead. Disappointed Berlin fans had to travel to another city to see their idols live. As a band, the Beatles thus never actually performed together on a Berlin stage.
From the missed Beatlemania to the atmospheric Beatles tribute at the Meistersaal
Even though Berlin had to do without a Beatles concert back then, their timeless songs continue to thrill music fans around the world to this day. On November 14 and December 6, at “Candlelight: Tribute to the Beatles” in Berlin’s historic Meistersaal, you can rediscover classics like “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” and “Here Comes the Sun” in a classical arrangement. A string quartet performs the legendary melodies surrounded by countless candles, bringing the music of the Fab Four back to life in a truly special way.
14 November 2026 18:15 + more dates
Meistersaal
