Ready to enjoy summer in Berlin to the fullest? If you don’t want to leave the capital for a refreshing dip, you can look forward to a new highlight very soon. In addition to the opening of a rooftop venue with a rooftop pool and a floating bathtub on the Spree, another extraordinary project is causing a stir this summer: With the VOLKSBAD at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz , one of Berlin’s most unusual summer highlights is taking shape .
Right in front of the Volksbühne , a 25-meter-long outdoor pool will be set up for about eight weeks —right in the middle of a square normally filled with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. Instead of a theater set, you’ll find a public swimming lane with a sunbathing area, a French fry stand, and various relaxation areas. The project marks the start of the new artistic directorship at the Volksbühne and is intended to be an art installation, a public gathering place, and a venue for social interaction.
The temporary outdoor pool will be open from August 7 through October 1, 2026, and will remain in place for about eight weeks. The VOLKSBAD is located right in front of the Volksbühne on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin-Mitte. The address is Linienstraße 227, 10178 Berlin. At the heart of the project is a 25-meter-long swimming lane where visitors can swim laps for free. The experience is complemented by a sunbathing area, a French fry stand, and various events and social gatherings. The VOLKSBAD is designed not only to invite people to swim but also to serve as a place to relax, connect, and linger right in the heart of the city.
In addition , swimming lessons for children, special swimming days for various communities, and an accompanying program of discussions and cultural events are planned . The goal of the project is to transform Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz into an open meeting place for neighbors, theatergoers, and Berliners for a few weeks.
Admission to the VOLKSBAD is free, and no ID is required. To ensure that not too many people are on the premises at the same time, access is granted via free time-slot tickets, each valid for two hours. These can be booked online starting August 4 and become available three days in advance.
The VOLKSBAD is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Thursdays, the pool is open from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The VOLKSBAD is closed on Mondays, Sundays, and holidays.
