Lange Nacht der Museen in der Nikolaikirche

Under the theme “Crime in Berlin,” the museum offers a summery mix of culture, criminal cases, and music.

In Berlin’s oldest surviving church building, you’ll experience an atmospheric journey into Berlin’s past, blending sound, history, and crime.
 
Organist Jack Day will play famous melodies from film, television, and the underworld on the organ—from Hitchcock to *Tatort*. Guided tours on Berlin’s legal history explore the historic site of court proceedings and punishment. The “criminal case” of St. Nicholas Church pastor Paul Gerhardt recounts a bitter conflict between the church and state authorities.
 
A program full of suspense, dark tales, and evocative sounds in a historic setting—and an extraordinary journey through Berlin’s criminal and cultural past.

Hours: Open continuously from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.!

Tickets and prices: Tickets will be availableonline starting August 3, 2026.
August 3–16: Regular 15 euros | Reduced 12 euros | Children under 12 free
Starting August 17: Regular 23 euros | Reduced 17 euros | Children under 12 free

Program

6:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m. + 10:00 p.m. + midnight + 1:00 a.m.| 30 minutes | at the museum
Music
Crime! Organ Music from Film, Television, and Crime
Organist Jack Day invites you to an evening of organ music blending cinema, TV, and the underworld. He’ll play melodies that every crime drama fan likely associates with suspense and mystery—Kurt Weill’s “Mackie Messer,” Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” or the theme tunes from “Tatort” and “Polizeiruf 110.”
 
7:00 p.m. + 11:00 p.m. + 12:30 a.m. |30 minutes | at the city model
Short Tours
Between the Pillory and the Gallows
Where the Red City Hall stands today,the old Berlin City Hallonce stood, with the court arbour attached to it. Here, guilt or innocence was publicly debated; here, verdicts of life or death were handed down. Thieves were chained to the pillory and mocked; others were hanged. Art historian Claudia Wasow-Kania guides visitors through fascinating stories using the large-scale model of the medieval city.
Language: German
 
9:00 p.m.| 30 minutes | Meeting point: Ticket office
Short Tour
A Lutheran Against the State
In 1613, the Elector of Brandenburg converted from Lutheranism to Calvinism. This divided Berlin between the Calvinist court and a Lutheran population. His grandson and successor sought to impose Calvinism. When he promoted like-minded individuals to the highest offices, Lutheran preachers resisted, including Paul Gerhardt, pastor of St. Nicholas Church. Art historian Claudia Wasow-Kania recounts the Berlin church dispute, a religious “criminal case.”
Language: German

A collaboration with the Berlin Museums and Kulturprojekte Berlin