Sommer auf der Insel 2026: More than 2,000 guests in the ESMT garden

The festival ran from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. under a warm, sunny sky, with free admission and no registration. ESMT Berlin hosted the day in close collaboration with the Interessengemeinschaft Spreeinsel, the group of cultural, educational, and civic institutions that share this stretch of the historic island.

The program

Students of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin opened the stage with a harp performance, after which Mitte district mayor Stefanie Remlinger welcomed guests and introduced the partners. The early afternoon included a full children's program featuring a magic show, a bubble show, and a scene from Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel" performed by Eisler students.

One of the afternoon's highlights came at 4:00 p.m., when ESMT Berlin's own Connected Choir took the main stage, bringing singers from across the school community out in front of neighbors and guests. The rest of the later program leaned on live music: a saxophone set from the Eisler, blues, funk, and soul from Happy Dog Brown, and a closing set from students of the Jazz Institut Berlin.

A tombola drawing handed out prizes during the afternoon, and PETRI Berlin led guided walks along its archaeological path across the historic Spree island.

Younger guests had their own activities and sports offerings, with space to play on the lawn. Food trucks and stands offered grilled dishes, vegan and vegetarian options, drinks, and ice cream.

"We want ESMT Berlin to be an active part of the neighborhood, where students, residents, cultural institutions, and visitors can come together, connect, and experience this unique place in the heart of Mitte. We're happy that so many partner institutions have co-organized this event for the second year running, and we're hopeful this will become an annual tradition."

— Martha Ihlbrock, Director of Corporate Communications, ESMT Berlin

More than a summer party

The festival is part of a longer effort by the institutions of the Spreeinsel to promote this part of Berlin's center to the public and to bring residents into the conversation about its future. For one afternoon, a garden that was closed to the public for much of its history becomes a shared space where neighbors, students, and the institutions working on the area's development meet face to face. That mix of culture, exchange, and easy access in the heart of Berlin is what the day is built around.

Thank you to our partners

"Sommer auf der Insel" is a shared effort, and we want to thank the institutions that planned and ran the day with us:

• Bertelsmann Stiftung
• Bundesstiftung Bauakademie
• Flussbad Berlin
• Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin
• Humboldt Forum
• PETRI Berlin
• WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte

Thanks also to Füchse Berlin Reinickendorf e. V. for the sports activities, to Lebenswelten Catering for the food, and to the performers, volunteers, and staff who made the day run.

Next year

This was the second year the garden opened for the festival, and the turnout made a strong case for keeping it going. We plan to hold "Sommer auf der Insel" again in 2027 and hope to see you there.

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