This year, the Long Night of Museums on 30 August will be held under the motto ‘Love’. The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin will also make hearts beat faster – with a programme that combines diversity, research and emotion. With the audio guide ‘Queering Nature’, visitors can view the annual theme from a variety of perspectives.
The detailed museum programme is available in the event calendar on the museum's website.
Between knowledge and emotion: Here are some highlights of the Long Night of Museums at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.
Guided tours
Registration for the guided tours takes place 30 minutes before the start at the information desk in the Dinosaur Hall.
Special exhibition ‘ZUGvögel’
They sing, dance and shine to impress: in our guided tour of the special exhibition ‘ZUGvögel’, we show what bird specimens reveal about the diversity of nature and the language of love – even if they are many decades old.
Arachnid collection
When you see your loved one through eight eyes and don't know which image to trust... In this guided tour, myths about the realm of spiders meet surprising scientific findings.
Palaeozoological collections
Love letters from prehistoric times? A guided tour of valuable fossils, lovingly cared for by the museum in order to continually gain new insights from them. Because every object tells a story!
Further highlights
Insect love under the scanner
In the world of insects, the genitals play a major role, for example in the description of new species. Researchers at the museum show how tiny structures are made visible and scientifically documented using 3D technology.
Attention to detail: Blaschka glass models
The delicate glass models by the Blaschkas have fascinated people since the 19th century – and are currently undergoing extensive restoration. Glass restorer Bettina K. Schneider provides insights into her work and the challenges of preserving these fragile works of art.
Gut zu Vögeln: Between turtledoves and starlings
Personal anecdotes from the duo behind the podcast ‘Gut zu Vögeln’ meet species science – a humorous flight through the (love) life of birds.
Queering Nature
The museum's ‘Queering Nature’ tour and audio guide invite visitors to reflect on common ideas about gender, sexuality and reproduction in nature. During the Long Night, visitors of all ages will discuss the diversity of nature and put their own personal ideas about animals and plants on paper. The ‘Queering Nature’ audio guide is available on the website of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin.
Admission: One ticket for all 75 museums – available online or on site.
Opening hours: 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (The museum is normally open until 6 p.m.).
Tickets: discounted tickets available until 17 August for €15/reduced €12