Brandenburg Gate to Miss Out on New Year's Eve Celebration, Says Organizer - No New Year's Eve celebration at Brandenburg Gate this year
In a surprising turn of events, the traditional New Year's Eve celebration at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate will not take place this year. The decision comes as a result of financial constraints, with the state withdrawing its support that previously amounted to several hundred thousand euros.
Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner, announced the withdrawal of state subsidies for the event, citing the need to prioritise public funds in these challenging economic times. In response, the managing director of Berlin Celebrates New Year's Eve (BfS) GmbH, Benedikt Alder, confirmed that there will not be an event similar to the ones held in the past decades at the Brandenburg Gate.
The Brandenburg Gate, a landmark in the centre of Berlin, has been the backdrop for this annual spectacle, attracting tens of thousands of people in person and millions more on TV screens. The event, which has been a fixed ritual for many, will now be missing from the city's New Year's Eve calendar.
Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner, who have been moderating the New Year's Eve party for many years, will also not be part of this year's celebrations. ZDF, which had been broadcasting the event live, is also making adjustments to its New Year's Eve programme. The broadcaster is working on alternative options for the evening, although the specifics have not been revealed yet.
The cancellation of the event is not the first time such a disruption has occurred. In 2020 and 2021, the event was either cancelled or significantly scaled back due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. For 2022-2023, it is likely that ongoing or recently lifted pandemic precautions or logistical reasons related to public safety played a role in the decision, although exact official reasons for any cancellation or alteration at that time are not available.
Discussions are underway regarding potential alternatives, such as a fireworks display at the Brandenburg Gate or a New Year's Eve party with a different financing or concept. The CDU politician has stated that it is not the task of taxpayers to co-finance such events, especially in times of a tense budget situation.
As the situation evolves, updates and official announcements from the local Berlin government or event organisers will provide definitive details about the future of Berlin's New Year's Eve celebrations. In the meantime, it seems that this year's celebrations may need to be marked in a different way.
The community policy, possibly including sponsorship or funding for cultural events, has possibly been affected by the state's decision to withdraw subsidies for the New Year's Eve celebration at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, raising questions about future financing for similar events. Additionally, the Entertainment landscape might experience changes as ZDF, a popular broadcaster, seeks alternative options for their New Year's Eve program, possibly involving movies-and-tv and social-media platforms to maintain viewer engagement.
