History, philosophy, and radical art.
Discover carefully curated public lectures, author talks, debates and intellectual events in Berlin, Germany — selected by The Mindful City editorial team.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Mary Beard · Deutsches Historisches Museum · August 18, 2026
Classicist Mary Beard examines how ancient Roman history has been used and misused in modern political discourse. Her lecture links scholarship with public history and museum pract…
Achille Mbembe · Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) · August 18, 2026
Public intellectual Achille Mbembe discusses decolonial approaches to museum collections and public memory in Europe and Africa. The talk will include reflections on recent restitu…
Timothy Snyder · Deutsches Historisches Museum · August 18, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder examines the historical patterns that make democracies vulnerable and what citizens can do to defend them. The talk places current European challenges in a…
Zadie Smith · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 18, 2026
Award-winning novelist Zadie Smith reads from her newest work and discusses themes of identity, migration, and urban life. The reading will be followed by a moderated conversation …
Juli Zeh · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 18, 2026
Juli Zeh reads from her latest novel and discusses the ethical dimensions of technology in contemporary fiction. The evening includes a moderated Q&A and a book signing after the r…
Mariana Mazzucato · Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) · August 19, 2026
Economist Mariana Mazzucato outlines how mission-oriented innovation strategies can address climate and social crises. The talk will be followed by a policy-focused panel with Euro…
Anne Applebaum · Deutsches Historisches Museum · August 19, 2026
Historian Anne Applebaum explores the long-term consequences of 20th-century imperial politics on contemporary Europe. The lecture connects archival history with present-day politi…
Paul Mason · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 19, 2026
Paul Mason assesses how automation, platform economies, and political mobilization are reshaping the future of work and redistribution. He argues for policy frameworks that can med…
Carlo Rovelli · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 20, 2026
Physicist Carlo Rovelli discusses the philosophical implications of modern physics and how scientific ideas intersect with humanistic inquiry. The lecture will be accessible to a g…
Zadie Smith · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 20, 2026
Zadie Smith reads from her forthcoming novel and discusses the role of imagination in contemporary society. The event concludes with a moderated Q&A and book signing.
Margaret Atwood · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 20, 2026
Margaret Atwood presents a conversation about how digital platforms and climate anxieties are reshaping narrative form and the role of the novelist. She will read an excerpt from r…
Glenn Greenwald · Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) · August 20, 2026
Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald discusses the challenges reporters face in the age of state surveillance and corporate data collection. He will explore legal protections f…
Daniel Kehlmann · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 20, 2026
Daniel Kehlmann reads from his latest novel and discusses urban life and narrative form in contemporary German literature. The evening includes a short Q&A and book signing opportu…
Naomi Klein · Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) · August 20, 2026
Naomi Klein discusses the intersections of global capitalism and climate policy with a focus on cultural movements pressing for systemic change. The talk will include a short Q&A a…
Rebecca Solnit · Literaturhaus Berlin · August 20, 2026
Rebecca Solnit presents a reading from her recent essays and discusses place, memory, and environmental activism. The evening will include a short Q&A with the audience on writing …
Esther Duflo · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 20, 2026
Nobel laureate Esther Duflo outlines recent evidence on poverty interventions and the role of randomized trials. The lecture is open to the public and will be followed by a short d…
Esther Duflo · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 20, 2026
Nobel laureate Esther Duflo presents new evidence on effective anti-poverty interventions and discusses implications for global policy. The presentation will be followed by a short…
Timothy Snyder · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 20, 2026
Historian Timothy Snyder examines how modern disinformation reshapes collective memory and democratic resilience. The lecture will include a Q&A on practical strategies for histori…
Saskia Sassen · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 20, 2026
Saskia Sassen explores the shifting political economies of global cities and the social consequences of uneven urban development. The lecture will be followed by a short Q&A and a …
Yuval Noah Harari · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · August 21, 2026
Harari explores the implications of AI and biotechnology for employment, politics, and human identity in a public lecture for the Humboldt community. The talk will be followed by a…