Techno DJs to perform at Berlin underground stations

Techno DJs in Berlin may find their next headline slot in the city’s U-Bahn train stations. In a fight to beat rising levels of crime and violence, public transport company BVG have set up a new scheme.

The city is looking to introduce “the lively and vibrant Berlin into the station,” according to Tagesspiegel. Though Berlin is notorious for its expansive techno scene, the scheme is also said to consider jazz artists for lines U1 and U3. Ideally, selected jazz artists must have a connection with the area around Kottbusser Tor, or hail from the “vibrant” Berlin scene.

Though currently no set timing has been announced for the scheme, the wider initiative was tested between February 2024 and March 2025. It introduced a cleaning team, focused on increased cleanliness and tighter security at key stations.

As the first phase has been successful, BVG is expected to introduce further enhancements to transportation services soon. The first line to reap the benefits of this scheme would be the Kottbusser Tor, a platform on the U8 line located in central Kreuzberg.

The BVG have reported that they may also introduce art installations alongside the new music offering. Local artists would be encouraged to put their work forward. Light installations are also being considered, though no further details are available just yet.

Last year, Berlin techno was awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) status following a campaign that lasted over a decade.

In another part of Germany, the annual electronic music festival Techno Train Nürnberg sees electronic fans boarding a train fully-equipped with high-end sound systems. The non-stop seven hour journey starts in Nuremberg and finishes in Munich. It exemplifies the importance of the infamous underground transportation and the techno scene to German arts and culture.