Overview

• Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed the Senate will provide no subsidies for the traditional Silvester party at the Brandenburger Tor from 2025 onward due to budget constraints.
• Berlin feiert Silvester (BfS) GmbH announced it cannot proceed without state funding and has formally halted planning for this year’s event.
• ZDF, which has televised the celebration live for years, said it will develop alternative New Year’s Eve programming to fill the void.
• SPD Innensenatorin Iris Spranger urged a reconsideration of the cancellation and warned that an unorganized gathering may require additional fireworks ban zones.
• The AfD criticized the decision as short-sighted, arguing that ending support will weaken Berlin’s tourism appeal and international image.