Things to Do in Berlin: Berlinale, Candlelight Strings, and Circus Thrills

Welcome to Things to Do in Berlin, listeners! I'm Oly Bennet, your globe-trotting sports nut turned city explorer, ready to turbo-charge your day in this buzzing beast of a metropolis. Today, Thursday, February 12, 2026, Berlin's vibe is electric with overcast skies at a comfy 8°C and a gentle 10 km/h breeze—perfect for ducking into warm, wild venues without breaking a sweat, according to Weather Avenue forecasts.

Kick off with the 76th Berlinale Film Festival exploding at Potsdamer Platz, where Reuters reports the opening gala features Shahrbanoo Sadat's No Good Men, plus Michelle Yeoh snagging an Honorary Golden Bear—cinema lovers, this is your red-carpet frenzy! For music magic, catch Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings at Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche, as listed on MyGuideBerlin, with string quartets turning Regency hits into goosebump gold. Comedy fans, hustle to Expats in Berlin English Comedy Show at Z-Bar, Berlin.de tickets say it's a riot of global laughs starting at 19:40. Families, prep for tomorrow's Familienkarneval at Loci Loft, but today, dive into Berlin.de's Darragh McLoughlin circus double-bill of Stickman and The Fulfillment for acrobatic thrills. Night owls, Gretchen Club teases ambient vibes from The Bug's Pressure Weekender, but snag David Byrne's Who is the Sky Tour tonight per MyGuideBerlin.

Local buzz: The Berlinale floods theaters citywide through February 22, boosting transit—check BVG for extra U-Bahn runs near Potsdamer Platz. No major restaurant scoops, but festival pop-ups mean street food upgrades everywhere.

Must-dos today: Stroll Brandenburg Gate for that iconic snap, then hidden gem it to Humboldt Forum's Durchlüften festival open-air gigs for free global beats. Chase seasonal chills with a glühwein at a Christmas market holdover if lingering, or hit East Side Gallery for graffiti history with a twist.

Local tip: Berliners beat lines with the Jahreskarte transit pass—grab one at any station for unlimited rides, and pronounce "Fahrkarte" like a pro to blend in.

Tomorrow? Berlinale heats up with more premieres, plus Skinshape at Metropol and comedy boats on the Spree—tune in for the scoop!

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