PERFORM! 2026

September 9–13, 2026

On the occasion of Berlin Art Week, the American Academy in Berlin is proud to partner with the Neue Nationalgalerie to present the fifth edition of its performance art festival PERFORM! At the heart of this year’s programme is Trisha Brown’s Walking on the Wall (1971), a seminal work of the American Judson Dance movement, presented on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. Further performances by Kianí Del Valle, Josh Johnson, Miriam Kongstad, and Deva Schubert offer a range of perspectives on contemporary approaches to performance.

As is tradition, the programme of PERFORM! takes a historically groundbreaking performance as its point of departure. Trisha Brown’s Walking on the Wall (1971) has been further developed in close collaboration with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and will be presented on the exterior glass façade of the Neue Nationalgalerie. From 9 to 12 September 2026, the work will be performed once daily at 5 pm on the terrace of the Neue Nationalgalerie. On Sunday, 13 September 2026, performances will take place at 2 pm and 6:30 pm.

With INSTRUCCIONES PARA EXISTIR (INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXISTING), presented on 9 and 13 September 2026, Berlin-based artist Kianí Del Valle and the KDV Performance Group present a work developed specifically for the Neue Nationalgalerie. In her practice, Del Valle combines dance with stunt elements, placing the body in direct relation to the surrounding architecture. INSTRUCCIONES PARA EXISTIR responds to Mies van der Rohe’s iconic building while also offering a contemporary homage to Trisha Brown’s pioneering practice.

On Sunday, 13 September 2026, performances by Josh Johnson, Miriam Kongstad, and Deva Schubert will complement the festival programme.

All performances of the PERFORM! festival take place in areas of the museum that are also accessible without a ticket. In the event of limited capacity, admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

PERFORM! is curated by Klaus Biesenbach, Director of the Neue Nationalgalerie, together with Lisa Botti, Curator at Neue Nationalgalerie, and Gregor Quack, Volkswagen Group Curator.