KBB House rules

Our aim is to make your stay as pleasant and safe as possible. We therefore ask you to comply with the following regulations in addition to the Terms and Conditions of Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin (KBB) GmbH at our venues – Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berliner Festspiele, Gropius Bau and Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin.

Smoking is generally prohibited at our venues. The same applies for e-cigarettes and vapes. The laws for non-smoker protection apply.

Eating and drinking are generally prohibited in our exhibition and event venues. In individual cases, the admission staff will communicate permission to eat and/or drink at points of entry. There are catering facilities at our venues and you are very welcome to visit these.

Persons who are visibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be refused admission, or they will be excluded from the event and will have to leave the event or exhibition venue.

Animals may not be brought into the event or exhibition venues unless the visitors can present verifiably medical grounds in written form.  

Children below the age of 12 may only visit exhibitions and events accompanied by adults. Teachers, group leaders and legal guardians are responsible for the appropriate behaviour of all children and young people in their charge.

On admission, bags, containers and clothing such as coats, jackets and capes may be checked for their content by the admission and supervising staff.

Prior to admission into our event venues, large bags and pieces of luggage must be left at the cloakroom. For security reasons, coats, jackets, capes as well as backpacks and large bags, camera cases, umbrellas etc. must be left at the cloakroom prior to admission into our exhibitions. Smaller bags (of approx. A4-size) may be taken into the exhibition halls. In case of doubt, the supervising staff’s decisions apply.

The use of inline skates, skateboards, balance bikes, scooters etc. is generally prohibited at our venues. Due to fire protection regulations, such items cannot be left at the cloakroom, especially in the case of e-scooters.

Lockers and cloakroom service are available free of charge. We reserve the right to compensation if a locker key is lost or a locker has to be opened in an emergency. We do not accept liability for valuables.

Out of consideration for your fellow visitors, we ask you to avoid making any noise and to refrain from conducting phone conversation in our exhibition halls. Mobile phones must be at least switched to silent mode before the event begins.

Prams and baby strollers may only be taken inside the exhibition halls if the set-up of the exhibition allows this and visitors can guarantee that they will use these vehicles exclusively to transport infants.

The following items are generally prohibited: gas spray bottles, substances that can corrode or dye, pressured containers for highly flammable or harmful gases. Off-the-shelf pocket lighters and hairsprays are exempted. Fireworks, rockets, Bengal lights, smoke-powder, flares and other pyrotechnical items, materials and substances that fall under the German narcotics laws as well as weapons for cutting, stabbing and striking are generally prohibited.

The admission and supervising staff may refuse admission to visitors who do not behave in an appropriate manner or if there is cause for assuming that they will disturb the performance or exhibition, or harass other visitors. This includes any physical, verbal or gestural form of discrimination or sexual harassment as well as the use, display or wearing of prohibited and punishable symbols, signs or slogans*.  Persons may be excluded from the event or expelled from the premises for these reasons. The instructions of the staff must be followed. There is no entitlement to a refund of the admission fee in such cases. 

Right to one’s own image: If film or photo images should be recorded for the purposes of news coverage or advertisement during events hosted by KBB, these recordings may not be hampered or impaired in any way. By entering the venue of assembly, those persons who may be recognised on film or photos agree to the use of these images for purposes of news coverage about this event or exhibition, and also agree that no claims against KBB can be made.

Taking photos or filming for commercial purposes is prohibited within the entire interior area of KBB as well as on the exterior premises. In order to prevent misunderstandings, we ask you to leave your camera equipment at the cloakroom or carry it in your small bag. Exceptions require a special permission in writing by the press office of the respective venue, which you must present to the supervising staff on request.

Rooms and buildings may be closed and evacuated for security reasons. All persons present inside the building and on the premises are required to follow the respective instructions immediately and to leave the building in case of an evacuation order.

Visitors are liable for all damage caused by their behavior. The obligation to reimburse costs also applies in the event of intentional or negligent triggering of alarm devices.

The regulations of the German Youth Protection Act apply.

* This sentence was clarified on 02.12.24. A forbidden symbol in Germany is, for example, the swastika.

We are looking forward to welcoming you and will be happy to assist you. If you would like to register wishes, suggestions or complaints, you will find the appropriate contact addresses on the websites of our respective venues.