At the end of 2025, SchwuZ, Germany's oldest LGBT+ club with 48 years of history, closed its doors during a final event titled «Last Cheers, Queers». This shutdown is the latest in the «Clubsterben» or «death of clubs» trend affecting Berlin for years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. The city, which rose as Europe's party capital after the fall of the Berlin Wall, now grapples with declining attendance and soaring real estate prices.
Berlin, a symbol of nightlife since German reunification, is enduring a dark period for its iconic clubs. SchwuZ, established 48 years ago, bid farewell with an invitation to «one last dance» in December 2025. Katja Jäger, who managed the venue since January, laments: «The death of clubs is underway».
This is far from an isolated incident. Other legendary spots have shuttered in recent years: Cookies, King Kong Klub, Naherholung Sternchen, Rosi’s, Griessmuehle, Mensch Meier, Re:mise, and Watergate. The Covid-19 pandemic hastened the decline by sharply reducing attendance. Compounding this is escalating real estate pressure, with rents becoming unaffordable amid the city's gentrification.
Following the Berlin Wall's fall in 1989, the city emerged as the global hub for techno and nightlife, drawing crowds worldwide. Today, this cultural heritage hangs in the balance, endangering Berlin's festive identity.
