Imagine arriving at the most famous museum in Berlin only to find the doors locked and construction cranes towering over the entrance. This is the reality for millions of tourists visiting Museum Island in 2026. But don't cancel your plans just yet. While the main historic halls are off-limits, Berlin has created a brilliant solution that keeps the spirit of the ancient city alive.

We are going to walk you through exactly why the museum is closed, what you can actually see right now, and how the Das Panorama exhibition might even offer a better perspective on history than the traditional static displays.

Important Update: The main building of the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island is completely closed for major renovations until at least 2027. You cannot enter the historic building to see the Ishtar Gate or the Pergamon Altar in their original spots. However, the temporary exhibition Pergamonmuseum: Das Panorama is open nearby and offers a fantastic alternative experience.

Why is the Pergamon Museum Closed?

You might wonder why Germany's most popular museum would shut its doors for such a long time. The answer lies in the ground beneath your feet. The museum was built on soft riverbed soil in the early 20th century, and after decades of war damage and simple aging, the building became unstable. The foundation needs securing, and the technology inside requires a complete overhaul to protect the artifacts for the next century.

This isn't just a quick paint job. It is a massive reconstruction project known as the Master Plan Museum Island.

  • North Wing (Pergamon Altar): Expected to reopen in 2027.
  • South Wing (Ishtar Gate & Market Gate): The full renovation will likely last until 2037.

So for now, we shift our focus to the temporary but impressive replacement located just across the street.

The Alternative: Visiting Pergamonmuseum: Das Panorama

Since you cannot walk up the marble steps of the original altar, the museum curators teamed up with artist Yadegar Asisi to create something visually stunning. Das Panorama is a cylindrical building that houses a 360-degree immersive painting of the ancient city of Pergamon in the year 129 AD.

When you step onto the viewing platform in the center of the room, you are not looking at a flat image. You feel like you are standing in the middle of the bustling ancient metropolis. The lighting effects change from sunrise to sunset, and you hear the background noise of a busy Roman city. It gives you a sense of scale and life that the old museum sometimes lacked.

Interior of the Das Panorama exhibition showing the immersive 360-degree painting of ancient Pergamon
Inside the rotunda, Yadegar Asisi's masterpiece brings the ancient city to life in 360 degrees.

Real Artifacts Inside the Panorama

It is not just a digital show. They moved several important original sculptures from the main museum to this location to complement the visual experience.

  • The Telephos Frieze: You can see large sections of this masterpiece up close.
  • Statues from the Altar: Several original figures from the roof of the Pergamon Altar are on display here.
  • 3D Modelling: A digital installation shows you exactly how the Pergamon Altar looks and how it was constructed.

What Happened to the Famous Artifacts?

This is the most common question we hear. If the building is closed, where are the giant structures?

The Pergamon Altar: The altar itself remains in the main building. It is too large to move, so engineers built a protective cage around it. It sits there in the dark, waiting for the North Wing to reopen in 2027. Until then, the Panorama is your only way to experience it.

The famous Pergamon Altar with its grand marble staircase in the original museum hall
The iconic Altar is currently sealed behind a protective cage within the closed North Wing.

The Ishtar Gate and Processional Way: These massive blue-tiled Babylonian structures also remain inside the closed South Wing. They are wrapped up and protected from the construction dust. Unlike the Altar, you won't see these again until the 2030s.

The vibrant blue Ishtar Gate of Babylon featuring dragon and aurochs reliefs
The magnificent Ishtar Gate remains wrapped and protected inside the South Wing until the 2030s.

The Market Gate of Miletus: This Roman structure is also under scaffolding inside the closed museum. It requires significant restoration itself, as the iron supports from the 1920s are corroding.

Entrance Fee & Tickets: 2026 Prices

Even though it is a temporary exhibition, Das Panorama is a fully operational museum experience. We highly recommend buying your tickets online in advance, as the space inside is smaller than the old museum and fills up quickly during peak tourist seasons.

  • Regular Ticket: 14 Euro
  • Reduced Ticket: 7 Euro
  • Free Entry: Children under 18 years usually enter for free (check the specific terms on booking).

If you plan to visit other spots like the Neues Museum or Alte Nationalgalerie, look into the Museum Island Pass. It often includes the Panorama and saves you money if you visit more than two museums in a day.

How to Get There?

The Panorama is not in the main complex but directly opposite the Bode Museum, across the river. It is very easy to find if you know where to look.

  • Address: Am Kupfergraben 2, 10117 Berlin.
  • By U-Bahn: Take the U5 line to the Museumsinsel stop. From there, you walk about 5 minutes.
  • By Tram: Lines M1 and 12 stop at Am Kupfergraben, which is practically right in front of the entrance.

You cross the bridge from the main Museum Island, and you will spot the modern, cylindrical rotunda building immediately.

3 Best Alternatives on Museum Island

Since the Ishtar Gate is off the table, you should definitely use your time to explore the other world-class museums just a few steps away. These remain open and are incredible.

1. Neues Museum (The New Museum): This is the home of the famous Bust of Nefertiti. The building itself is a masterpiece of architecture, blending war ruins with modern design. It houses the Egyptian collection and Prehistory artifacts.

Interior architecture of the Neues Museum Berlin showing the grand staircase
The nearby Neues Museum remains open and is an architectural masterpiece itself.

2. Altes Museum (The Old Museum): If you love Greek and Roman statues, this is your place. You walk into a giant rotunda inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. It holds a vast collection of classical antiquities that rivals what you would see in the Pergamon.

3. The Bode Museum: Located at the tip of the island, this museum specializes in Byzantine art and sculpture. The coin collection here is world-famous, but the real highlight is the stunning architecture and the view over the River Spree.

Exterior view of the Bode Museum with its iconic dome overlooking the River Spree
The Bode Museum offers stunning Byzantine art and beautiful views over the Spree.

Berlin changes constantly, and while the closure of the Pergamon is a loss, the Panorama and the neighboring museums ensure your trip to Museum Island in 2026 is still unforgettable.