In 2026, the Liebermann Villa on Lake Wannsee will celebrate a special anniversary: it was 20 years ago that the museum first opened its doors. Once the summer residence of the renowned painter Max Liebermann and his family, the villa has, over the past two decades, evolved into a vibrant place of art, culture, history, and remembrance.

Max Liebermann (1847–1935) built the villa in 1909 as a retreat from city life for his family. The garden he designed became a major source of inspiration for many of his later works. After a turbulent history—beginning with its forced sale in 1940 and followed by a variety of uses throughout the 20th century—the house was reopened as a museum in 2006 thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Max Liebermann Society Berlin e.V. Today, the Liebermann-Villa welcomes over 70,000 visitors each year. In addition to its exhibitions, the museum invites visitors to actively engage with art, gardens, and history through a wide range of guided tours, workshops, events, and educational programmes.

To mark its 20th anniversary, the Liebermann Villa will host a series of special events, including thematic guided tours, discussion formats, and summer concerts. Further details about the anniversary programme will be announced shortly in our events calendar.

Thirty years ago, a group of creative and dedicated art enthusiasts came together. They began a remarkable success story by founding the Max Liebermann Society on March 16, 1995.

The founding members envisioned restoring the building and garden—which at the time were being used as a diving club—to their former purpose: a place for art and recreation. Without this civic commitment and the support of countless volunteers, the Liebermann Villa on Lake Wannsee would not be what it is today.

Between 2019 and 2024, the Liebermann Villa on Lake Wannsee launched the fundraising campaign “Garden. Donation. Future.” The goal of this ambitious project was to secure the future of the heritage-protected garden and implement sustainable measures to address climate change in Berlin.

Thanks to the generous support of donors and sponsors, numerous important improvements were made to Liebermann’s garden, including the modernization of the irrigation system, replacement of the box trees, maintenance of the rose garden, and a comprehensive renovation of the flower beds and pathways.