Berlin's Brandenburg Gate lights up for humanity—not politics or victory

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is lit up around 150 days each year, often displaying national flags for humanitarian reasons. These illuminations honour victims of disasters or attacks. The projections are managed by Torleuchten GmbH, a company fully owned by the state of Berlin. Reinhold Mayer, a trained signalling technician, oversees the lighting as chief technician. Despite his role, he has no interest in football. This is notable because company rules require the Gate to show the flags of countries eliminated from the World Cup starting from the round of sixteen.

Advertising is generally prohibited on the landmark, but sponsorship is permitted. Party advertising and election campaigning are strictly banned. Additionally, the Gate is never used to project images of victors in armed conflicts.

The guidelines for political use of the Brandenburg Gate may change after Germany’s next federal election. Torleuchten GmbH rents the projection space from Berlin and follows strict rules. The illuminations serve specific purposes, from humanitarian tributes to sporting events. Future political use will depend on new regulations after the election.