Berlin, 24 May 2026: In a historic and powerful presentation of Tibetan identity, the Association of Tibetan in Germany and Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), through a joint initiative of the Tibet Bureau Geneva, participated for the first time in the internationally renowned 30th Anniversary Carnival Festival in Berlin. Tibetan Institution of Performing Arts (TIPA) proudly demonstrated the enduring strength, beauty, and authenticity of Tibetan culture before hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world.

TIPA’s participation carried significance far beyond cultural performance. At a time when the Chinese government continues to impose severe restrictions on Tibetan religion, language, culture, and identity, the performances stood as a clear declaration that Tibetan culture remains alive, resilient, and inseparable from the Tibetan people. The event became a powerful response to ongoing efforts by Beijing to distort Tibetan history and portray Tibetan culture as merely a subset of Chinese culture.

During the festival, Tibetan artists performed traditional stomping dance (Drodung), acrobatic drum dance (Relpa), Yak dances, folk songs, and presentations of traditional costumes from the three provinces of Tibet. These centuries-old artistic traditions reflected the richness and uniqueness of Tibetan civilisation, earning admiration and emotional support from international audiences. Many spectators described the performances as both culturally inspiring and politically meaningful.

As one of Europe’s largest multicultural festivals, the four-day event featured more than 4,000 performers from over 70 international groups and attracted more than 770,000 visitors. On this global platform, Tibetans delivered a firm and dignified message: Tibetan culture cannot be erased, rewritten, or appropriated.

Organisers stressed that Tibetan performance was a sacred expression of a nation’s history, spirituality, and identity. They expressed concern that the Chinese government continues to use cultural performances as political tools while simultaneously restricting authentic Tibetan cultural and religious expression inside Tibet. In contrast, the Tibetan cultural performance in Berlin represented the genuine voices of the Tibetan people and their determination to preserve their heritage for future generations.

The Tibet Bureau Geneva stated that bringing TIPA to Europe is part of a broader effort to introduce the world to the profound depth and distinct identity of Tibetan civilisation. The Bureau further emphasised that Tibetan culture belongs solely to the Tibetan people and must not be manipulated or politicised by any government.

We also called upon the international community to stand in solidarity with Tibetans in protecting authentic Tibetan language, religion, traditions, and performing arts. They stressed that safeguarding Tibetan culture is not only a Tibetan issue but also a global responsibility tied to the protection of human dignity, cultural diversity, and fundamental human rights.

The Berlin Carnival Festival featured several prestigious award categories that celebrated creativity, cultural expression, and artistic performance. These categories included overall winner, Best Dress and costumes, Best Dance and music, Best theme and theme implementation, Best platform, Best 90 second performance, Children and Young stars. Each category recognised the outstanding talent, originality and dedication of performers from around the world. Among more than 4000 performers representing over 70 international groups, the Tibetan culture has achieved a remarkable success by winning the overall winner award for their outstanding cultural performances. Tibetan cultural performance stood out for its vibrant cultural presentation, artistic excellence, and strong connection to traditional Tibetan heritage. This achievement highlighted the groups talent and emphasised the importance of persevering and sharing cultural traditions through music and dance on an international stage. This year, we are celebrating a year-long commemoration honoring the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this spirit, the theme of this year’s Carnival Festival is  ´Year Compassion’, highlighting the values of kindness, peace, unity and compassion for all.

The Berlin Carnival of Cultures there fore became more than a celebration of diversity. It emerged as a peaceful yet powerful statement to the world and especially to China, that despite decades of suppression and political pressure, Tibetan culture remains vibrant, unbroken, and deeply rooted in the hearts of the Tibetan people. Through music, dance, and artistic expression, Tibetans demonstrated that their identity cannot be silenced and that the spirit of Tibet continues to endure with strength, pride, and unwavering resilience.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva