Berlin — The Association of Tibetans in Germany and the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), as part of a joint initiative with the Tibet Office in Geneva, took part for the first time in the famous Berlin Carnival Festival. The Tibetan culture has achieved a remarkable success by winning the overall winner award for their outstanding cultural performances.
The Association of Tibetans in Germany and the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), as part of a joint initiative with the Tibet Office in Geneva, took part for the first time in the famous Berlin Carnival Festival, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary on May 24, 2026. The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) proudly showcased the strength, beauty and authenticity of Tibetan culture to hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over the world.
According to the Office of Tibet, Geneva, 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".
During the festival, Tibetan artists performed traditional dances such as the stomping Drodung dance, the acrobatic Relpa drum dance, and the Yak dance. They also sang folk songs and presented traditional costumes from the three provinces of Tibet. These centuries-old artistic traditions reflect the richness and uniqueness of Tibetan civilisation, earning the performances admiration and emotional support from international audiences. Many spectators described the performances as both culturally inspiring and politically significant.
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.
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 Office of Tibet, Geneva stated.
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.
The organiser said, "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," they added.
"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," the office of Tibet said.
