Berlin listening bar kwia announces expected closure in 2026, citing “rising rent”

Beloved Berlin ambient listening bar kwia has announced that it expects to close in 2026 due to “rising rent” prices, some five years after it first opened.

In a statement shared on Instagram yesterday (August 20), owners explained: “With a heavy but honest heart, we share that in 2026, kwia’s home on Maybachufer will most likely close its doors.”

They added in a press release that rising rent has made it “unsustainable” to continue while “staying true to our values and ensuring accessibility”, and now anticipate their closure next year.

“This doesn’t mean the story ends – only that this chapter is closing,” they said. “As we continue the search for a new home, our little nook on Maybachufer 16 will remain a shared memory.”

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Alongside the announcement of their closure, kwia revealed the release of their first compilation – a “love letter” to the listening space and community venue, with contributions from mobilegirl, Nick León, River Moon, GIL, Ben Bondy, and Kkoki Emil Mathis.

Speaking to Mixmag on the compilation release, founders Arnold and Barbara explained: “kwia taught us that softness can be radical. This release is a tribute to that.”

“It is a collective offering from artists who have given their sound, trust, and devotion to this space over the years. Their tracks carry the frequencies that have defined kwia, shaped its atmosphere, and pushed its spirit forward.”

kwia will also introduce a brand new, 3D-printed, custom-built soundsystem ahead of its expected 2026 closure, created by Dutch audio specialists Addit Audio.

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Described by its team as “Berlin’s beloved living room”, kwia first opened its doors in Kreuzberg in 2021 with a focus on ambient music, following the tradition of Japanese jazz kissas.

Artists including Call Super, Kim Ann Foxman, and River Moon shared their sadness about kwia's closure under the statement. River Moon wrote: “When I first moved to Berlin, kwia was the one refuge within the noise where I could just sit down and listen and enjoy the music and company - an antidote to the chaos.”

kwia’s debut compilation will land tomorrow, August 22, both digitally and as a limited CD release. Check out the tracklist below, and read their full statement.

kwia001 V/A tracklist:

GIL – EchoZone 2
River Moon – I can be anything I want when no one is watching
mobilegirl – Angel’s drums
Nick León – Dirty South
Ben Bondy – Guitar
Kkoki Mathis Emil – Go Back
hey arnold – i want ben bondy & dogs

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter