On 19 and 20 October 2017, 400 participants from more than 60 nations as well as 25 speakers discussed issues in the areas of work, governance, social justice, cultural identity and urbanisation. About 500 international guests as well as Berliners came to the Schiller Theatre for the Q Marathon, the grand finale of the conference.

„Q Berlin Questions has used Berlin for what it is. An ideal platform for a tolerant discourse about relevant topics. The conference should provide orientation to the guests,“ said Burkhard Kieker, Managing Director of visitBerlin. „Strategic thinkers, policy-makers, scientists and artists have inspired with their contributions and discussed central issues of the present day.“

As a supplement to the conference program, the participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the life of Berlin: they met over dinner at 22 private locations of Berlin personalities from society, business and science. Furthermore, on eleven excursions to the neighbourhood of the city, participants were connected thematically to Berlin questions. The gallery scene at Potsdamer Straße, Berlin’s new centre around the Humboldt Forum as well as the former Lichtenberg industrial and commercial area, which today houses the largest Asian market in Europe, the Dong Xuan Centre, were all visited among other locations. The recycling of the future was presented at Berliner Stadtreinigung BSR – Berlin City Cleaning.

The conference ended with a large, public talk festival, opened by „BÄM – Berliner Äcademy for Marching Drums“, a music project by German hip-hop musician, Peter Fox. In addition to international speakers this Q Marathon was presented by Berliners. Also spontaneous speakers presented their topics and ideas in four minutes.