Highlights of the year Munich

January

until 28.01.2025
LUMAGICA Park of Lights Munich
LUMAGICA, the fairytale forest of lights, can still be admired this January:
Over 300 handmade, illuminated objects and installations await visitors on a 1.5-kilometer circular trail. Immerse yourself in abstract elements and interactive light installations that invite you to linger and join in. The theme of the horse takes center stage and is staged in a fascinating way.
Location: Cavalluna Park

07.01.2025-02.02.2025
Elisabeth - Musical at the Deutsches Theater
Following its acclaimed open-air production at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the musical about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth, better known as Sisi, is now coming to Germany - and to the stage of the Deutsches Theater. The musical by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay tells the story of Sisi's life: of her ascension to the throne as a 16-year-old fun-loving young woman, her suffering at the hands of the strict etiquette at court and finally of her attempts to break out of the gilded cage.

25.12.2024-06.04.2025
Circus Krone
Here we go again. From December 25, 2024 to April 6, 2025, circus air will once again be blowing in Munich's Circus Krone building. The traditional premiere is on Christmas Day with two performances at 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm. A completely new circus show with world-class attractions will be presented until the beginning of April. True to the motto “Freestyle”, you will experience artistic highlights and circus highlights with a spectacular BMX show. Celebrated world stars and award-winning newcomers, many magnificent animals and hilarious entertainers welcome you LIVE in the circus ring. But the focus is on the animals - horses, big cats and parrots - the true “stars of the ring”. Look forward to lots of laughter, amazement and pure thrills. In short - Krone also offers great circus in this program. A successful mixture of traditional and modern circus art, true to the Krone motto “Your favor - our pursuit”. Live entertainment for the whole family.
Venue: Zirkus-Krone-Straße/Marsstrasse 43, D-80335 Munich

February

08.02.2025
Carnival ball: Big Narrhalla ball “Soiree Münchner Leben”
Highlights of the soirée in the Deutsches Theater are the Prince Waltz by the carnival prince and princess of the state capital Munich, the dance performances by the Narrhalla Prinzengarde and the guard dance by the flag regiment. This year, the Karl Valentin Medal will be awarded to TV presenter and entertainer Günther Jauch. Friend and colleague Thomas Gottschalk will give the laudatory speech.

19.02.2025-23.02.2025
Travel and leisure trade fair
The f.re.e trade fair takes you on vacation, to the mountains, on the water and on a bike. The largest travel and leisure trade fair in Bavaria provides inspiration for camping, cruises, health and wellness, water sports and everything to do with the outdoors. On site at Messe München, visitors can climb steep rock faces, try their hand at stand-up paddling and even take a trial diving course.
Location: Messe München, Am Messesee 2, 81829 Munich
free-muenchen.de

23.02.2025
Ludovico Einaudi Germany Tour 2025
The pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi comes from Turin and fills both pop arenas and classical concert halls with his compositions. The film music he wrote for the 2002 remake of “Doctor Zhivago” won an award at the New York Film Festival. Several solo albums followed. Einaudi will be touring Germany again in February and March 2025, including a guest appearance at the Olympic Hall in Munich.

March

14.03.2025-06.04.2025
Strong beer festival

Traditionally, strong beer is drunk in Bavaria during Lent between Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025) and Easter (Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025). This means that March gets off to a very cheerful, sociable and Munich-like start every year, as the Paulaner brewery hosts its legendary strong beer festival, which expresses the local attitude to life and is just as much a part of the city as the Oktoberfest. People drink strong beer together to the sound of brass music, talk a lot and have fun simply enjoying life. Munich residents have always made a pilgrimage to the “Berg”, or Nockherberg in Giesing to be precise, during Lent. There are several festivals in and around the city - but this one is cult and the original. Because the strong beer was invented on the Nockherberg and is called “Salvator”. The highlight of the strong beer festival is the Salvator rehearsal with the so-called politician derblecken in the form of a Lenten sermon and a singspiel.
Venue: Hochstraße 77, 81541 Munich

until 27.04.2025
Pinakothek der Moderne Exhibition: Eccentric. The Aesthetics of Freedom

In common parlance, an eccentric attitude is considered excessive and decadent. But eccentricity is much more. Because it rejects any ideology - for the freedom of democracy. This is the basic idea behind the first exhibition on the potential of eccentricity as an aesthetic of freedom. The focus is on art from 1980 onwards, with fashion, design, film and architecture also included as examples. Eccentric celebrates the diversity and complexity of the major themes of nature, beauty, intimacy and humanism. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, installations and video works by John Bock, Maurizio Cattelan, Marguerite Humeau, Jonathan Meese, Pipilotti Rist, Anna Uddenberg and many other international artists.

April

25.04.2025-11.05.2025
Spring Festival
On the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest takes place in autumn, the spring festival also invites you to enjoy a cozy get-together. From April 25 to May 11, 2025, the “Frühlingswiesn” offers everything from small shooting galleries and swing boats to huge rides such as the “XXL Racer”. The beer tents and beer gardens smell of chicken and roasted almonds accompanied by brass band music and beer.
Location: Theresienwiese
www.fruehlingsfest-theresienwiese.de

26.04.2025-04.05.2025
Radikal jung - The theater festival for young directors
The Radikal jung festival at the Volkstheater is an annual highlight of Munich's young theater scene. Young directors present their productions here. The aim of the festival is to promote the new generation of theater directors, highlight their thematic and aesthetic preferences and present them to both a professional audience and the general public.
Location: Volkstheater, Tumblingerstraße 29, 80337 Munich
www.muenchner-volkstheater.de/programm/radikal-jung/das-festival

12.04.2025-20.04.2025
“Pure tennis” at the BMW Open

At the BMW Open tennis tournament from April 12 to 20, 2025, the MTTC Iphitos club on Aumeisterweg will show who will be celebrating the winner's trophy at the end of many exciting matches.
Location: Aumeisterweg 10, 80805 Munich
https://www.bmwopen.de

May

26.04-04.05 2025
Auer Dult - Maidult
It doesn't get much more Munich than this: on Mariahilfplatz in Munich's Au district, people like to meet up in traditional costume for the Auer Dult - or more precisely for the Maidult, which begins in April. From April 26 to May 4, 2025, around 100,000 guests celebrate spring here - just the way they like it: children love the nostalgic chain carousel, handmade doll's clothes, small furniture for their playhouses at home and the candy floss. Adults browse through pottery, rustic cardigans and practical household goods - and treat themselves to a beer or a fresh steamed dumpling in between. Dult is cult!
Location: Mariahilfplatz 42, 81541 Munich
www.auerdult.de

10.05.2025
Long night of music
Thousands of people listen to musicians and bands who are at home in every conceivable style of music - at the most unusual venues, such as churches, savings banks, bookshops, cinemas, museums, cafés, Bavarian pubs or even in the city's clubs.
www.muenchner.de/musiknacht/

10.05-18.05.2025
munich creative business week
The “Munich Creative Business Week - The long week of design” is all about good style, sustainability, art, music, communication and creativity - at all kinds of locations in the city.
www.mcbw.de

24.05.2025-25.05.2025
Corso Leopold street festival
The “Corso Leopold” is one of the most colorful and creative street festivals you can imagine. On the weekend of June 1 and 2, 2024, Leopoldstrasse in Schwabing between Siegestor and Münchner Freiheit will be closed to all cars. The one-kilometre-long promenade is all about art and culture: from music and arts and crafts to discussion events, street soccer, a beer garden and hands-on programs for the whole family.
Location: Leopoldstr, 80802 Munich
corso-leopold.de

31.05.2025
Champions League final
The final of the 70th Champions League season takes place at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

31.05.2025 & 01.06.2025
Dua Lipa - Concert
Three Grammys and seven Brit Awards, plus well over 100 million records sold - Dua Lipa has long been a global mega-star in pop music. In 2024, her third solo album “Radical Optimism” reached number one in the charts in her native UK and in the USA. She will also be stopping off in Munich on her world tour - at a double concert in the Olympiahalle on May 31 and June 1, 2025.

June

19.06.2025-20.07.2025
Tollwood Summer Festival
Tollwood in the Olympiapark stands for summery lightness - yet this year, from June 19 to July 20, 2025, it will once again be about serious topics: Tolerance, diversity of cultures, fair animal husbandry and a sustainable approach to nature, which is also practiced at the festival. People from all over the world chat at wooden tables and on green hills with beer and international organic food. Famous musicians play jazz, rock and pop in the circus tents. There are also unusual theater productions and fascinating art and acrobatic performances. All around are the stalls of the “Market of Ideas”, where all kinds of arts and crafts are on sale.

27.06.2025-06.07.2025
Munich Film Festival 2025
For many locals, the film festival is one of the highlights of the year. International stars come to the city and discuss current topics, the film business and themselves at world premieres. From June 27 to July 6, 2025, cineastes head to the city's cinemas day and night to experience original versions of independent and Hollywood films from numerous countries.

28.06.-29.06.2025
Christopher Street Day
Every June it gets particularly colorful in the Glockenbachviertel: Here and at Marienplatz, everyone from the LGBTQIA+ scene and allies will celebrate “Christopher Street Day” on June 28 and 29, 2025 with a parade and large street festival. This will all take place as part of PrideWeeks, which is in Munich from June 14 to 29, 2025!
Location: Marienplatz and Glockenbachviertel
https://www.csdmuenchen.de

July

19.06.-20.07.2025
Tollwood Summer Festival
Tollwood in the Olympiapark stands for summery lightness - yet this year, from June 19 to July 20, 2025, it will once again be about serious topics: Tolerance, diversity of cultures, fair animal husbandry and a sustainable approach to nature, which is also practiced at the festival. People from all over the world chat at wooden tables and on green hills with beer and international organic food. Famous musicians play jazz, rock and pop in the circus tents. There are also unusual theater productions and fascinating art and acrobatic performances. All around are the stalls of the “Market of Ideas”, where all kinds of arts and crafts are on sale.
Location: Olympic Park
www.tollwood.de

19.06.2025
Midsummer Night's Dream - open air with fireworks
An overwhelming sea of lights can be admired every summer in the Olympic Park. Then the open-air event “Midsummer Night's Dream Munich” bathes the sky and the green hills in bright colors. The highlight is a spectacular firework display. There will also be the right sound on several stages.
Location: Olympic Park

27.06.-31.07.2025
Munich Opera Festival
From June 27 to July 31, 2025, the Munich Opera Festival will take place at the end of the season. With opera premieres, ballets, concerts and recitals, the Bavarian State Opera presents an extensive festival program, which this year focuses on three major works by Richard Strauss.
Location: national theate

August

26.07.2025-03.08.2025
Auer Dult - Jakobidult
It doesn't get much more Munich than this: on Mariahilfplatz in the Munich district of Au, people like to meet up in traditional costume for the Auer Dult - or Jakobidult to be more precise. From June 26 to August 3, 2025, around 100,000 guests celebrate the summer here - just the way they like it: children love the nostalgic chain carousel, handmade doll's clothes, small furniture for their playhouses at home and the candy floss. Adults browse through pottery, rustic cardigans and practical household goods - and treat themselves to a beer or a fresh steamed dumpling in between. Dult is cult!
Location: Mariahilfplatz

05.08.-17.08.2025
Munich Open Air Summer

18.08 Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

06.08. The Music of Phil Collins & Genesis

07.08 Just Tina

08.08. Pink Floyd performed by echoes

09.08. Completely detached - the summer party

10.08. Italo Pop Night

11.08. Best of Musicals

12.08. Best of Austropop

13.08. The Music of Queen - Live

14.08. Summer Night of Film Music

16.08. ABBA Night

17.08. Italian Opera Night - La Notte Italiana

muenchneropenairsommer.de
Venue: Residenzstraße 1, Munich, Germany. 80333

30.08.2025-31.08.2025
“Superbloom” art and culture festival
If you're looking for an alternative, there's a new art and culture festival for you:
At the beginning of September, “Superbloom” will take place in the Olympic Park and Stadium for the second time. Once again, the organizers promise good music, art, design, unexpected adventures and lots of fun to leave everyday life behind. The first artists who have already confirmed their participation can be found in the line-up on the website. Location: Olympiapark

September

05.09.2025-07.09.2025
The Isarinselfest
We look forward to the long-awaited festive mood with an attractive cultural program and catering. The popular Isarinselfest takes place every year on a weekend in September. Various bands play herevarious bands, there is a cultural and sports program. The little ones are also well catered for with workshops and demonstrations. And best of all: the Isarinselfest is completely free!
Location:on the Praterinsel and at the Müller'schen Volksbad

20.09.2025-05.10.2025
Oktoberfest 2025
It's clear: Oktoberfest rules the city. It kicks off on September 20, 2025, when Munich's Lord Mayor taps the first beer barrel in the Schottenhamel marquee with just a few strokes. For two weeks, the beer tents and rides on the Theresienwiese will be buzzing. Incidentally, the largest and most popular folk festival in the world was originally a horse race to celebrate the wedding of the future King Ludwig I and his Therese, after whom the venue is named.
Location: Theresienwiese

October

October 2025 - date to follow
Residence Week
The Residence Week program includes concerts at the Munich Residence and Schleißheim Palace, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the world of the Wittelsbach electors and kings. The entire Residence Week program will be available from September 2025.
Location: Schleißheim Residence and Palace 

18.10.2025
The long night of Munich's museums
On October 18, 2025, over 100 Munich museums and collections, galleries, chruches and architectural gems incite you to take a nocturnal stroll. At the "Long Night of Munich Museums", vistiors can experience the regular exhibitions - plus live music, performances, guided tours, films, talks about art and all kinds of things to do.

November

14.11.2025-01.12.2025
Munich Book Show

The Münchner Bücherschau is the largest regional book exhibition. Here you can browse through all genres for 15 hours a day and meet the authors.
Location: Gasteig

December

24.11.2025-24.12.2025
Munich Christmas market on the Marienplatz
The classic among Munich's Christmas markets is the Christmas market around Marienplatz - the largest and most traditional in the city. Until Christmas Eve, you can enjoy Christmas music, high-quality arts and crafts, mulled wine, sausages and roasted almonds in front of the illuminated backdrop of the town hall, Frauenkirche and Alter Peter church. And the giant Munich Christmas tree towers between the stalls.
Location: Marienplatz and parts of the pedestrian zone in the old town

December 2025 - dates to follow
Tollwood Winter Festival
From the end of November to the end of December 2025, the Tollwood Winter Festival enchants with its colorful illuminated tent tops on the Theresienwiese. What makes this alternative Christmas market so special is its street theater, artistic masterpieces, concerts, a children's program, organic gastronomy and colorful arts and crafts from all over the world. Most of the events are free of charge. Politicians, scientists and artists appear in the multimedia tent of the “World Salon” to discuss ecological and social issues with the public.
Location:Theresienwiese

December 2025 - Dates to follow
Fairytale bazaar "Märchenbazaar" – Christmas market
Step into a nostalgic world from times gone by. In the middle of the city, nostalgic circus tents and fairground buildings rise out of the mist of the fairytale world. Once again this year, artistic performances in our colorful circus tents create a magical atmosphere that invites you to dance, feast, stroll and linger. Live music on our stages every day. Listen to the sounds of our city, but also those from all over the world. Daily free children's program with fairy tale lessons, candle drawing, Punch and Judy show, handicrafts, crafts and much more.
Location: Olympiapark South