What's on in Munich
Munich runs on its festivals — Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets are world-famous, but the calendar is full year-round with strong-beer weeks, spring and folk fairs, the seventh-year coopers' dance and more. Here's the year laid out, season by season, with the dates kept current and the volatile ones flagged to verify.
Every date ahead
21 events
July 20266
Munich Opera Festival (Opernfestspiele)
The Bavarian State Opera's summer flagship, six weeks of opera, ballet, concerts and recitals at the Nationaltheater and historic Cuvilliés-Theater, including the free open-air 'Oper für alle' broadcast on Max-Joseph-Platz.
Tollwood Summer Festival
A month-long, free-entry cultural festival in Olympiapark blending world music and theatre on multiple stages with an international food market, craft bazaar and a strong eco/fair-trade ethos.
Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele)
One of the world's most prestigious classical performing-arts festivals, six weeks of opera, drama and concerts across Mozart's home city. The 2026 edition runs under the theme 'Panorama of Love' with 208 performances.
Kocherlball 2026
A beloved early-morning Munich tradition since 1790: thousands gather at dawn under the Chinese Tower in the English Garden, many in traditional dress, to dance polka, waltz and Zwiefacher before the city wakes.
Auer Jakobidult 2026
The summer edition of Munich's three traditional Dult fairs, held on Mariahilfplatz in the Au: a folksy mix of market stalls (crockery, antiques, household goods), a small funfair and beer-tent fare.
Bardentreffen Nuremberg 2026
One of Germany's biggest free open-air music festivals, the Bardentreffen ('Meeting of the Bards') fills Nuremberg's old town with world, folk and singer-songwriter music. 2026 marks its 50th anniversary.
August 20261
September 20262
Oktoberfest
The original Wiesn — sixteen days, fourteen big tents and six Munich breweries on the Theresienwiese, opened by the mayor's cry of \"O'zapft is!\"
Bits & Pretzels 2026 (Founders Festival)
One of Europe's largest founders and startup festivals, Bits & Pretzels brings thousands of founders, investors and speakers to Munich for two conference days, capped by a networking day at Oktoberfest.
October 20263
German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)
October 3 is Germany's national day and a statutory public holiday, established by the Unification Treaty to commemorate German unity. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday.
Munich Marathon 2026
Munich's World Athletics-labelled marathon weekend sends runners past Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, the English Garden and the Isar before finishing in the city, with half-marathon, 10K and kids' races alongside.
Auer Kirchweihdult 2026
The autumn edition of Munich's traditional Auer Dult, closing the Dult season each October on Mariahilfplatz with market stalls, a small funfair and beer-tent fare.
November 20264
All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen)
November 1 is a statutory public holiday throughout Bavaria. Bavarian law also designates All Saints' Day as a protected silent day with restrictions on public entertainment.
Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt
Munich's main Christmas market fills Marienplatz with Glühwein, handmade ornaments and a thirty-metre tree from late November to Christmas Eve.
Tollwood Winter Festival
Tollwood's winter festival transforms the Theresienwiese into a festive village of theatre tents, world music and an alternative Christmas market. The main 2026 festival ends before Christmas; New Year's Eve is a separate event.
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
One of the world's oldest and most famous Christmas markets, on Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt. Around 180 red-and-white striped stalls sell Nuremberg gingerbread, grilled sausages and handmade ornaments, opened by the costumed Christkind.
December 20261
January 20274
Four Hills Tournament — New Year Ski Jumping (Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
The New Year's Day Garmisch-Partenkirchen stop of ski jumping's Four Hills Tournament, held at the Große Olympiaschanze. The local tourism calendar confirms the Jan 1, 2027 competition.
New Year's Day (Neujahr)
January 1 is a statutory public holiday throughout Bavaria and Germany. Visitor-facing transport, attraction and hospitality schedules vary by operator.
Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige)
January 6, Epiphany or Three Kings' Day, is a statutory public holiday throughout Bavaria. Its legal status differs in other German states.
Salzburg Mozart Week 2027 (Mozartwoche)
The Mozarteum Foundation's flagship classical festival in Mozart's birthplace, Mozart Week 2027 centres on a new staging of 'Così fan tutte' completing Rolando Villazón's Da Ponte cycle, with the Vienna Philharmonic and star soloists.