Munich’s Top 10 : Festivals & Open-Air Events

Munich Biennale

This
music theatre festival was founded in 1988 by composer Hans Werner
Henze. The city of Munich commissions young composers to write their
first full work for the festival. Now a bi-annual event, the festival
has become an established highlight in the cultural life of the city,
with a broad programme.

• weeks in May (even-numbered years)

• 
  www.muenchenerbiennale.de
  

Blade Nights

As
many as 300,000 in-line skaters take advantage of Blade Nights, held
between May and September since 1999. Roads are closed to traffic on
Monday nights along five alternating routes – meaning no holds barred.

• May–Sep: every Mon

• 
  www.muenchnerbladenight.de
  

Filmfest München

Smaller
than the Berlin film festival and not quite as star-studded, Munich’s
festival has made a name for itself as a festival of the people. There
are screenings of international films in several cinemas throughout the
city. Gasteig is the festival centre, and free open-air screenings are
held here in the evenings.

• 8 days at the end of Jun

• 
  www.filmfest-muenchen.de
  

Tollwood

This
lively festival is held twice a year, in summer and winter with music,
dance, and theatre in tents. Formerly an alternative event, it has
matured into a major festival with a wide-ranging programme of
performances, vendors, and beverage and food stalls.

• Summer festival (Jun–Jul) in south Olympiapark, Winter festival (Nov–31 Dec) in Theresienwiese

• 
  www.tollwood.de
  

Opern-Festspiele

Under
Ludwig II, Munich grew into a centre of music, and was the site of
premieres of Wagner’s operas and of a major Mozart festival. In 1910,
the Richard Strauss festival week was launched, a tradition continued in
the Opern-Festspiele, which features both classic works and
contemporary pieces, accompanied by the innovative Festspiele programme.

• late Jun–late Jul

• 
  www.bayerische.staatsoper.de
  

Königsplatz Open Air

The
pompous backdrop of the Königsplatz (Royal Square) seems tailor-made
for open-air events. In summer, usually in July, you can enjoy classic
concerts and even opera performances. To round out the programme, the
large square is also used as a stage for rock and pop concerts and film
screenings.

• Jul

• 
  www.kinoopenair.de
  

THEATRON MusikSummer and PfingstOpenAir

According toThe Guinness Book of Records,MusikSummer
is the longest open-air festival in the world. It boasts 24 days of
free musical entertainment under the open skies in the Olympiapark
amphitheatre. Concerts range from rock and pop to classical music. A
weekend festival, PfingstOpenAir, is staged in May.

• Aug & late May

• 
  www.theatron.de
  

Oktoberfest

More
than six million visitors make the pilgrimage to the world’s largest
popular fair, the Wiesn, which takes place over 16 days in September.

Dance

An
innovative dance festival organized by the city of Munich, in
collaboration with local and international partners. Many of the
productions are multidisciplinary – and always beyond the ordinary.

• biannual late Oct–early Nov (2008, 2010–)

• 
  www.dance2006.de
  

SpielArt

Munich’s
“Window on the World of Theatre” presents theatre productions from
around the world at various venues, usually with a focus on one country
each season.

• biannual mid-Nov– early Dec (2009–)

• 
  www.spielart.org
  

Ballet Week

Staatsballett and guest performances.

• mid-Apr

• 
  www.bayerisches.staatsballett.de
  

Frühlingsfest

Little sister to the Oktoberfest, the Springfest is also held on the Theresienhöhe.

• mid-Apr–early May

Internationales Dokumentarfilmfestival

International documentaries, premieres, and films by up-and-coming new filmmakers.

• May

• 
  www.dokfest-muenchen.de
  

Stadtgründungsfest

Cultural events between Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz.

• 1st weekend in Jun

Brunnenhofkonzerte

Classical
music, but also tango, movie scores, and many other genres are
presented in free concerts in the Brunnenhof of the Residenz on warm
summer nights.

• Jul

• 
  www.muenchen.de
  

Klaviersommer

High-calibre stars and international concerts, from classic to funk.

• Jul

Christopher Street Day

Gay street parade, shows.

• Jul

Fantasy Filmfest

Horror films, trash, and more for B-movie fans.

• Sep

• 
  www.fantasyfilmfest.com
  

Comicfest

Three days of comics, the New Art: pictures, books, and action on Praterinsel.

• biannual Jun (2009–)

• 
  www.comicfest.de
  

Lange Nächte

Late nights for music, theatres, museums, bookstores, and so on.

• 
  www.muenchen.de