Are you looking for a special program in Munich for the coming months? We’ve put together a list of the best classical music events for you—including atmospheric candlelit concerts, performances by renowned orchestras, opera productions, and recommendations for the whole family. Here’s what dates you should mark on your calendar from September through December 2026.
Orff Days: Techno and Classical Sounds
At the Bavarian Philharmonic’s 17th “ORFF meets TECHNO & WORLD MUSIC,” classical music, pulsating techno beats, and Mongolian soundscapes blend into a unique concert experience. The Gasteig has close historical ties to Munich: As early as the 12th century, the Salt Road ran over the “gachen Steig,” and since its opening in 1985, the cultural center has been an important hub of Munich’s musical and cultural life.
Richard Strauss’s “Ariadne auf Naxos”
In “Ariadne auf Naxos,” a tragic opera and a lighthearted intermezzo come together—and, at the request of a wealthy patron, are even to be performed simultaneously. Richard Strauss’s work thus combines profound emotions with tongue-in-cheek theater-within-theater. The cast includes Anja Kampe as Ariadne and Sabine Devieilhe as Zerbinetta; Robin Ticciati conducts the Bavarian State Orchestra.
Vivaldi’s famous violin concertos are given an atmospheric setting by candlelight: thousands of candles illuminate St. Matthew’s Church while the Metron String Quartet performs “The Four Seasons” and “La Folia.” The concert lasts about 65 minutes and is suitable for music lovers ages eight and up.
Mozart Matinee at Nymphenburg Palace
At “Nymphenburg Classics à la Mozart,” pianist Chanwon Park will perform Mozart’s Fantasy in D minor as well as works by Beethoven and Schumann. The palace is closely linked to Mozart’s history in Munich: at the age of seven, he performed there alongside his sister Nannerl before Elector Maximilian III. The Johannissaal, in turn, is located in the historic Johannis-Brunnturm, one of the oldest parts of the complex, which still houses the pump station for the palace fountain today.
Janine Jansen Plays Shostakovich
Violinist Janine Jansen takes center stage at this concert by the Munich Philharmonic: Under the baton of Lahav Shani, she performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto. The program also features Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” in Maurice Ravel’s colorful orchestration.
Mendelssohn and Bruckner in the Former Throne Room
Conductor Simone Young and violinist Augustin Hadelich, together with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, will present an evening featuring Bach, Mendelssohn, and Bruckner. The Herkulessaal was originally King Ludwig I’s throne room; after World War II, it was rebuilt as a concert hall. It owes its name to the tapestries depicting scenes from the legend of Hercules.
“Pettersson and Findus” as a Family Concert
There’s also a great experience for younger classical music fans: The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra brings Sven Nordqvist’s story “Morgen, Findus, wird’s was geben” to life with music. The performances are aimed at families with children ages five and up and set the mood for Advent in the Jella Lepman Hall.
Mozart in the Court Chapel of the Residenz
The Residenz Serenade invites you to an hour of music in the Alte Hofkapelle. The varied program features works by Telemann, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Mozart. The venue is fitting: Mozart himself once performed in the Hofkapelle, where the Residenz Soloists now take the stage.
Baroque Chamber Music at the Munich Künstlerhaus
Members of the Munich Philharmonic will perform trio sonatas by Bach, Fasch, Vivaldi, Handel, and Telemann at “Motus animi continuus.” The Festsaal also has a long cultural history: The Künstlerhaus was designed as a meeting place for Munich’s artists and opened in 1900. In 1944, it was almost completely destroyed by fire following an air raid; in the 1960s, it was rebuilt in its original historical style.
Whether it’s opera, a large-scale orchestral work, a family concert, or music by candlelight: Munich offers plenty of opportunities for a special evening of classical music through the end of the year. Check the current dates and ticket availability directly with the organizers.
