Start the year in the Bavarian capital: Here are the 10 highlights in January

If you can’t experience the legendary New Year’s Concert in Vienna live, but the broadcast on ZDF isn’t quite right for you either, then you should check out the string quintet of the Munich Chamber Philharmonic dacapo. Their interpretation of the Austrian classic will give you a lively start to the new year. The festive and cheerful program focuses on the timeless masterpieces of the Viennese Strauss dynasty and their contemporaries: from Eduard Strauss’s lively dances to Josef Lanner’s charming polka to the great classics of Johann Strauss, you can expect wonderful moments full of esprit and elegance. A perfect musical start to the new year!

Can’t get enough of classical concerts? Then visit one of the numerous candlelight concerts that let you experience your favorite artists and hits in a new way. Whether you’re a fan of Adele, the 90s, or hip hop, there’s something for everyone. Surrounded by hundreds of candles, let yourself be carried away by the classical reinterpretations of your favorite songs and experience an unforgettable start to the new year.

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean you can’t drink mulled wine or children’s punch anymore. The Mulled Wine Festival in Bogenhausen attracts visitors with 35 varieties of mulled wine and other hot drinks such as Hot Spicy Orange or Hot Caipi. Of course, there are also non-alcoholic options and delicious treats from around the world. Meanwhile, the children can enjoy the carousel or ride the little train. If it’s too uncomfortable outside, simply retreat to the spacious heated tents.

At Nockherberg, you can also enjoy mulled wine at the beginning of the year and stroll through the winter market. At the Paulaner Winter Festival at Nockherberg, you can enjoy fun winter activities well into February. Try your hand at curling and hold a friendly tournament, with a referee if you like. Or book a table at the Alm, where you can spend a cozy evening enjoying cheese fondue. If you have something to celebrate, you can host it here.

Clear the ring for round six! There’s still some Christmas magic in Munich at the start of the year. The Christmas Circus is in town until January 11 and invites you and your whole family to dream once again. Experience a two-hour spectacle in a class of its own: while world-class acrobats and illusionists transport you to a magical world, our clowns will make sure that there isn’t a dry eye in the house. An unforgettable celebration for young and old alike!

If you can’t wait until September and are already longing for Oktoberfest again, don’t miss the Bürgerball at the Deutsches Theater. Put on your dirndls and lederhosen, adorn yourselves with charivari and edelweiss, and dance to the music of the Oktoberfest musicians. The Cagey Strings, Isar 2, and Rottauer Tanzlmusi will ensure a great atmosphere, so you can start the 2026 ball season with a hearty celebration. Stiftl will provide culinary delights including schnitzel, snacks, and pumpkin ravioli. For those with a sweet tooth, there will be Kaiserschmarrn and chocolate mousse. A welcome drink is included in your admission.

Experience a cosmic highlight in the heart of Munich in January, when the Zurich-based artist collective PROJEKTIL transforms the historic vaults of St. Mark’s Church into a fascinating 360-degree light installation. In this immersive experience, which transports you to a world beyond time and space for 30 minutes, spectacular projection mapping and surround sound merge with the classical works of Johann Sebastian Bach and modern beats to create an audiovisual work of art. This barrier-free journey into infinity is suitable for all ages and offers you and your loved ones the perfect opportunity to escape the winter routine and marvel together.

On Sundays, the Prinze becomes a ballroom! Come by and experience ballroom dancing with a difference: every Sunday during the season, you can dance the waltz and tango right on the ice. It starts at 9:30 a.m. with a warm-up, after which you learn the steps and then put them into practice yourself. A real highlight is the traditional “Münchner Dipferl,” where you glide across the ice in a long chain. Lessons take place in almost all weather conditions and are free of charge. The only requirement is that you should be able to move confidently forwards and backwards on skates .

This tradition is only celebrated every seven years, and in 2026 it will finally be time again: starting on January 6, you can watch the Schäfflertanz in public places. Originally, the 500-year-old dance served to cheer people up during the plague; now it brings some cheer to the gloomy winter instead. In their red jackets, the Schäffler are easy to spot as they begin their dance in the city’s public places with the traditional parade march before performing their creative figures.