The Munich Year of Culture 2026: These event highlights await us this year in the Isar metropolis

The cultural year 2026 is already starting with a special feature, because this year the Schäffler dances will take place again. These traditional dances have their origins in the Munich Barrel Makers’ Guild and only take place every 7 years. That’s why you shouldn’t miss out on seeing the Schäffler perform in their red jackets from January to mid-February and show you their steps and figures. otherwise you’ll have to make do with the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz.

No year without candlelight! Once again this year, you can look forward to the magical concerts throughout the year, which bring you closer to your favorite artists and genres in a classic reinterpretation. This year’s highlights include Adele, Taylor Swift, Phil Collins, Queen, hits from the 80s, film music and much more. The special locations will be bathed in the warm light of hundreds of candles, guaranteeing unforgettable goosebump moments.

In March, the time has finally come again and the strong beer festival at Paulaner am Nockherberg brings Bavarian fun back to Munich. In addition to the famous Paulaner strong beer Salvator, there is sweet and hearty pub food and, of course, musical accompaniment. Popular folk festival classics and well-known chart hits get the festival hall shaking and of course the motto is once again: Cheers to conviviality!

In April, the folk festival season starts on the Theresienwiese with the 60th Munich Spring Festival. To celebrate this anniversary, you can party a week longer than usual this year and you can expect a few special offers. In addition to the daily live music in the festival tents and fun rides, this time there is an additional family day and a stroll day with discounts for you.

After last year’s flop at the Isarinselfest, the Droneart show at the racecourse is back this year. After its successful debut in Munich in 2025, it will once again wow audiences in 2026 with its impressive choreography and the interplay of classical music and modern technology. Watch as the night sky transforms into a canvas on which the glowing drones paint vivid and dynamic images in harmony with the music. A truly breathtaking spectacle.

What would Munich’s cultural year be without concerts? Once again, a number of big and small artists come to our city, causing a stir in the halls and stadiums. Even if the Olympic Stadium 2026 remains closed due to renovation work, you won’t have to miss out on open-air shows for a long time yet, as they will be taking place in the Allianz Arena. Included this year are, among others:

Of course, the Midsummer Night’s Dream is also a must in the 2026 cultural year. This year, the Olympic Lake will once again be transformed into a stage for well-known and up-and-coming musicians to bring that summer feeling to the park. Whether pop, indie, electro or funk, everyone will get their money’s worth here and may even discover their next favorite act. As a final highlight, you can marvel at the impressive pyro show that lights up the lake.

The music continues in August with the Munich Open-Air Summer. Once again, the Brunnenhof will be transformed into a stage, which will offer you daily changing live music and best-ofs of well-known music greats such as Pink Floyd, ABBA and Queen from August 7 to 23. With rock, Austropop and classical music, there is a colorful mix of genres to choose from. You can also look forward to a concert by Münchner Freiheit, who will be playing a home game here.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Munich cultural year without the Wiesn. The world’s biggest folk festival takes place this year from September 19 to October 4 and reservations for the Schottenhamel tent are already open. If you would like to get a table in one of the other festival tents, you will have to be patient a little longer. Nothing concrete is known about the program at the moment either, but it can be assumed that there will once again be the arrival of the Oktoberfest hosts, the traditional square concert and lots of live music in 2026. The design competition for the 191st Wiesn is also still ongoing.

At the end of an eventful 2026, it’s time for reflection again as we approach the holidays. As every year, you can look forward to numerous Christmas markets in and around Munich, which will sweeten your Advent with mulled wine, Feuerzangenbowle, punch and delicacies. Many of them have a special program or offer sports activities such as curling and ice skating.