Sitting on the hill in the Olympic Park in summer and listening to the concerts while enjoying a snack with friends is an absolute core experience as a Munich resident. It’s as much a part of life in this city as watching the sunset on the Hackerbrücke. Unfortunately, you will have to do without these experiences in 2026, as the roof of the Olympic Stadium is being renovated this year. Fortunately, you won’t have to miss out on open-air concerts, as there is an alternative.
The renovation of the Olympic Stadium: 300 million for the roof
The tent roof of the Olympic Stadium is one of Munich’s most famous landmarks and you can even take a guided tour of it. It was last renovated in the 1990s and the Plexiglas was replaced. As the material only lasts around 25 years, it was already clear at the time that the Olympic Stadium would have to be renovated again in the 2020s. Now that time has come and the stadium will remain closed this year until further notice. The renovation of the roof is set to cost 300 million euros, three times as much as originally estimated.
The first construction work on the stadium began in 2023, but events were spared and took place as usual. Now, however, there was no way around the closure. The Olympic Stadium will remain closed from the end of 2025 until probably spring 2027, with work on the roof starting around mid-2026. The Olympic Tower will also reopen its doors to visitors at the beginning of 2027.
Open-air concerts in the Allianz Arena
Despite the closure of the Olympic Stadium, you won ‘t have to miss out on big open-air concerts this year. The Allianz Arena in Frötmanning, which is home to FC Bayern Munich, will serve as an alternative venue. Last year, the first trial run already took place with the performance of Guns N’Roses. As the Allianz Arena is actually designed for soccer matches, hosting concerts represents a change. The turf has to be removed and admission has to be organized differently, as the audience is not only in the stands but also in front of the stage, i.e. virtually in the middle of the pitch.
Last year’s test showed that the organization already works perfectly, but the acoustics are lacking. Some of the concertgoers said that the Allianz Arena could not keep up with the Olympic Stadium. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be this year when we have a whole open-air summer behind us. Linkin’ Park, Helene Fischer, the Foo Fighters and The Weeknd have been announced for 2026. When and where you can party at the Superbloom is still to be determined, but it will definitely take place again. To still be able to listen to the concerts for free while the Olympic Stadium is being renovated, you can try your luck on the Frötmanninger Berg next to the Allianz Arena. In addition, concerts will of course continue to take place in the Olympic Hall and at the Tollwood Festival.