Even if things are a little quieter in Munich between Christmas and Epiphany (6 January), there are still lots of concerts, exhibitions and stage shows that are not to be missed at the turn of the year!
Munich has lots to offer during what Bavarians call the stade Zeit – the “quiet” period: between Christmas and the public holiday of Epiphany (6 January 2025, known as Heilige Drei Könige), you can attend concerts and exhibitions or else go to the theatre, opera or readings. Here's a summary of Munich’s cultural highlights for you.
- Events over the Christmas holidays
- Events between Christmas and New Year
- Events in the New Year
- Opening hours of the Munich tourist attractions
Concert: The Gospel People
Perfect for Christmas: The music group ‘The Gospel People’ will bring the former Gasteig to life on Christmas Day. The two-hour concert includes songs from the traditional ‘Black Gospel’ to the current ‘Contemporary Gospel’, which also includes pop, rock and even rap elements.
Where: Fat Cat (former Gasteig)
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Philharmonic concert: Love actually
Watching the classic film “Love Actually“ at Christmas is inseparably linked to this time of year for many. How about this year, perhaps not in front of the TV, but on the big screen at the Isarphilharmonie? The screening is accompanied by an orchestra that plays the soundtrack live and gives you goosebumps.
Where: Isarphilharmonie
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Violin concert: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
Vivaldi's ‘The Four Seasons’ is the best-selling classical music CD and is still a timeless listening experience 300 years after it was composed. On Boxing Day, the compositions will be staged in a very special way: Namely in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (All Saints' Court Church) of the historic Munich Residence!
Where: All Saints' Court Church in the Residence
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Film: Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Nuts for Cinderella)
A Christmas must: On 26 December, the Isarphilharmonie will be showing ‘Three Nuts for Cinderella’ (Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel) on the big screen, while the film soundtrack is played live by the Prague Royal Philharmonic. Beautiful every year!
Where: Isarphilharmonie
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Concert: MONOBO SON
New Bavarian dialect music - that's what you can look forward to at the concert by brass band Monobo Son! The band from Bavaria has been producing a mix of jazz, classical, brass and electronic music since 2011. In addition to numerous appearances in clubs and at festivals, the band was even accompanied by Bayerischer Rundfunk for a programme in 2016.
When: 27 December 2024
Where: Ampere in the Muffatwerk
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Cabaret: Anna Piechotta
German music cabaret artist and singer-songwriter Anna Piechotta won the Bavarian Cabaret Prize in 2023 and is now a guest in Munich. She will be performing her ‘love songs to fall in love with’ at the Lustspielhaus between the years!
When: 27 December 2024
Where: Lustspielhaus
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Ballet: Nutcracker
A true Christmas fairytale classic is performed in the Prinzregententheater between the years: ‘The Nutcracker’ by Peter I. Tchaikovsky is one of his masterpieces and combines classical ballet with artistry in this performance.
When: 25, 26 and 27 December 2024 and 4, 5 and 6 January 2025
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Musical: Oliver Twist
Many people know the popular novel by Charles Dickens: the theatre version of ‘Oliver Twist’ has now been turned into a German musical and is celebrating its premiere in the Silver Hall of the Deutsches Theater just in time for Christmas.
When: 20 to 29 December 2024
Where: Deutsches Theater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Show: Zauberhaft ("Enchanting")
Between the years and in the new year 2025, there are almost daily performances of the ‘Zauberhaft’ show at the GOP. Spectators are guaranteed to be amazed, as magician and ventriloquist Jan Mattheis has a few tricks up his sleeve. If you want to eat beforehand, book the three-course winter menu!
When: almost daily between 25 December 2024 and 12 January 2025
Where: GOP
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Opera: Opern auf Bayrisch ("Opera in Bavarian")
Paul Schallweg's versions of world-famous operas in Bavarian dialect are classics: here they are performed at Prinzregententheater by a trio of Bavarian actors.
When: 1 January 2025
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Concert: New Year's Concert by the Munich Symphony Orchestra
At their New Year's concert, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Spaw, will perform some of the most famous waltzes of the Strauss dynasty. If you can't make it on 2 January, you might still find a place on 3 January 2025!
When: 2 & 3 January 2025
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenmusik.de
Reading: Axel Hacke
Axel Hacke's readings are always a genuine pleasure: he not only reads from his latest book Über die Heiterkeit in schwierigen Zeiten und die Frage, wie wichtig uns der Ernst des Lebens sein sollte, he also has numerous copies of his SZ Magazin columns with him.
When: 3 January 2025
Where: Theater LEO 17
Information and tickets: www.lustspielhaus.de
Musical: Holiday on Ice
Between 4 and 7 January 2025, there are several dates for the new production ‘No Limits’ by Holiday on Ice. The ice skating show is even celebrating its 80th anniversary this year!
When: 4 to 7 January 2025
Where: Olympiahalle
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Concert: Disney's ‘The Jungle Book’
The Disney film ‘The Jungle Book’ was released in 1967 and has been a classic ever since. In the new year, audiences can experience the film with live music from the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra at Gasteig HP8.
When: 3 and 4 January 2025
Where: Gasteig HP8
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Mulled wine festival in Bogenhausen's magical Christmas forest
If you still haven't had enough of Christmas, you can visit the mulled wine festival in Bogenhausen until 6 January 2025. Culinary delights are provided, as well as a programme for the little ones.
When: expected 14 November 2024 to 6 January 2025
Where: Festival site in front of the Cosimabad (Cosimastraße/corner of Englschalkingerstraße)
Info: www.geja-event.de
The Munich Feuerzangenbowle at the Isartor
The popular Feuerzangenbowle at the Isartor is also open until 6 January 2025. In addition to an annually changing exhibition, the hot punch from the huge cauldron - a fragrant mixture of red wine, rum and spices - is served every year.
When: 25 November 2024 until 6 January 2025
Where: Isartor
Info: www.muenchner-feuerzangenbowle.de
Märchenbazar in the Olympic Park
Between its circus tents and delicacies from all over the world, the Märchenbazar offers a varied programme of art, culture and music. This year for the first time on the grounds of the summer Tollwood in the Olympiapark!
When: 28 November to 29 December 2024
Where: Summer Tollwood grounds, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 100
Info: maerchenbazar.de
