7 Spectacular Upcoming 2023 Munich Events

Aside from its magnificent museums, fabulous nightlife, and famous beer, Munich is also known for its many exciting events. The capital of Bavaria has festivals, celebrations, and spectacles all year round. If you’re interested in discovering what the city has to offer, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll share with you 7 highly awaited 2023 Munich events. 

So before booking your trip to Munich, read on and find out when’s the best time to visit and which event best matches your interest.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March 12)

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a fairly new tradition in Munich. In fact, it only started in 1996 when some Irish people organized an event for only 200 attendees. 3,000 eventually ended up showing up and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become one of the biggest multicultural celebrations in Munich. Volunteer organizations and sponsors continue to organize the parade and festivities each year to honor Ireland’s national saint. Kilians Irish Pub, Irish Pub Dubliner, Lokal Kennedys Bar and Restaurant, and other Irish pubs in Munich also host parties.

Happening this March 12, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is easily among the most highly anticipated 2023 Munich events. Meanwhile, other scheduled events include a Pre-Parade Party, Irish Night, and an After-Parade Party. 

 If you love Irish food, drinks and music, you should definitely check out these events!

Frühlingsfest (April 21 to May 7)

 

The Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) happens for two weeks from the end of April and towards the start of May. After 2 years of pandemic-imposed cancellations, the festival is finally making a comeback this year.

As with previous years, Frühlingsfest will be held at Munich’s Theresienwiese, a massive open ground area that also hosts the annual Oktoberfest. 

Understandably, the festival often gets compared with Oktoberfest because it also promotes and features German beer. So what’s the difference between the two, you ask? Well, you can expect a smaller crowd at the Frühlingsfest. This means you can easily move from one beer tent to another without the hassle.

Also, the young and the young-at-heart can check out and enjoy carnival rides and fireworks during the festival.

Tollwood Festival (June 15 to July 16)

A semi-annual event, the Tollwood Festival is a big occasion for fans of art, music, culture, and culinary arts. As their official website assures, Tollwood will feature “exceptional theatre productions, breathtaking performances, (and) music from jazz to rock and pop to world music.” On top of that, the festival will also have the crowd-favourite ‘Market of Ideas’ highlighting “handicrafts and organic food from all over the world.”

Among the artists performing at this year’s Tollwood are top acts Ayliva, Santiano, Meute, The Lumineers, Fury and the Slaughterhouse, plus the legendary Tom Jones.

The good news? Well, over 80% of all Tollwood events are free because the organisation believes in making culture accessible for everyone.    

Munich City’s 865th Birthday (June 17 to 18)

This year, Munich is celebrating its 865th birthday as a city. According to history, the first official mention of the city’s name comes from the Emperor’s ruling, a document that dates back to June 1158. That’s the year the city of Munich was formally founded by the duke of Saxony and Bavaria. Henry the Lion, aka  Heinrich der Löwe (1129- 1195).

At the moment, details are scarce about this year’s festivities. So far, we know that the foundation celebrations will happen June 17 and 18 around Marienplatz. As with previous celebrations, expect good food, dancing, arts, crafts, traditional music, and more.

Munich Opera Festival (June 23 to July 31)

The Munich Opera Festival is definitely one of the oldest festivals in the Bavarian capital, dating back to 1875. The event attracts audiences from around the globe with world-class opera performances.

For this year, the festival will unite “new productions created on the basis of the current season’s guiding principles. Two apparently opposing complexes: war and love.”

Closing the festival are performances spotlighting the works of composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Among those included in the schedule are: 

• • Lohengrin by Wagner (July 19)

• • Dido and Aeneas by Purcell and Erwartung by Schonberg (July 22)

• • Aida by Verdi (July 23)

• • Tristan und Isolde by Wagner (July 24)     

• • Recital by Jonas Kaufmann (July 25)

• • Don Carlo by Verdi (July 28)

Oktoberfest 2023 (September 16 to October 3)

 

Of course, no list of 2023 Munich events is ever complete without the world’s largest and most popular beer festival: Oktoberfest attracts about 6 million visitors, consuming around 7.5 million litres of beer each year. It’s a party like no other for sure!

Another fun fact: The beer served at Oktoberfest is specifically brewed for the event. It’s also extra strong because it contains about 6% alcohol. 

So if you’re visiting Munich and are planning to taste its famous beer, do it during Oktoberfest for the best experience. Meanwhile, parents bringing their kids along should know that Oktoberfest is also family-friendly. The event features over 80 rides and many activities, so it’s always a lot of fun for everyone.

Be sure to wear traditional outfits (leather lederhosen for men and dirndl for women) when you attend – although it’s not mandatory! 

Christkindlmarkt (November 27 to December 24)

Christmas is an exciting time in Munich because of this popular tradition. The Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) started way back in the 14th century and was initially called Nikolausmarkt at the time. The name was later changed to Christkindlmarkt in the 19th century, and since 1972 has been held at the Marienplatz city square.

Today, locals and tourists have made the Christmas market a big part of their holidays. Aside from all the foods and goods sold at the event, the giant Christmas tree lit by around 2,500 lights brings the festive atmosphere to the next level. It’s clearly the ultimate destination for yuletide shopping when you’re in the capital of Bavaria.

Conclusion

Sounds pretty fun, right? So regardless of when you’re planning to come over, know that Munich always has something exciting for visitors of all ages. Plan your trip well in advance if you’re hoping to make the most of your stay by attending one – or several – of Munich’s many festivities!

Featured image source: Unsplash