In May, Munich has a lot going on in the streets: The Corso Leopold and the Vespa Parade showcase the city's Italian-inspired attitude to life. The traditional Dult, the popular folk festival with market hustle and bustle, looks forward to numerous guests. The backyard flea markets offer unique insights into the liveliness of Munich's neighbourhoods – perhaps even a spontaneous barbecue party with new acquaintances!
Munich will continue to set an example for Europe with the Europe May 2024. Living the basic European values, talking together about the future of Europe, that is of great importance, especially in difficult times.
With Munich's Europa-Mai, the city draws attention to Europe and offers many European participatory activities, exchange opportunities and events for a whole month, such as European film classics at the Werkstattkino or the Zamanand-Festival on May 13 and 14 on Odeonsplatz (see next event) with European street food.
Europa-Mai, 1 to 31 May 2023, various venues in Munich
The Zamanand Festival has the motto “Sustainability, Diversity and Tolerance“. In cooperation with the Department for Climate and Environmental Protection and M-net, this year's first festival will take place on May 13 and 14 between Odeonsplatz and Siegestor. Around 200,000 visitors are expected.
Thanks to the car-free day, the Zamanand-Festival offers a large platform for the entire urban society, the core topics are environmental protection and social cohesion. With numerous events, 8 stages, workshops and information booths, the festival aims to help raise awareness of today's challenges and set an example for a better future.
Zamanand Festival, 13 to 14 May, Ludwigstrasse between Odeonsplatz and Siegestor
It doesn't get much more Munich than this: on Mariahilfplatz in the Au district of Munich, people like to get together in traditional costume for the Auer Dult – or to be more precise, the Maidult, which starts as early as April. From 30 April to 8 May 2022, around 100,000 guests celebrate spring here – each to their own liking: children love the nostalgic chain carousel, handmade dolls' clothes, small furniture for their playhouses at home and the candy floss. Adults browse pottery, knitted jackets or practical household goods – and treat themselves to a beer or a fresh steamed dumpling in between. Dult is cult!
Auer Dult, 29 April to 7 May 2023, Mariahilfplatz
Meet a true Munich original: explore this authentic Munich folk festival and all of its delicious treats with an official city tour guide. Read more
One of the most important events in May is the “Long Night of Music“. Thousands of night owls listen to musicians and bands who are at home in every conceivable style of music – at the most unusual venues, such as churches, savings banks, bookshops, cinemas, museums, cafés, Bavarian inns or even in the city's clubs.
Long Night of Music, 6 May 2023, various locations
The guided tour for families and children between five and eight years of age goes in search of the strong, faithful and strange companions of the rulers. The tour is guided by Dr. Susanne Franke and is age-appropriate.
Animal safari in the Residenz, 6 May 2023, Residenz
At the “Munich Creative Business Week – The Long Week of Design“ everything revolves around good style, sustainability, art, music, communication and creativity – at all kinds of locations in the city. Read more about Germany's largest design event that takes place every year in Munich.
Munich Creative Business Week, 6 to 14 May 2023, various locations
The fun on two wheels begins at the Erlöserkirche near Münchner Freiheit in Schwabing. In relaxed Italian style, the Vespa parade takes the beloved scooters along Leopoldstrasse to Maxvorstadt and the Pinakothek der Moderne – with lots of chattering, honking and sometimes in formation with nice stunts.
Vespa Corso, 18 May 2023, from the Erlöserkirche church (Ungererstrasse) through Schwabing
The “Corso Leopold“ is one of the most colourful and creative street festivals you can imagine. On the weekend from 13 to 14 May, all cars are banned from Leopoldstrasse in Schwabing between Siegestor and Münchner Freiheit. The one-kilometre-long promenade will be dedicated to art and culture in all its forms: from music and arts and crafts to discussion events, street football, a beer garden and participatory programmes for the whole family.
Corso Leopold, 13 to 14 May 2023, Leopoldstrasse
On 27 May 2023, Def Lepard/Mötley Crue will give a concert at Königsplatz. This will be followed on 28 May 2023 by Peter Gabriel, who will perform there with his band as part of his i/o The Tour.
Königsplatz Concerts, 27 and 28 May 2023, Königsplatz
The Pferd (Horse) International München in the Olympia-Reitstadion (Equestrian stadium) in München-Riem is one of the very big family-friendly events all about horses. In addition to competitions in the disciplines of show jumping, dressage, working equitation and vaulting, new products from the fields of equestrian sports and nutrition, clothing, outdoor and much more are exhibited at the fair, partly outdoors but also in the tents. A show programme with horses, carriages and music, pony rides for the little ones and the Almhütte with typical Bavarian delicacies complete the programme.
Pferd International, 18 to 21 May 2023, Olympia-Reitstadion München-Riem
For the curious and the sociable, Munich's backyard flea markets offer surprising and often wildly romantic insights into the gardens and estates of Munich's district residents. From May to October, all neighbourhoods are covered on weekends, from Giesing to Glockenbachviertel to Westend. Wherever colourful balloons hang from the façades, the best bargains are to be found in clothing, toys, household goods and antiques – the important thing is that what you're willing to part with goes into good hands! But even that often becomes a minor matter when the residents spontaneously invite you over for apple pie or a barbecue and strangers become acquaintances. A typical Munich togetherness!
Backyard flea markets, several dates, cattle yard, abattoir, three-mill quarter and afterwards until October in all districts
The Vesakh Festival in the Westpark is the most important holiday in the Buddhist calendar. The festival begins at 1 pm with the ceremonial entry of the Buddha statue accompanied by the traditional Vietnamese lion dance. The varied cultural programme includes meditations and ceremonies of the different Buddhist traditions, lectures, traditional music and dances as well as a children's programme. The physical well-being will also be catered for with Vietnamese, Thai and Tibetan vegetarian delicacies. The event will conclude with a candle lighting ceremony at 8.30 pm.
Vesakh Festival, 20 May 2023, Westpark
Munich in May means: the best time for fresh asparagus from the surrounding countryside, which is of course also available at the stalls on the Viktualienmarkt. The heart of Bavaria’s asparagus-growing region is Schrobenhausen, 70 kilometres north of the state capital. The first stalk of asparagus from Schrobenhausen was delivered to Munich’s royal court in 1856. Farmers later began cultivating it on a large scale in 1913 and asparagus has been a Schrobenhausen tradition ever since. Harvesting – also known as asparagus plucking – normally starts in mid-April and ends no later than 24 June. During asparagus season, countless local eateries, like Gasthaus Zum Schimmelwirt, serve fresh asparagus dishes on a daily basis. The tips of the asparagus are generally considered to be particularly delicious. Anyone keen to find out more about this delicacy can pay a visit to Europäische Spargelmuseum (the European Asparagus Museum) after their meal. The world’s only asparagus museum is housed in the former prison tower in the town walls.
A detailed calendar of events can be found here.
