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 (January 6, 2024, 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: Cameron Carpenter
An organ performance with glitz and glamour! Shooting star Cameron Carpenter enchants Christmas Day in Munich's Isarphilharmonie with unique organ sounds.
Where: Gasteig
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Ballet: The Nutcracker Suite
A wonderful blend of ballet, colour, light and artistry: Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker Suite is showing on 20 dates around the Christmas/New Year period – an especially magical experience around the Christmas holidays, of course.
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Classical concert: Festive concert at the Cuvillies Theatre
Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Bach and Corelli - the grand festive concert leaves nothing to be desired in terms of classical music, and the "Nutcracker" at the latest will create a dreamlike Christmas mood!
Where: Cuvilliés-Theater
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
Show: Cavalluna Kids – WinterWünscheLand
From December 26, 2023 to January 8, 2024, the popular horse show Cavalluna will be presenting a play for all the family: in a wintry wonderland, the boy Robert has exciting adventures with the horses.
Where: Showpalast München
Information and tickets: www.cavalluna.com
Film: Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel
An absolute Christmas must: the Isarphilharmonie is showing on December 27, 2023 the Czech/East German Yuletide classic Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (original title: Tři oříšky pro Popelku – “Three Gifts for Cinderella”) on the big screen, with the soundtrack played live by the Prague Royal Philharmonic. And there’ll be a second showing on December 28, 2023!
Where: Isarphilharmonie
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.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: December 28, 2023
Where: Volkstheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchner-volkstheater.de
Concert: The Queens of Soul
Six great singers present jewels of the unique soul divas Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and others and are supported by a top-class band that gives the show its distinctive and authentic sound.
When: December 27, 2022
Where: Hekulessaal of the Residenz
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
Concert: Blechschaden & Bob Ross
Classical music can be a blast: Cult Munich-based brass ensemble Blechschaden has been playing humorous concerts with founder and director Bob Ross for almost 40 years – featuring everything from traditional classical pieces and brass music to rock songs.
When: December 31, 2023
Where: Herkulessaal of the Residenz
Information and tickets: www.bellarte-muenchen.de
Opera: 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: January 1, 2024
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenmusik.de
Concert: New Year’s Concert by the Munich Symphony Orchestra
At their New Year’s Concert, the Munich Symphony Orchestra conducted by Olivier Tardy Andreas perform some of the best-known waltzes by the Strauss family. If you can’t make it on 2 January, be sure to book a ticket for January 7, 2024!
When: January 2, 2024
Where: Prinzregententheater
Information and tickets: www.muenchenmusik.de
Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic
In a newly conceived film and sound experience, the renowned Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra takes you on a journey into the magical and imaginative world of Disney with large orchestral arrangements: a moving, musical journey through the most beautiful songs and dreamlike melodies from 100 years of Disney magic.
When: January 5 & 6, 2024
Where: Isarphilharmonie
Information and tickets: www.muenchenmusik.de
The Sound of Hans Zimmer & John Williams
Having written the score for movies such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean, John Williams and Hans Zimmer are among the most famous film composers of our time. At the Isarphilharmonie you can enjoy music from a whole range of different films!
When: January 2 & 4, 2024
Where: Isarphilharmonie
Information and tickets: www.muenchenticket.de
