Festivals & events
43 celebrations through the year — pick a day to see what's on.
- Neujahrskonzert der Berliner Philharmoniker (1, Berlin) — The Berlin Philharmonic's prestigious New Year's concert, broadcast worldwide and featuring classical masterworks. A cornerstone of German…
- Neujahrstag (1, Berlin) — New Year's Day, a nationwide public holiday celebrating the start of the new year. Banks, shops and most businesses are closed.
- International Filmfestspiele Berlin (2, Berlin) — One of the world's most prestigious film festivals showcasing international cinema and hosting major red-carpet premieres. A highlight of t…
- Fasching (2, Bavaria) — Bavaria's spectacular carnival season with elaborate parades, costumes and street celebrations. Known for its distinctly Bavarian twist on…
- Cologne Carnival (2, North Rhine-Westphalia) — The Rhineland's most exuberant carnival with three days of street parades, music and traditional costumes. Famous for its satirical floats…
- Düsseldorf Carnival (2, North Rhine-Westphalia) — A vibrant Rhineland carnival with elaborate processions and traditional Düsseldorf humor. Known for its unique blend of music, dance and sa…
- Mainz Carnival (2, Rhineland-Palatinate) — The Rhineland's oldest carnival with traditional processions and political satire. A centuries-old celebration of Mainz's unique carnival c…
- Karfreitag (3, Berlin) — Good Friday, a nationwide public holiday observed two days before Easter Sunday. Most businesses close for this significant Christian holid…
- Ostersonntag (4, Berlin) — Easter Sunday, celebrated across Germany with family gatherings, Easter markets and egg hunts. A major nationwide religious holiday.
- Ostermontag (4, Berlin) — Easter Monday, the day after Easter Sunday and a nationwide public holiday. Businesses and schools remain closed.
- Wagner Festival (7, Bavaria) — The world's oldest music festival dedicated exclusively to Richard Wagner's operas. Held in the specially designed Festspielhaus with perfo…
- Oktoberfest (9, Bavaria) — The world's largest beer festival celebrating Bavarian culture with traditional beer halls, food and folk music. A global phenomenon attrac…
- Tag der Deutschen Einheit (10, Berlin) — German Unity Day, celebrating the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990. A nationwide public holiday marked by patriotic celebrations…
- Leipzig Book Fair (3, Saxony) — Germany's oldest book fair and one of Europe's largest literary events showcasing publishers, authors and readers. A cornerstone of German…
- Frankfurt Book Fair (10, Hesse) — The world's largest international book fair attracting publishers and authors from around the globe. A major event in the global publishing…
- Documenta (6, Hesse) — A legendary contemporary art exhibition held every five years, showcasing cutting-edge modern and contemporary art. One of the world's most…
- Love Parade (7, Berlin) — A massive electronic dance music festival and techno parade celebrating music culture. An iconic Berlin event drawing hundreds of thousands…
- Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (11, Bavaria) — Germany's most famous Christmas market with over 180 wooden stalls selling crafts and traditional Nuremberg specialties. Dating back to the…
- Cologne Christmas Markets (11, North Rhine-Westphalia) — Multiple enchanting Christmas markets throughout Cologne featuring traditional crafts, mulled wine and festive atmosphere. The city's most…
- Berlin Christmas Markets (11, Berlin) — Numerous festive Christmas markets across Berlin offering holiday treats and traditional crafts. A quintessential Berlin winter experience.
- Hamburg Port Anniversary (5, Hamburg) — A three-day celebration of Hamburg's historic port with historical ship parades, cultural performances and maritime festivities. One of Ger…
- Kiel Week (6, Schleswig-Holstein) — The world's largest sailing festival featuring international yacht races and maritime celebrations. A premier event for sailing enthusiasts…
- Wacken Open Air (8, Schleswig-Holstein) — Europe's largest open-air heavy metal festival attracting over 75,000 metalheads from around the world. A pilgrimage site for metal music f…
- Rock am Ring (6, Rhineland-Palatinate) — Germany's largest rock and pop music festival with multiple stages and international headliners. A major annual gathering for rock and alte…
- Carnival of Cultures (5, Berlin) — Berlin's multicultural street festival celebrating diverse cultures with parades, music and food. A vibrant display of Berlin's cosmopolita…
- Deutschlandfest (10, Berlin) — A nationwide celebration of German Unity Day featuring outdoor festivals, cultural events and music across the country. Coincides with Octo…
- Heidelberg Theater Festival (7, Baden-Württemberg) — A prestigious international theater festival in romantic Heidelberg showcasing classical and contemporary performances. Held in atmospheric…
- Asparagus Festival (4, Brandenburg) — A culinary celebration of white asparagus harvest season with tastings, cooking demonstrations and regional dishes. A spring tradition in G…
- Dresdner Musikfestspielen (5, Saxony) — Dresden's prestigious classical music festival featuring world-class orchestras and soloists in beautiful historic venues. A major event in…
- Weimar Classical Open (8, Thuringia) — An international classical music festival celebrating Weimar's rich cultural heritage and connections to Goethe and Schiller. Performances…
- Berlin Marathon (9, Berlin) — The world's largest marathon attracting over 40,000 runners with a route through Berlin's historic neighborhoods. A global sporting spectac…
- Pfingstsonntag (5, Berlin) — Whit Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter, is a nationwide public holiday. Marks the descent of the Holy Spirit in Christian tradition.
- Pfingstmontag (5, Berlin) — Whit Monday, the day after Whit Sunday, is a nationwide public holiday. Businesses and schools remain closed.
- Ascension Day (5, Berlin) — Ascension Day, celebrated 39 days after Easter, is a nationwide public holiday marking Jesus's ascension. A major Christian observance acro…
- Tag der Arbeit (5, Berlin) — Labor Day, a nationwide public holiday celebrating workers and labor movements. International Workers' Day with various demonstrations and…
- Karneval der Kulturen (5, Berlin) — A multicultural celebration showcasing Berlin's diverse communities through parades, music and food. One of Berlin's most colorful festival…
- Jena Light Festival (7, Thuringia) — An innovative light art festival transforming Jena's streets with installations and projections. A unique celebration of contemporary light…
- Bregenzer Festspiele Overflow (8, Baden-Württemberg) — Cultural events associated with Austria's Bregenz Festival activities near the German-Austrian border. A major regional musical and theatri…
- Bremer Freimarkt (10, Bremen) — One of Germany's oldest fairs dating back to 1035 with traditional rides, food and carnival atmosphere. A centuries-old autumn celebration.
- Hanover Industrial Fair (4, Lower Saxony) — The world's largest industrial technology trade fair showcasing innovations and cutting-edge technology. A premier international business a…
- Allerheiligen (11, Berlin) — All Saints' Day is a public holiday in certain German regions, particularly Catholic areas. Traditionally observed with cemetery visits and…
- Fronleichnam (6, Berlin) — Corpus Christi, celebrated 60 days after Easter, is a public holiday in Catholic regions. Marked by elaborate processions and religious cer…
- Silvester (12, Berlin) — New Year's Eve with fireworks, parties and celebrations across Germany. A nationwide festive night welcoming the new year.