September in Munich usually has only one hotspot: the Theresienwiese. Millions of people meet here for the Oktoberfest every year. But Munich has even more to offer. All events in September 2023 at a glance.
One thing is clear: the Oktoberfest dominates the city. The next Oktoberfest starts on 16 September 2023, when Munich's mayor taps the first beer barrel in the Schottenhamel marquee with just a few strokes. For two weeks, the beer tents and rides on the Theresienwiese will be on their way. By the way, the largest and most popular folk festival in the world was originally a horse race to celebrate the wedding of the future King Ludwig I and his Therese, after whom the venue is named.
Oktoberfest, 16 September to 3 October 2023, Theresienwiese
Sure, the Wiesn will start on Saturday. But for many people in Munich, the Oktoberfest doesn't start until the next day, when the traditional costumers start parading through the streets. Always on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest the traditional costume parade takes place, the largest in the world. Around 9000 people take part, including shooting and traditional costume clubs, marching bands and bands from all over Europe. The Münchner Kindl rides at the front. Munich's Lord Mayor and Bavaria's Minister-President roll past in festive carriages, the breweries send their magnificent carriages with several horses. The entire train is about seven kilometres long and winds its way through the city centre to the Theresienwiese. If you want to stand in the front row as a spectator, you should arrive early, the rush is especially great when the weather is fine. As an alternative, you can watch the train on television: Bayerischer Rundfunk broadcasts live. The costume parade first took place in 1835, at the silver wedding of King Ludwig I. and Therese of Bavaria – their wedding on 12 October 1810 is considered the origin of the Oktoberfest. Since 1949 the traditional costume parade has been held annually.
The tradtitional costume and hunter's parade, 17 September 2023, through Munich city centre to Theresienwiese
One of Karl Valentin's favourite themes is always the Oktoberfest. In 1921, Karl Valentin made his Oktoberfest film together with Liesl Karlstadt. It depicts the atmosphere at the Oktoberfest in 1921 and contains the first ever film footage of the Schaustellergasse. Valentin playfully combined entertainment and documentation and created the infotainment format here, which only found its way into film as a genre much later. An installation in the courtyard of the Isartor tells the story of the film in its historical context. The individual episodes can be streamed as a film via QR codes.
Karl Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt on the Oktoberwiese, 20 July to 24 October 2023, Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum
If you are looking for an alternative, a new art and culture festival is waiting for you: In the beginning of September the “Superbloom“ will start again in the Olympiapark and Stadium. The organizers promise just as last year good music, art, design, undreamt-of adventures and lots of fun to leave everyday life behind. The first artists who have already confirmed their participation can be found in the line-up on the website.
Superbloom, 2 and 3 September 2023, Olympiapark
Every year on a weekend in September the popular Isarinselfest will take place. Every year different bands play here, there is a cultural and sports program. Also the little ones are well taken care of with workshops and demonstrations. And the best: the Isarinselfest is completely free!
Isarinselfest, 2 to 4 September 2023, between Ludwigs- and Maximiliansbrücke
Munich loves the autumn. And as the light gets warmer and the colours intensify, this is the time of year when Munich’s residents really get adventurous.
In September, Munich will once again become an exciting art meeting place: almost 20 international galleries from Brussels, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Athens, Copenhagen, Tbilisi, Los Angeles and New York will enrich the cultural landscape in Munich for the fifth time. This year, a gallery from Munich's Ukrainian partner city Kiev will also show its programme. After a successful start in 2018, Various Others has established itself more and more as an integral part of the international art calendar. Openings and numerous other events will take place at a wide variety of exhibition venues in the city.
Various Others, 7 September to 10 September 2023, various exhibition venues spread across the city
A spectacular, interactive drag show including singing, comedy and pole dancing can be experienced at the “Aloft Hotel Munich“. Ruby Tuesday and Vicky Voyage will be in charge of the programme. Guest star is Drag King Perry Stroika. During the show you can help yourself to a brunch buffet and as a welcome drink there will be a prosecco called “Sparkling Queer“.
Drag Brunch "Sip Sip Huray", 10 September 2023, from 12 - 3 pm, ALOFT Hotel Munich
Attractions such as the Flying Fox, paragliding on the Olympic Hill, laser biathlon or a huge climbing wall await visitors to the 6th Outdoor Sports Festival on 24 September 2023 in the Olympiapark. There will be a programme with over 50 activities, various opportunities to get active and try out sports, as well as information for the whole family. Admission is free and in addition to many festival classics such as the high ropes course or the pump track, skateboarding and fly fishing will be new this year.
Munich Outdoor Sports Festival, 24 September 2023, Olympiapark
Well-known melodies such as Dancing Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean awaken memories and bring the past back to life for the audience. The sound of the church organ, played by Michael Schütz, manages in an extraordinary way to blend classics from pop, rock and film music with the aura of the church interior.
Abba, Queen and Harry Potter. Pop, rock and film music on the church organ, 30 September 2023, St. Matthew's Church, Munich
In autumn it is pleasantly quiet on the lakes. The bathing season is almost over, the number of day tourists from Munich is decreasing. Best time to explore the Fünf-Seen-Land. First choice for this are of course canoe, pedal boat and sailboat; for the latter, however, you need a sailing license. There are boat rentals in every bigger place. The boat rental of Peter Neuner is considered to be a classic destination in Herrsching – which is also the case in the restaurant next door. Matos fish shop offers the best fish sandwiches at the Ammersee. If you prefer a more comfortable trip, take a tour with the Bayerische Seenschifffahrt, their steamers shuttle between all ports. Alternatively, you can take a walk along the Ammersee high trail. The 12.2-kilometre-long circular trail begins at Schondorf railway station. It then leads first into the hinterland to Achselschwang and via Utting on the lakeside back to Schondorf. You should plan about two and a half hours for the route.
When Bavarians say this sentence, they want to spend half the autumn day wandering around in the woods to get some fresh air – and look for some mushrooms. Going for mushrooms is a kind of popular sport, which is lovingly cultivated especially by the elderly. Because: Newcomers have a hard time. Mushroom hunters are secretive, good mushroom sites are passed on. Nevertheless, a few things have gotten around. For example, that Munich's best mushrooms grow in the south, in the Ebersberg, Perlacher and Hofoldinger forests or in the forests around Ammersee and Starnberger See, Holzkirchen and Sauerlach. Especially popular are porcini mushrooms, mushrooms and chanterelles. But be careful: poisonous and edible mushrooms often look very similar. Therefore, if you are not sure what you have found, you should visit the town hall on Mondays (10-13, 16.30-18) when the Mushroom Society holds its office hours. If you don't find anything, you don't have to worry – instead of going out into the countryside, you can go to the Zollner mushroom and forest stand at Viktualienmarkt.
You can find a detailed calendar of events here.
Curious? The old town tour is for all those who want to get to know the most beautiful corners of Munich city centre. Book the tour with an official guide at München Tourismus.
