An engaging program at the Munich venue

A wide variety of entertainment options are available at numerous venues throughout Munich, ensuring that every visitor can find the perfect event.

In the city on the Isar, guests are spoiled for choice. The trade shows held year-round offer a glimpse of the latest trends. Musical delights are also guaranteed: stars from all over the world perform here in Germany’s largest cultural centers and concert halls. Have fun singing along and dancing at a live concert. If you go to bed early in Munich, you’ll miss out on some great entertainment options.

From the main train station, you can reach the Munich Trade Fair Center in about 25 minutes on the U2. Here, organizers from a wide variety of fields showcase their offerings: trade shows for high school students, college students, and volunteers; for the latest in promotional products, children’s fashion, and fabrics—to name just a few. Whether on a national or international level, you’ll always find the latest trends on offer.

Directly connected to the exhibition grounds, the ICM—the International Congress Center Munich —serves as a venue for annual shareholder meetings of publicly traded companies and international medical and scientific conferences.

The MOC is located on Lilienthalallee in the northern part of the city. Its functions are divided into two parts. On the one hand, the acronym stands for an event center where trade shows and seminars are held; on the other hand, the MOC is an order center that showcases more than 500 brands from the sports and footwear industries in permanent showrooms. Since 2011, the ICM, Messe München, and the MOC have been collectively known as Messe München Locations.

The 1,200 m² Reithalle on Heßstraße serves as a venue for both the Bavarian State Opera and the Gärtnerplatztheater in Munich. However, companies can also rent the hall at this Munich venue. It is equipped with a stage, spectator stands, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound technology. Many renowned companies have already rented the Reithalle for celebrations and presentations.

The Muffatwerk is located in the multicultural Haidhausen neighborhood, right next to the Isar River. The complex, which spans a total of 3,000 square meters, offers a wide range of artistic events: theater, contemporary dance, and poetry slams. The massive Muffathalle concert hall, a former turbine hall, hosts music events several times a week. The program spans a wide range of genres, featuring pop, jazz, rock, and soul by both national and international stars.

The Muffatwerk is just a few steps away from Germany’s largest cultural center, the Gasteig. In addition to the City Library and the University of Music and Performing Arts, the Gasteig is also home to the Munich Philharmonic. You can choose from an incredibly rich program of music, theater, dance, film, and exhibitions.

A musical insider tip: Spend your lunch break doing something different—for example, at the lunchtime concert in the Small Concert Hall; admission is free.

The Theaterfabrik, located on the Optimol grounds in the eastern part of the city, right near Ostbahnhof, offers a rock-oriented program and DJ parties. If you’re interested in music by new bands, the Theaterfabrik is the place for you. The crowd tends to be rather unconventional.

The Backstage Cultural Center, whose grounds include the Werk, is located in the Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district. Its less commercial programming is geared toward fans of alternative music. The program features hip-hop, reggae, and indie music. Its target audience is youth and the alternative scene. Since Backstage also sees itself as socially responsible, it consistently refuses to accept fur coats at the coat check.

Another venue for music and culture is the Zenith, which hosts rock and pop concerts, fashion shows, and exhibitions. The cultural hall’s iron structure is a designated historic landmark.

The TonHalle at Ostbahnhof has had a remarkable transformation: In 1966, it was still used as a potato warehouse; since 2004, it has served as a concert and event venue. The lineup features renowned national and international artists.

The Olympiahalle in the Olympiapark was built to host the 1972 Olympic Games. Today, this Munich venue regularly hosts concerts by international stars from the worlds of pop, rock, jazz, musicals, and entertainment. Sports events, such as the Munich Indoors show jumping and dressage tournament held annually at the end of the year, also delight equestrian enthusiasts at this Munich venue.

The Lustspielhaus is a theater in Schwabing. The program features highlights from the worlds of comedy, cabaret, and theater. Comedians like Alfons with his fluffy microphone, Atze Schröder, and Sissi Perlinger promise an entertaining evening. Also on stage: the political cabaret show“Die Anstalt,” known from television.

At Schuhbeck’s teatro in the Spiegelzelt at the Neue Messe, guests are immersed in the nostalgic world of vaudeville. Here, you’ll not only be treated to a four-course meal but will also enjoy a fascinating show. The three-hour program offers a mix of comedy, acrobatics, and musical numbers.

The Schlachthof in the Isarvorstadt district—known to locals as the Glockenbach Quarter—serves as both a stage and a tavern, offering interactive entertainment. Every second and fourth Monday of the month, everyone is invited to join in at “Volxgesang,” the sing-along concert. Or hit the dance floor. Whether you’re single, a couple, a beginner, or an advanced dancer, every Sunday dance enthusiasts gather on the dance floor for Argentine tango.