Cultural events in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Upper Bavaria is one of the most popular and world-famous ski holiday destinations in the Alps. It lies between the Ammergau Alps, the Ester Mountains and the Wetterstein Mountains. At 2,962 m, the Zugspitze is the highest peak in the Wetterstein range and in all of Germany. At the foot of the Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an ideal destination for sports enthusiasts as an Olympic host town—and for those seeking relaxation, too. Despite having 26,000 residents, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not a city but the administrative centre of the district of the same name.
Most mountain lifts are currently closed for maintenance. The Wankbahn is due to resume summer operations on 1 May. The Hausbergbahn is not expected to reopen until the BMW bikers’ gathering on 4 July 2008.
Cultural events in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Date: 30/09/2026
The Classic ski area was open until 6 April. The Zugspitze season finale is due to begin on 4 May. Garmisch will host the highlight of Bavaria’s 7th International Military Music Festival from 25 to 26 April. Around 500 participants will present a successful blend of folklore, jazz, military music, popular songs, swing and opera at Hall 1 of the Olympic Ice Sports Centre. National and international military bands will add Bavarian and international flair. Hamburg’s police will bring a touch of light-hearted fun with their trampoline show, “The Flying Grandpas”.
The Richard Strauss Festival follows from 31 May to 6 June, featuring concerts by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and others. The highlight is the opera evening on 2 June at the Alpspitzhalle in the Olympic Ice Sports Centre. The programme includes excerpts from Richard Strauss’s Elektra and the final scene of Salome, as well as the first act of Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre.
The popular KULTurSOMMER, running from 23 August to 27 September, also offers an engaging arts programme for all ages. For the Historical Festival, LudwigstraĂźe in Partenkirchen is transformed into a medieval market. The lively sights of fire-eaters, jugglers, musicians and craftspeople transport visitors back in time. A livestock market and a historical encampment will also be presented from 12 to 14 September.
