Can we join in the dancing?

Yes. In 2026, "Tanzt das Rathaus" ran free dance workshops in the Altes Rathaus on the Sunday afternoon, teaching Munich folk dances like the Zwiefacher.

Are there tours of the old town?

Yes. In 2026 the Munich guides' association ran free walking tours of the Altstadt during the festival.

How far apart are the festival areas?

A few minutes' walk. Most stages and stalls sit between Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz, Rindermarkt, the Alter Hof and Sendlinger Tor, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains stop right at Marienplatz.

Upcoming

UpcomingFestival

Munich City Birthday Festival

When: Dates to be announced
Ages: All ages
Price: Free

FestivalAltstadt-Lehel

Where

Altstadt-Lehel, Marienplatz

Ages

All ages

Setting

Mostly outdoors

Plan for

Half a day

Music

Live bands on several stages

What you need to know

Kids' program in the Alter Hof, with hands-on workshops in the old court kitchen, wash house and builders' yard
Fairground on Odeonsplatz, with a Ferris wheel over the square plus carousels and game stalls
Huge crowds: 425,000 people came over the 2026 weekend, so agree on a meeting point before kids wander

About

Each summer, Munich throws itself a birthday party in the old town, marking its first mention in a document in 1158. Kids get hands-on workshops inside the Alter Hof, the old ducal court, plus a Ferris wheel, carousels and folk dancers in costume. Parents get live bands, beer gardens and craft stalls. It gets very crowded, so it suits kids who are happy in a busy street fair.

Free

Dates to be announced

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