Discover Germany, Switzerland & Austria
Culture Calendar
Discover Germany’s Culture Calendar is your perfect guide to what not to miss in April and May.
Easter holidays, spring in full flow and plenty of amazing events. April promises to be a great month throughout. No matter if you are looking for cultural happenings, music events or marathons, you certainly won’t get bored in the upcoming weeks.
Viennese Easter Market at Schönbrunn Castle, Vienna (28 March - 14 April)
The Easter markets across Vienna are greatly appreciated by locals and tourists alike. The colourful Easter market at the famous Schloss Schönbrunn brings an impressive 70 exhibitors from Austria and other countries to the city. Here, you can get some inspiration for your own Easter egg decorations and, of course, take a little crafty souvenir home with you.
Festival Days Berlin (4 - 12 April)
Festival Days Berlin celebrates opera and is held at the Philharmonie and the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. The festival is a unique collaboration between star conductor Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin. On the occasion of the festival days and Beethoven’s anniversary year 2020, all nine of his symphonies will be presented as a cyclical performance.
Berlin Half Marathon (5 April)
‘The fastest sightseeing tour in sneakers’ is what this half marathon across Berlin is often lovingly referred to as. Over 30,000 passionate runners take part each year. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the marathon, which promises to be a fun-packed day for both the runners and those who cheer them on.
Easter Festival of Knights, Zitadelle Spandau (11 - 13 April)
Immerse yourself in the Middle Ages and enjoy historical music and great costumes at this unique festival. This is a must for any medieval fans and great fun if you’re looking for an exciting alternative to the traditional Easter markets.
International gamesweekberlin, Berlin (17 – 25 April)
A whole week dedicated to gaming, business and development awaits at the International gamesweekberlin. A range of different events ensures there is the right thing for every game lover. It’s the leading cross-industry communication and networking platform, which brings the three sectors together. This is a great event for both professionals and game enthusiasts.
Record Store Day, Berlin (18 April)
Each year on the second Saturday in April it’s Record Store Day. All over the world independent record stores, including Berlin’s vinyl and indie music specialists, open their doors to celebrate this day in style. The tradition originally started in the US, but the idea is continuously spreading all across Europe, Asia and Australia, ever since its early days.
Cherry blossom festival, Berlin (19 April)
The pastel-coloured cherry blossoms send a clear signal: spring is in full flow. This beautiful festival in Berlin celebrates the stunning Japanese cherry blossoms that fill the Gärten der Welt in Berlin’s Mahrzahn as far as the eye can see. Each year around 25,000 guests flock to the gardens to admire the beautiful blossoms and welcome spring together.
Hannover Messe 2020, Hanover 20 – 24 April)
This fair is also called the ‘home of industrial pioneers’ and it’s the world’s leading trade show for industrial technology. This year, 5,500 different exhibitors from the fields of software, IT, automation and energy present the most innovative technologies worldwide. 80 forums for knowledge exchange and networking complete the programme. If you want to see what technologies the future will bring, this is the place to be.
Sechseläuten Spring Festival 2020, Zurich (20 April)
When the first flowers are starting to bloom, the city of Zurich officially welcomes spring with this traditional festival. A snowman figure called ‘Böögg’ is placed on the top of a bonfire. The Böögg is then ‘asked’ to forecast the weather for the coming summer, the fire is lit and the faster the fire reaches the Böög and his head explodes, the warmer summer will be. Fingers crossed for a nice and warm summer.
ART COLOGNE, Cologne (23 – 26 April)
ART COLOGNE is the oldest fair of its kind having started with just 18 galleries in 1967. Today, around 180 commercial galleries come together each April to present works by over 2,000 artists. It covers all price segments from well-known blue-chip artists to the newest young and emerging artists.
Spring fun fair, Munich (24 April – 10 May)
The traditional spring fun fair, or ‘Frühlingsfest’ in German, is often referred to as the small Oktoberfest in April, as it has two big beer tents. With around one hundred different rides and attractions, this is a great day to relax and simply have some fun.
Marathon, Zurich (26 April)
This marathon is suitable for professionals and marathon enthusiasts alike. The idyllic route takes runners along Lake Zurich and across the city centre. Want to set some goals this year and kickstart marathon season? This is the place to do it.
KLANGLICHT, Graz (30 April – 2 May)
Klanglicht is a beautiful festival of light and sound organised by the theatres of Graz. During these days the whole city becomes some kind of luminescent poetry. Each year, different artists decorate the city using light and sound installations. Considering the free admission, Klanglicht is the best excuse to visit and explore the lovely city of Graz.