In June, Germany’s summer festival season is in full swing and you can see some of the best German events. Many festivities will be outdoors, so you can fully enjoy the idyllic June weather often (but not always) in Germany.
Due to this abundance of festivals and pleasant weather, June is also a very popular time to visit Germany. Flights to Germany hit peak summer prices and accommodation and transportation within the country can also be more expensive and crowded than usual.
However, June is a great time to visit Germany. Learn about the many events taking place this month and plan your trip to Germany in June.
Ramadan
There are more than 4 million Muslims in Germany and Ramadan is the biggest festival of the year.
In the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, this is a time of fasting, purification of the soul, and prayer. This is also a time of charity.
Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual intimacy. Negative behaviors such as cursing, lying, or getting angry from Imsak ( just before sunrise) until Maghrib (sunset) is also discouraged.
When: May 5 – June 4, 2019
Where: everywhere in Germany
Trade Festival
Halle, the birthplace of composer Georg Friedrich Handel, pays tribute to the German composer by hosting the Annual Handel Festival. Come hear international musicians perform Handel’s works, from his early chamber music and Italian cantatas to the Messiah.
When: May 31 – June 16, 2019
Where: Halle an der Saale
Rock am Ring music festival
More than 150,000 rock music fans gather each summer at the Nürburgring race track. This is the largest open-air music festival in Germany.
In a picturesque setting of green hills and huge white tents, the star-studded lineup of international rock bands keeps fans dancing throughout the three days.
When: June 7-9, 2019
Where: Nürburgring, Nürburg
Carnival of the Cultures
Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is Berlin’s multicultural version of Karneval. More than 1.5 million visitors flock to Kreuzberg to revel in the international spirit of the German capital.
A four-day open-air festival featuring exotic food and drink, concerts, performances and parties, the festival culminates in a parade of floats filled with the diverse communities that make up the city.
When: June 7-10, 2019
Where: Kreuzberg, Berlin
Festival de Bach in Leipzig
This world-class music festival in Leipzig commemorates the life and work of the city’s most famous resident, Johann Sebastian Bach.
To celebrate his influence even today, centuries after his death, renowned artists from around the world perform Bach’s classical masterpieces at historic sites such as the Thomaskirche (Thomas Church) where Bach worked as a singer for 27 years.
When: June 14-23, 2019
Where: Leipzig
Kiel Sailing Week
The “Kiel Week” ( Kieler Woche ), heralded as the world’s largest sailing event, attracts 5,000 sailors, 2,000 ships and more than three million visitors each year. Kiel Week is also one of the largest sailing conventions in Germany and one of the largest Volksfeste in Germany.
The event dates back to 1882 and features regattas, historic boat parades and a cultural program that transforms the city center of Kiel into the largest summer festival scene in Northern Europe.
When: June 22 and 30, 2019
Where: Kiel
Munich Opera Festival
Held every summer since 1876, the Munich Opera Festival at the Nationaltheater offers an excellent program of opera and ballet performances during June and July. Highlights include the free open-air concerts »Opera For All«.
If you can’t get enough opera, it performs at festivals in Bayreuth and Salzburg.
When: June 27 – July 31, 2019
Where: Munich
Music Festival
This French festival is the most popular in Berlin, but you can find live music on this date all over Germany. This city-wide music festival has more than 80 outdoor stages with everything from reggae to jazz to electronics.
The free concerts start early in the afternoon and last until the summer night. The largest is held in the much loved Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg.
When: June 21
Where: Berlin and other German cities
Asparagus Festival
Spargelzeit (white asparagus season) is an obsession in Germany. The “King of Vegetables” appears on every German menu, grocery store and palate. For true devotees, buying it in stores is not enough. Spargel lovers must go to the fountain.
The states of Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony are two of the most important asparagus producing regions, with the city of Beelitz claiming the northeastern title.
Note that the price drops as the market slowly floods until the last official German asparagus harvest day, St. John’s Day, June 24.
When: March – June 24
Where: Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and the city of Beelitz
Elbhangfest
The bhangfest takes place along the Elbe with three main stages in the towns of Loschwitz, Wachwitz and Pillnitz. More than 200 events take place over a seven-kilometer stretch with local crafts, guided tours, and food and drink. If opening day arrives, attend the parade.
When: June 28 and 30, 2019
Where: Dresden
