Wannda Circus Open Air

Munich's Alternative Festival Series

The Wannda Circus is one of Munich's most diverse cultural venues – a tent area in Freimann on the northern outskirts, operated by Wannda e.V., hosting workshops, yoga, ecstatic dance, concerts, circus, and festivals. The Open-Air series is its summer flagship: five festival dates per season, from May to September, each with a packed daily program of performance, music, workshops, and encounters.

Five Festival Dates in 2026

The festival concept is modular: on each of the five dates, the Wannda grounds around the main tents and in the outdoor area offer a unique program:

• May 16, 2026 – Opening Freimann with season start
• June 6, 2026 – Open Air II
• July 4, 2026 – Open Air III (High Summer)
• August 1, 2026 – Open Air IV (Summer Highlight)
• September 5, 2026 – Season Finale

Circus Acrobatics, Stilt Walkers, Fire Shows

Artists alternate on the various stages and action areas:

• Circus Acrobatics – aerial and ground acrobatics, trapeze, hand-to-hand, Cyr wheel
• Stilt Walkers – costumed stilt walks across the grounds
• Fire Shows – multiple acts per evening with fire swords, fire poi, and pyrotechnics
• Poetry & Spoken Word – slam performances on the small stage
• Live Music & DJ Sets – world music, folk, indie, electronic sets, often with an improvisational character
• Improvisation Theatre and Walking Acts

Climate-Neutral Festival

A special feature is the CO₂ Neutrality Concept: all emissions – from artist travel, guest travel, logistics, catering, electricity – are offset by tree planting. Wannda publicly documents the plantings. This makes Wannda Circus one of the first Munich festivals to implement a complete carbon footprint strategy.

Catering and Atmosphere

Food trucks and sustainable caterers (often vegetarian and vegan) provide food on site. The atmosphere is explicitly hippie-progressive, with echoes of Berlin underground festivals and East German communities – a contrast to the Wiesn and the classic Munich Stadtfest. Workshops on self-awareness, yoga, dance, and wellness run parallel to the main program. Clothing swaps and repair cafés complement the sustainability focus.

Freimann – Munich's Green North

The Wannda grounds are located in Freimann in northern Munich, directly on the U6 subway line (final stop Garching-Hochbrück, Freimann station) and near the green Munich Student Village. The location on the outskirts allows for a tent-based open-air concept that wouldn't be feasible in the city center. If you want to trade the loud Wiesn tradition for a quieter, more alternative Munich, this is the place.