Leipzig’s event calendar spans all four seasons; consult our Leipzig weather by month page for temperatures and rainfall during each festival window. its dual identity as a historic music city and a contemporary cultural powerhouse. The city hosts over 200 festivals and major events annually, from the second-largest book fair in Germany to the world’s biggest goth gathering. Here is what to plan your trip around, with exact dates where available.
Leipzig Events and Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Leipzig Book Fair (Leipziger Buchmesse)
Held over four days in late March at the Leipzig Exhibition Centre (Leipziger Messe), the Buchmesse draws over 280,000 visitors and 2,500 exhibitors. Unlike Frankfurt’s industry-focused fair, Leipzig is reader-oriented with extensive public programming. The associated Leipzig Reads (Leipzig liest) festival runs 3,000 readings across 450 venues citywide. 2026 dates: March 12-15. Day tickets cost about €20 online, €24 at the door. The Manga-Comic-Con runs alongside with cosplay competitions. Note: hotel prices triple during the fair; book 4+ months ahead using our where to stay in Leipzig guide to find the right area and budget.; book 4+ months ahead.
a cappella Festival
This 10-day vocal music festival in early May brings international a cappella groups to venues across the city, including the Gewandhaus, Moritzbastei, and the Opera House. Ticket prices range from €15 to €45. The 2025 edition featured 28 groups from 17 countries. Check a-cappella-festival-leipzig.de for the programme, usually announced in January.
Leipzig Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Bachfest Leipzig
The premier Bach festival runs for 10 days in mid-June, which is also one of the best times to visit overall as covered in our best time to visit Leipzig guide. runs for 10 days in mid-June, centred on St. Thomas Church and the Bach Museum, two of the top things to do in Leipzig attractions. and the Bach Museum. About 100 concerts cover the full range of Bach’s output, from solo cello suites to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion, performed by world-class ensembles including the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Ticket prices range from €10 for church concerts to €120 for premium Gewandhaus performances. The 2026 dates are June 12-21. Some outdoor concerts on the Thomaskirchhof are free. Book the headline events 2 to 3 months ahead; they sell out.
Wave-Gotik-Treffen (WGT)
Held annually over the Pentecost weekend (late May or early June), WGT is the world’s largest goth, darkwave, and industrial music festival, drawing about 20,000 participants from over 50 countries.40+ venues including the Völkerschlachtdenkmal and clubs across multiple Leipzig neighborhoods, from Connewitz to the Zentrum. A full festival ticket costs about €170 and covers all transport on the Leipzig network, explained in detail in our Leipzig travel tips. plus entry to most events. The 2025 dates were June 6-9; 2026 falls on May 22-25.
Leipzig Opera Ball
Held in late June at the Leipzig Opera House on Augustusplatz, this black-tie gala features red-carpet arrivals, opera performances, and a midnight waltz. Individual tickets start around €250 and sell out to Opera subscribers first. The 2025 edition was on June 21.
Leipzig Events and Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Leipzig Jazz Days (Leipziger Jazztage)
Running for about 10 days in mid-October, the Jazztage programme covers everything from classic big-band swing to contemporary electronic jazz. Venues include the Opera House, the Gewandhaus, and clubs like the Telegraph and NaTo. Individual concert tickets range from €20 to €55. The full programme is published in August.
DOK Leipzig
The International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film (DOK Leipzig) runs for 6 days in late October or early November. Founded in 1955, it is one of the oldest documentary festivals in the world. Screenings take place at the Passage Kinos, the Schaubühne Lindenfels, and the CineStar. Festival passes cost about €55; individual tickets €7-8. The 2025 edition ran October 26 to November 1.
Leipzig Events and Festivals: Winter (December)
Leipzig Christmas Market (Leipziger Weihnachtsmarkt)
Dating back to 1458, the Leipzig Christmas Market is the second-oldest documented Christmas market in Germany (after Munich). Six interconnected markets spread across the city centre: the main market on Marktplatz with its giant Ferris wheel, the medieval market on Naschmarkt, the Finnish village on Augustusplatz serving reindeer sausage, the historic market at the Altes Rathaus courtyard, the South African market at Burgplatz, and the fairy-tale market at Richard-Wagner-Platz with a puppet theatre for children. The markets run from the last week of November through December 23, open Sunday to Thursday 10:00-21:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00-22:00. The famous Stollenfest on the Saturday before Advent features a giant 2-tonne stollen cake paraded through the Altstadt before being sliced and sold.
