Today in Passau: Highlights in the Old Town and at the Three Rivers Corner
Passau: Upcoming Events 2025/2026 – Don’t Miss These Highlights
This outlook compiles relevant events, festivals, and cultural dates coming up in Passau over the next few months. All information without guarantee; check the linked official sites before your visit for exact times, program changes, and ticket info.
Quick Overview of Upcoming Highlights
- Advent 2025: Christkindlmarkt at Domplatz (late November until shortly before Christmas)
- New Year’s Eve 2025/26: New Year’s Eve and Winter Cruises on Danube/Inn (if offered)
- Spring 2026: Maidult – the traditional folk festival
- Spring/Summer 2026: Organ concerts at St. Stephen’s Cathedral (season usually starts in spring)
- Early Summer 2026: European Weeks Passau – international cultural festival
- Summer 2026: Three Rivers Cruise with extended schedule and themed cruises
- Late Summer/Autumn 2026: Autumn Dult
Advent and New Year 2025/26
Passau Christkindlmarkt at Domplatz
During Advent, Domplatz transforms into the Christkindlmarkt with regional handicrafts, culinary delights, and stage programs. For 2025, opening hours, stage performances, and special tours will be published in good time. Check shortly before your visit for daily program highlights and possible special events.
Winter and Illuminated Cruises on the Rivers
Around the holidays and New Year’s, shipping companies typically offer special illuminated and event cruises. Availability, departure times, and onboard programs vary by provider and weather. Check booking status early, as places are usually limited.
Spring 2026
Maidult
The Maidult is considered the big folk festival in spring: festival tent atmosphere, rides, tradition and family days. Exact dates, tent programs, and travel tips are published by the city of Passau. Early reservations for popular days are recommended.
Start of the Music and Concert Season
With spring, the concert season begins in Passau’s churches and halls. Advance sales for high-demand dates often start weeks to months in advance. Subscribe to organizers’ newsletters to be informed early.
Music and Festival Highlights 2026
Organ Concerts at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
The concert series on the world-famous organ of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a fixture in Passau’s cultural calendar. Season and lunchtime concerts as well as special programs are announced continuously. Secure tickets in good time, especially for opening concerts and guest performances.
European Weeks Passau (Early Summer)
The renowned festival brings international artists from music, literature, and art to the city. Venues include sacred spaces and historic halls. The program with dates, casts, and ticket categories is published in phases.
Culture, Cabaret, and Awards 2026
Scharfrichterhaus: Cabaret, Small-Scale Art, Award Ceremonies
The traditional house announces its stage program on an ongoing basis – from cabaret to music to competitions and award evenings. Short-notice additional dates are possible; check the schedule regularly and book early for popular acts.
Municipal and Independent Stages
Readings, jazz and classical series, film and theme days complement the calendar. Seasonal focuses are updated at the turn of each quarter.
Exhibitions and Special Programs 2026
Oberhausmuseum and Special Exhibitions
The Oberhausmuseum is also planning changing special exhibitions and educational offers such as tours, lectures, and family programs for 2026. Dates, durations, and combination tickets appear on the museum’s website.
Collections and Thematic Series
Other venues in Passau publish their annual programs on a rolling basis. Watch for thematic series with accompanying events (openings, curator talks, workshops), which often have limited participant numbers.
On the Water: Seasonal and Themed Cruises 2026
The Three Rivers Cruise expands its schedule in spring and offers additional departures and themed cruises (e.g., culinary, music, or evening cruises) in the summer months. For groups, contingents and special charters are usually bookable in advance.
Late Summer and Autumn 2026
Autumn Dult
In autumn, the Dult returns with rides, festival tents, and regional specialties. In addition to the main evenings, family days and fireworks evenings are typically in high demand.
Autumn Cultural Series
With the start of the semester, university and city cultural formats pick up speed: lectures, panels, chamber concerts, cinema, and theme days are announced successively.
Planning, Tickets, and Daily Updates
- Official city event calendar: provides a continuously maintained overview of dates in Passau.
- Tourist Info Passau: bundles highlights, seasonal programs, and bookable offers.
- Organizers’ direct sites: for program details, casts, and advance sales start.
- Shipping companies and museums: publish seasonal schedules, special cruises, tours, and combination tickets.
- Tip: Use organizers’ newsletters/social media to catch short-notice additional dates and remaining tickets.
Sources and Further Links
- City of Passau – Official Event Calendar — continuously updated dates (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Tourist Information Passau – Events — highlights, service, booking (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Christkindlmarkt Passau — opening hours, program, arrival (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Dommusik Passau — organ concerts, season dates, tickets (accessed 2025-11-24)
- European Weeks Passau — festival program and advance sales (accessed 2025-11-24)
- City of Passau – Dult (Maidult/Herbstdult) — dates, program, information (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Wurm & Noé – Three Rivers Cruise — schedules, themed and event cruises (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Oberhausmuseum Passau — exhibitions, tours, events (accessed 2025-11-24)
- Scharfrichterhaus Passau — schedule, tickets, competitions (accessed 2025-11-24)
