Review of 2024: music, films and cultural events in Germany
From Billie Eilish to Wacken Open Air: Germany's most popular cultural offerings in 2024.
The most successful international music productions in Germany:
Taylor Swift – “The Tortured Poets Department”: concert-goers were impressed by Swift's performances in Hamburg, Munich and Gelsenkirchen. The city in the west of Germany was even renamed “Swiftkirchen” temporarily.
Billie Eilish – “Hit Me Hard And Soft”: the artist will be touring Germany in spring 2025.
The most successful German music productions:
Ayliva x Apache 207 – Wunder: the rapper Apache 207 from Mannheim and pop singer Ayliva from Recklinghausen sang about the ups and downs of a failed relationship.
Germany's summer hit was "Bauch Beine Po" by the rapper Shirin David from Hamburg.
The most successful international films in German cinemas:
“Inside Out 2”: the animated film actually came out a day sooner in Germany than it did in the US.
“Despicable Me 4”: next up on the list of the most popular international films is another animated film. More than 4.3 million people saw the film in Germany.
Most successful German films in cinemas:
“Chantal im Märchenland” in this comedy film Chantal and her friend Zeynep step through a magic mirror to enter a crazy fairy tale world.
The German-Iranian-French co-production “The Seed Of The Sacred Fig” received a special award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was selected as German entry in the “Best International Feature Film” category of the 2025 Academy Awards.
Most popular German series:
“Murder Mindfully”: mindfulness exercises unexpectedly turn a stressed lawyer into a murderer.
“Maxton Hall” A student from a working-class family attends the elite college Maxton Hall thanks to a scholarship, and falls in love with a wealthy classmate.
“Dear Child” received the International Emmy Award
Most popular cultural events in Germany:
Oktoberfest in Munich: around 6.7 million people attended the 189th Oktoberfest in 2024.
With over 6,000 exhibitors and more than 500,000 visitors, the book fairs in Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig were also very successful.
Around 200,000 visitors attended the “Glücksgefühle” music festival with acts such as the Backstreet Boys.
Wacken Open Air: around 85,000 heavy metal fans came to hear bands such as the Scorpions and Korn.
