Readings, Stand-Up & Discussions in Munich

Book readings, literature, poetry slam, lectures, stand-up comedy, talks and reports in Munich

There is one type of evening that is underrated like no other: the evening when someone simply speaks and you suddenly sit bolt upright because the words hit you full on. This is precisely the promise behind the spoken word category, and Munich delivers on it with a consistency that is frankly positively surprising. The city has a vibrant scene around readings, poetry slams, spoken word, lectures and all the formats where the human voice is the main instrument, and this calendar of events is fuller than you'd expect. The Literaturhaus München on Salvatorstraße is something like the parlour of Munich's literary scene: authors read from their latest works here, writers discuss the zeitgeist and society, and the program combines big names with fresh voices in a way that never feels dusty. If you like it a little rougher and more direct, the Isar Slam at the Ampere is the place for you: Munich's largest regular poetry slam brings some of the most successful slam poets in the German-speaking world to the stage and at the same time gives newcomers the chance to try their hand in front of a real audience, making every evening unpredictable and therefore particularly good. Spoken word is no longer a niche format, but a genuine cultural experience in which texts are not read but performed, and anyone who has experienced this live immediately understands the difference. With its U20 Poetry Slam, the Münchner Volkstheater also brings a format to the stage that shows how young and lively this scene really is: young slammers deliver their texts with an energy and directness that is rarely found in the traditional literary scene. If you're looking for something a little more specific, the Queer Slam Munich is a monthly event that combines spoken word with visibility and shows how political and personal this format can be at the same time. And then there are the many bookshops in the city, above all the Literaturhandlung in Schwabing or the Lehmkuhl, which regularly host readings in an intimate setting where you almost feel like you know the authors personally afterwards. The nice thing about spoken word events is that they invite you to simply listen without having to be educated beforehand, without a dress code and without fear of contact. A good text hits you whether you read a lot or a little, whether you have studied literature or last had a book in your hand at school. Munich offers the right places and formats for all of this, and in our calendar of events on Rausgegangen you will always find the next opportunity to take words seriously again and experience an evening that will stay with you for a long time.