The popular German Crime Film Festival, at which the German Television Crime Award is presented, is always held in March at the Caligari FilmBühne. Since 2005, it has presented the year's most outstanding crime thriller productions from German-speaking countries. It arose from the idea of giving television crime drama a platform that does justice to its enduring appeal, inexhaustible range and social relevance.

In the historic Caligari FilmBühne, the festival brings together industry representatives, rolls out the red carpet for premieres for broadcasters and production companies and offers the audience the opportunity to meet film and series makers directly.

Every year, the program of the International May Festival, which has been one of the oldest and most renowned theater festivals in Europe since it was founded in 1896, is eagerly awaited. For one month, artists from all over the world come together here - whether opera, ballet, drama or concerts. The beautiful historical backdrop of the theater provides the perfect setting for glamorous festival evenings.

Always at Whitsun: When spring reaches its peak, Biebrich Palace Park becomes the backdrop for one of the most beautiful horse shows in Germany: the LONGINESS Whitsun Tournament Wiesbaden. For over 90 years, it has been attracting equestrian sports enthusiasts, families and celebrities to the Hessian state capital.

Top international riders compete in dressage, show jumping, eventing and vaulting against the unique backdrop of the baroque palace. Equestrian sport takes center stage, but the show is so much more: a social highlight with picnic blankets in the countryside and a hint of a British garden party!

Once a year, always in June, Wiesbaden's "Rue" - Wilhelmstrasse - becomes a festival mile for three days: At the Wilhelmstrasse Festival, thousands of visitors celebrate a festival full of music, joie de vivre and enjoyment between the Kurhaus, Bowling Green and Taunusstrasse.

Regional and international artists provide the best entertainment on several stages - from jazz to rock to world music. Street artists, arts and crafts, culinary delights and a stylish ambience make the festival a unique experience.

Incidentally, the "Theatrium", as the festival is also known, was launched in 1977 to mark the reopening of the renovated Hessisches Staatstheater. Over the years, it has developed into a real classic.

You can look forward to a "summer full of music" at the Rheingau Music Festival, where over 150 concerts await you at the most beautiful venues in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau from June to September.

Alongside Kloster Eberbach, Schloss Johannisberg and Schloss Vollrads, the Wiesbaden Kurhaus is one of the festival's main venues. In the magnificent Friedrich-von-Thiersch-Saal as well as in the concert shell in the Kurpark, special concerts in special places are on the program.

Every summer in August, Wiesbaden's city center is transformed into the "longest wine bar in the world" for ten days: The Rheingau Wine Week invites visitors to enjoy and celebrate under the motto "Ten days - one wine region - over 100 stands - more than 1,000 wines and sparkling wines".

Around the Marktkirche, Schlossplatz and Dern'sches Gelände, over 100 Rheingau winegrowers will be serving their best wines at their stands. Live and lounge music at its best is offered on five stages. A real highlight in the event calendar!

Every year in August - and for the past 20 years - the red carpet is rolled out over a length of almost 300 meters at the Taunus Street Festival. Here you can stroll around, browse in the special stores and indulge in culinary delights at the festively laid tables. There are also historical city tours, live music and fashion shows.

Since 1986, the Wiesbaden Literature Days have been held every two years in the Hessian state capital at the Literaturhaus Villa Clementine and are a real highlight for all literature fans. At these events, an author designs the artistic program and accompanies it for a week as host.

The programs include readings as well as films, concerts, discussions, staged readings and exhibitions. While some hosts of the Literature Days follow a theme or motif, others put together their own free-associative program with their own handwriting. The result is always a personal insight into the networks of literature, art, theater and music of the respective host or hostess. One of the first hosts was Erich Fried.

Every two years in October, European artists between the ages of 12 and 25 compete in friendly encounters in several competitions at the European Youth Circus in the middle of Wiesbaden. They meet each other without national, cultural or linguistic boundaries and thus set an example for peaceful cooperation in the European community.

In the large circus tent on the Dern grounds, the best that young talent has to offer in the fields of artistry, acrobatics and fantasy is presented in a private atmosphere. For many, the festival is a springboard for an international career.

The next European Youth Circus will be held from October 22 to 25, 2026.

The pre-Christmas period in Wiesbaden is inextricably linked with the Sternschnuppenmarkt. From the end of November to 23 December, Christmas stalls, a stage program and offers for children await you on Schlossplatz and in front of the Marktkirche. On Luisenplatz, the popular Kindersternschnuppenmarkt opens its doors and on Mauritiusplatz, you can enjoy the best view of Christmassy Wiesbaden from the 45-metre-high Ferris wheel.

As every year, the foyer of the Kurhaus features a very special Christmas tree made up of around 2,000 poinsettias, which light up the room in a festive red.