The large-scale festivities, including the traditional parade and a two-day open-air festival on Odeonsplatz on March 14 and 15, 2026, promise to be among the season’s most vibrant events. However, the festive atmosphere will require patience from residents and guests.
The procession and concert venues in the heart of the city will bring significant adjustments to the operation of surface transport. As reported by the Munich Transport Company (MVG), numerous bus routes will change their paths to make way for the jubilant procession.
Bus route changes during the parade
The main phase of restrictions will occur on Sunday, March 15, 2026, when the festive procession occupies the city’s main arteries — Leopoldstraße and Ludwigstraße. Between 11:30 AM and approximately 2:00 PM, the City Hall and transport services are introducing a special schedule for the following lines:
- Bus 53: Coming from Aidenbachstraße, the bus will terminate early at Kurfürstendplatz and turn around via Scheidplatz. Stops from Pündterplatz to Münchner Freiheit will temporarily not be served.
- Bus 54: The route will be significantly shortened. From the Mauerkircherstraße stop, buses will detour via Ifflandstraße and Isarring to Scheidplatz. Popular spots like the Chinesischer Turm and Münchner Freiheit will be without bus service.
- CityRing 58 and 68: These lines will be diverted via Dietlindenstraße. Specifically, Bus 58 will run between Pinakotheken and Mauerkircherstraße via the Dietlindenstraße subway station, bypassing stops such as Universität, Siegestor, and Chinesischer Turm.
- Bus 59: Transport will bypass the section between Dietlindenstraße and Elisabethplatz. Passengers should note that the Friedrichstraße and Kurfürstenplatz stops will not be served.
- Museum Line 100: To avoid the closed square, buses will be directed through the Altstadtring tunnel. The Von-der-Tann-Straße and Odeonsplatz stops will temporarily disappear from the route list.
- Bus 142: This line will connect Parzivalplatz with the Dietlindenstraße subway station. To reach Münchner Freiheit, passengers are advised to transfer to Tram 23.
- Buses 153 and 154: Routes will be either shortened or diverted. Line 153 will only operate between Nordbad and Pinakotheken (or Universität depending on the time), while Bus 154 will detour via Widenmayerstraße, bypassing the University and Siegestor.
Recommendations for visitors: Subway is the best choice
Even after the main parade concludes, restrictions will not be fully lifted. Between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM, and again from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Bus 100 will still be unable to serve Odeonsplatz, and Line 153 will operate only as far as Universität.
The festive procession in honor of Ireland’s patron saint traditionally starts at Münchner Freiheit at 12:00 PM and finishes at Odeonsplatz. Due to the expected influx of thousands of spectators, the City Hall and the transport company strongly recommend avoiding the use of private cars and surface transport in the city center. The most reliable way to reach the epicenter of the events is via subway lines U3 and U6. MVG specialists suggest exiting at the Universität or Giselastraße stations to distribute evenly along the parade route and avoid overcrowding at the final points. Current information on delays and changes will be broadcast on electronic displays and via audio announcements at stations.
Source: MVG
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