Festivals, anniversaries and sport events highlight 2006 in Germany. In January, Dresden celebrates its 800th anniversary. From 27 January to 14 February, Munich celebrates Mozart's 250th birthday with a music festival featuring six Mozart operas: La Clemenza di Tito, Cosi fan tutte, Don Giovanni, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Le nozze di Figaro and The Magic Flute.
Carnival in Cologne, 24 February to 1 March, includes costumes, parties, balls and parades. From March to October, Dusseldorf celebrates its Quadriennale06 with international exhibitions. In 2006, they will feature works of art by Bruce Nauman; Caravaggio and Juan Munoz.
Each year, on the first Saturday in May, the towns on the Rhine, between Linz and Bonn, celebrate their 30 km romantic stretch of river with fireworks. From 3 to 5 June, Frankfurt/Main presents an Overture to the FIFA World Cup. For 45 minutes on three evenings, lighting effects and images of football stars will be projected, with music, onto the sides of eleven skyscrapers. Throughout the tournament, 15,000 fans can follow the games for free in the MainArena on a giant video screen on the river. The FIFA World Soccer Cup takes place 9 June to 9 July.
Munich hosts the Opera Festival from 25 June to 31 July and Bavarian Oktoberfest from 16 September to 4 October, with beer, music, sausages and 6 million visitors.
Over 2500 traditional German Christmas Markets take place from 23 November to 24 December. On 31 December, Berlin hosts a gigantic New Year's Eve street party at the Brandenburg Gate.
