Bavaria's €130,000 Advent concert sparks political backlash over spending
Over €100,000 for an Advent concert: Söder government forced to disclose costs—and faces backlash
The fallout from Markus Söder's inaugural "Advent Concert" continues to grow. The Greens have now compelled the government to reveal the event's price tag—and they argue that €130,000 is a bit steep.
Munich — It was a festive, atmospheric Advent concert in mid-December, hosted by Markus Söder at Munich's opulent Cuvilliés Theatre. But ever since, there has been a conspicuous silence whenever the opposition asked about the costs. Only now—two months and numerous evasive responses later—has the state government provided a figure. In a letter to Green Party budget spokesperson Claudia Köhler, obtained by this newspaper, officials estimate the total at "around €130,000."
€130,000 for Söder's Advent concert—government dismisses criticism
Köhler had pressed repeatedly for answers, even enlisting the support of State Parliament President Ilse Aigner (CSU). After all, posing questions to the government and receiving substantive responses is a core right of lawmakers. Initially, the State Chancellery tried to deflect the Greens with a non-answer, citing a cutoff date just before the concert—when, conveniently, no invoices had yet been processed. Now, at least, a total sum has been disclosed, though not broken down by individual expenses or fees—a move that would likely expose the payments to artists and presenters, which the government claims cannot be demanded.
Whether €130,000 is justified for the evening is sure to spark debate. The state government has pointed out that the guest list at the lavish theater included not only VIPs from politics, business, and society but also many volunteers. The program—featuring Haindling, Claudia Koreck, the Regensburg Cathedral Choir, and host Florian Silbereisen—showcased a cross-section of Bavarian culture. Söder himself did not perform; his only stage appearance was a brief chat with Silbereisen and the Nuremberg Christkind. Instead, his State Chancellery Minister, Florian Herrmann (also CSU), delivered a ceremonial reading from the Nativity story.
Greens slam costs of Söder's Advent concert: "This money could have been better spent"
Green politician Köhler criticized the expenditure at a time of austerity. "For €130,000, Mr. Söder may style himself as a patron of the arts, but in the 2026 budget draft, music schools are facing a €1.242 million cut compared to 2025," she said. "That money would have been far better used there. The attempts to dodge a straightforward answer make me hope the minister-president at least feels a twinge of guilt."
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