State museums in Bavaria recorded a record number of visitors last year, exceeding pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The greatest increase in interest was noted by institutions in Munich, including the famous Pinakothek museums. This success is attributed to successful temporary exhibitions, increased promotional activity, and the return of tourists, especially from abroad. These results are significant for the cultural budget of this federal state.
Record museum attendance
The network of Bavarian state museums welcomed over 7 million visitors last year, which is a historic record and represents an increase of over a dozen percent compared to 2019.
Leaders in Munich
The most popular were the Munich Pinakothek museums and the Egyptian Museum, whose exhibitions attracted hundreds of thousands of guests individually.
Success factors
The result was due to attractive temporary exhibitions, effective promotion on social media, and the return of international tourism after pandemic restrictions.
Impact on culture and economy
High attendance translates into greater own-source revenue for museums and strengthens arguments for stable public funding of cultural institutions in Bavaria.
State museums in Bavaria recorded an absolute attendance record in the last calendar year, welcoming over 7 million visitors in total. This result not only exceeded the 2019 data by over a dozen percent (2019 being the last full year before the pandemic) but is also the highest in the history of this network of institutions. Key players in this success were the largest venues in Munich, including the Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek, as well as the Egyptian Museum, which organized high-profile temporary exhibitions. The Bavarian State Painting Collections, which manage the Pinakothek museums among others, have their roots in the princely collections of the House of Wittelsbach, accumulated since the 16th century. These institutions, nationalized in the 19th century, have long been one of Europe's most important museum complexes dedicated to art. Experts point to several reasons for this marked improvement. Firstly, the end of pandemic restrictions allowed for the full return of tourists, especially from America and Asia, who traditionally form an important group of visitors to Bavarian museums. Secondly, the institutions themselves significantly intensified their marketing activities, actively using social media to promote their collections and events. The management also emphasizes that a carefully planned program of temporary exhibitions, combining ancient art with contemporary interpretations, proved extremely effective in attracting a new, younger audience. Attendance at Bavarian State Museums: 2019: 6.1, 2020: 1.8, 2021: 2.5, 2022: 4.7, 2023: 6.5, 2024: 7.2 High attendance has a direct impact on the museums' financial situation. Increased ticket sales and revenue from ancillary activities, such as shops or cafés, boost their own-source income, which is significant in the context of discussions about public cultural funding. The Bavarian Ministry of Science and Art has already announced that the record result will be taken into account when planning next year's budget, which could mean additional funds for collection conservation and new projects. The Bavarian success has been noted across Germany, where other federal states are also reporting a gradual rebuilding of visitor numbers in cultural institutions after the difficult period of lockdowns.