Munich, Germany · 19 September – 4 October 2026
Oktoberfest is famous around the world for enormous beer steins, packed beer halls and Bavarian food. But Munich’s biggest celebration is much more than a beer festival.
For 16 days, the Theresienwiese becomes a vast mix of food and drink, traditional costumes and parades, live music, folk dancing, games and a huge fairground filled with rides and attractions.
The 191st Oktoberfest takes place from 19 September to 4 October 2026 — with much more to discover beyond beer and Bavarian food.
How It All Began
Oktoberfest began in 1810, when Munich celebrated the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
The celebrations concluded with a horse race on a meadow outside the city gates. The site was named Theresienwiese — “Therese’s meadow” — in honour of the bride.
More than two centuries later, Oktoberfest is still held there. Locals commonly call the festival simply “Wiesn”, a name derived from Theresienwiese.
What started with a royal wedding and horse racing gradually evolved into what organisers describe today as the world’s largest folk festival.
Just how big is the Wiesn?
Oktoberfest 2026 covers 34.5 hectares.
This year, organisers received applications from 954 businesses, with 478 selected to take part. They include 243 amusement ride operators, 182 market vendors, 36 food and beverage businesses, as well as other festival services.
So those roller coasters, carousels, games and the giant Ferris wheel aren't simply extras surrounding the beer tents. The fairground is a major part of Oktoberfest itself.
And alongside the modern rides is Oide Wiesn, a historical area celebrating the traditional side of the festival with nostalgic attractions, music and Bavarian culture.
Better come hungry
Beer may get most of the international attention, but food is a major part of the Wiesn experience too.
Traditional favourites include roast chicken, sausages, pretzels and hearty Bavarian dishes, with food available throughout the festival grounds and inside the tents.
And then there is the entertainment. Oktoberfest combines the atmosphere of a food and beer festival with something closer to a giant traditional fair.
Visitors can move between rides and games, beer tents, live bands and cultural performances — including Bavarian folk dancing.
Oktoberfest 2026: dates to know
There is something happening throughout the 16-day festival, but several traditional events stand out in the official 2026 programme.
19 September — Oktoberfest begins
The opening Saturday starts at 10:35 am with the traditional parade of Oktoberfest landlords and Munich breweries.
Around 1,000 participants, accompanied by decorated horse-drawn brewery carriages and festival wagons, make their way towards Theresienwiese.
At 12 noon, attention moves to the Schottenhamel Festhalle, where Munich’s mayor taps the first keg and announces:
“Ozapft is!” — “It’s tapped!”
With that, Oktoberfest 2026 is officially open.
20 September — Traditional Costume and Hunters’ Parade
The following morning brings one of Oktoberfest’s most colourful traditions.
At 10 am, around 9,000 participants take part in a procession through Munich towards the festival grounds.
Traditional costumes, brass and marching bands, marksmen, decorated floats and groups from Bavaria and elsewhere in Europe turn the streets into a celebration of regional culture.
24 September — Oktoberfest church service
At 9:30 am, the traditional ecumenical Oktoberfest service takes place in the Marstall festival tent.
The service has particular significance for the people who work at the Wiesn — including landlords, market traders and fairground operators — but visitors can also attend.
27 September — Hundreds of musicians play together
At 11 am, the bands from the large festival tents gather beneath the Bavaria statue for the traditional open-air concert.
Around 300 musicians perform together, filling the festival grounds with Bavarian and Alpine music. The concert is free to watch.
4 October — The traditional finale
On the final Sunday, around 60 marksmen gather beneath the Bavaria statue at 12 noon for the traditional closing gun salute.
No bullets are fired — the salute uses black powder — but expect plenty of noise and smoke.
The festival continues afterwards, with Oktoberfest 2026 officially ending later that evening.
So, how much is a beer at Oktoberfest 2026?
A Maß — one litre of Oktoberfest beer — costs between €14.80 and €15.90 in 2026, depending on the festival tent.
That compares with €14.50–€15.80 in 2025, an average increase of 2.38%.
Among the announced prices:
· Augustiner-Festhalle — €14.90
· Hofbräu-Festzelt — €15.80
· Hacker-Festzelt — €15.80
· Löwenbräu-Festzelt — €15.90
Prices are set by the individual businesses rather than the City of Munich.
Is Oktoberfest worth visiting if you don't drink beer?
- Absolutely.
Despite its international reputation as the ultimate beer festival, Oktoberfest is officially a Volksfest — a folk festival.
The beer halls are a huge part of the experience, but so are the traditional parades, costumes, live music, food, folk dancing, rides, games and fairground atmosphere.
Families come for the attractions. Visitors line Munich's streets for the traditional parades. Others come for the food, music or simply to experience a festival that has been part of the city for more than two centuries.
Oktoberfest without beer? Entirely possible.
Oktoberfest without something happening around you? Probably much harder.
Oktoberfest 2026 at a glance
Dates: 19 September – 4 October 2026
Where: Theresienwiese, Munich, Germany
Edition: 191st Oktoberfest
Duration: 16 days
Festival area: 34.5 hectares
Beer price: €14.80–€15.90 per litre
Opening ceremony: 19 September, 12 noon
Costume parade: 20 September, 10 am
Traditional concert: 27 September, 11 am
Closing gun salute: 4 October, 12 noon
For current visitor information, programme updates and details about the festival, visit the official Oktoberfest website:
Sources: Official Oktoberfest Munich / City of Munich, Oktoberfest 2026 Official Programme, Oktoberfest 2026 — Official Beer Prices
