Oktoberfest 2026 & 2027 Dates

When is Oktoberfest 2027?

The City of Munich’s Oktoberfestverordnung (§ 2, Geltungsdauer) applies from the 15th day before the first Sunday in October, which it spells out as the corresponding Saturday in September, until 03:00 on the Monday after that first Sunday. If 3 October (German Unity Day) falls on the first Monday or Tuesday of October, the ordinance runs until 03:00 on the following Tuesday or Wednesday. The first Sunday of October 2027 is 3 October, so the ordinance period starts on Saturday 18 September 2027 and the last full festival day is Sunday 3 October 2027.

Two caveats. The ordinance sets when its rules apply and also says that a city council decision can change the length of the festival, so the organiser’s own 2027 announcement is the final word. And we have checked the date rule, not a published 2027 programme: tent lists, beer prices and reservations for 2027 are not available yet.

What is Oktoberfest?

First held in 1810, Oktoberfest has grown into a Munich institution that regularly attracts around six million visitors. It opens when the Lord Mayor taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent with the cry “O’zapft is!”, after which beer is served across the grounds.

The festival takes place on the Theresienwiese, a large open space close to Munich city centre, and combines a dozen or so big beer tents with smaller tents, food stalls and a full funfair.

• Where: Theresienwiese, Munich, Germany.
• When (2026): Saturday 19 September – Sunday 4 October 2026 (the 191st Oktoberfest).
• When (2027): Saturday 18 September – Sunday 3 October 2027, derived from the city ordinance (not yet announced on the official site).
• Opening ceremony: 12:00 noon on the first Saturday — the Lord Mayor taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent with the cry “O’zapft is!”.
• Format: ~16-day Bavarian folk and beer festival with large tents and a funfair; free entry to the grounds.

Planning a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest

Munich is well connected by air and rail, and the Theresienwiese is a short walk or U-Bahn ride from the centre. Tent tables for groups should be reserved well in advance, while individual visitors can often find space outside peak weekend hours.

Book accommodation and travel early — the city sells out during festival weeks. Tent reservations for 2026 open on a rolling basis tent by tent from spring, so check each tent’s own booking page on the official site for current availability.

• Upcoming events in Germany
• Things to do in Munich

Where is Oktoberfest held?

On the Theresienwiese, a large fairground close to Munich city centre in Germany, reachable on foot or by U-Bahn.

When is Oktoberfest 2026?

Oktoberfest 2026 (the 191st Wiesn) runs from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026. The festival opens at 12:00 noon on 19 September, when the Lord Mayor taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel tent.

When is Oktoberfest 2027?

Oktoberfest 2027 is expected to run from Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2027 on the Theresienwiese in Munich, opening at 12:00 noon on 18 September with the traditional keg-tapping ceremony. The dates follow from the city’s Oktoberfestverordnung (§ 2: from the 15th day before the first Sunday in October); the official site had not published a 2027 page when we checked on 2 October 2026.

When is Oktoberfest / when does it start?

Oktoberfest is held every year in Munich, starting on a Saturday in mid-to-late September and ending on the first Sunday of October, or on 3 October (German Unity Day) when that falls on the Monday or Tuesday after. It opens at noon on the first Saturday. In 2026 it runs 19 September–4 October; in 2027 it is expected to run 18 September–3 October.

Wann ist das Oktoberfest 2026 und 2027?

Das Oktoberfest 2026 (die 191. Wiesn) findet von Samstag, 19. September, bis Sonntag, 4. Oktober 2026 statt. Das Oktoberfest 2027 dürfte von Samstag, 18. September, bis Sonntag, 3. Oktober 2027 dauern. Das ergibt sich aus § 2 der Oktoberfestverordnung der Stadt München (ab dem 15. Tag vor dem ersten Sonntag im Oktober); eine offizielle Ankündigung für 2027 lag am 2. Oktober 2026 noch nicht vor. Anstich ist traditionell um 12:00 Uhr am ersten Samstag.

How do I get to the festival grounds?

The Theresienwiese has its own U-Bahn stop and is within walking distance of Munich’s main station and centre; driving and parking near the site is impractical during the festival.

Do you need tickets for Oktoberfest?

No ticket is needed to enter the grounds — admission is free, and you simply pay for beer, food and rides once inside. Getting a table in a tent is the harder part: each of the 14 large tents runs its own reservations directly (no central booking system), and groups should book well ahead via the tent’s own page on the official site. Solo visitors and small groups can often find space by arriving early on weekdays.

What should I wear to Oktoberfest?

Traditional Bavarian dress — a dirndl for women, lederhosen for men — is widely worn and welcomed, though not required; plenty of visitors go in ordinary clothes. If you do dress up, prioritise comfortable shoes over strict tradition, since you will be on your feet and walking cobbled fairground paths for hours.

The 14 big beer tents

Each of the 14 large tents is run by a different Munich brewery or restaurateur and has its own character, capacity and (often) live oompah band. Picking the right one matters more than picking a "best" Oktoberfest experience — there isn't one, only the one that suits your group.

• Schottenhamel — where the Mayor taps the first keg; young, loud, popular with locals and students.
• Hofbräu-Festzelt — the rowdiest big tent, dominated by international visitors and standing-room crowds.
• Hacker-Festzelt ("Bavarian Heaven") — a painted sky ceiling, popular with a younger German crowd.
• Löwenbräu-Festzelt — known for its giant roaring lion mascot above the entrance.
• Augustiner-Festhalle — pours from traditional wooden kegs; a local favourite for its beer.
• Paulaner Festzelt (Winzerer Fähndl) — a rotating tower on the roof, big and family-friendly by day.
• Käfer Wiesn-Schänke — smaller, upscale, popular with celebrities; often the last tent open at night.
• Kufflers Weinzelt — the wine tent, for visitors who want Champagne and wine over beer.
• Marstall Festzelt — a horse-themed tent on the former royal stables site.
• Ochsenbraterei — famous for spit-roasted ox alongside the beer.
• Pschorr-Festzelt Bräurosl — a big, traditional tent with a strong Bavarian folk-music programme.
• Armbrustschützenzelt — attached to a working crossbow-shooting range and competition.
• Fischer-Vroni — the fish tent, known for grilled Steckerlfisch (fish on a stick).
• Festhalle Schottenhamel and the others sit alongside dozens of smaller tents and stalls around the grounds.

• Full tent list and booking pages — oktoberfest.de

How much does Oktoberfest cost?

Grounds entry, rides and most stalls are pay-as-you-go — there is no admission ticket. The main cost is the beer itself: at Oktoberfest 2025 a Maß (1 litre) ranged from about €14.50 at the cheapest tent (Augustiner) to about €15.80 at the priciest (Armbrustschützenzelt), roughly 3.5% higher than 2024. Munich's city council publishes the confirmed price range each year in August, shortly before the festival opens — check the official site nearer the time for the exact 2026 figures.

Budget for food on top of beer (a roast chicken or pork knuckle typically runs €15–20), plus fairground rides and any tent reservation deposit. Non-alcoholic drinks are not much cheaper than beer — a litre of tap water or a soft drink both commonly cost €10–13 inside the tents.

• Official current-year beer price — oktoberfest.de

Tips for first-time visitors

• Arrive early on weekdays (before 11:00) if you don't have a reservation — tents fill fast from midday, especially on weekends, and most tables inside are reserved from 18:00 onward.
• A tent table reservation typically requires prepaying for a set number of Maß beers and food vouchers per seat — book directly through each tent's own page months ahead for weekend slots.
• Bring cash — many stalls and some tents are still cash-only or card-unreliable, though large tents increasingly accept cards.
• Pace yourself: a Maß is a full litre at roughly 6% ABV, and the festival deliberately keeps free drinking water available at marked stations.
• The Oide Wiesn (the "old" heritage area) has a small separate entry fee, historic rides, and a calmer, more traditional crowd — a good alternative if the big tents feel too rowdy.
• Lockers/cloakrooms are limited — travel light, and keep valuables on you rather than checking bags.