When is Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest 2026 runs from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 4, 2026 — 16 days of Bavarian beer, music, and tradition on Munich’s Theresienwiese fairgrounds. This will be the 191st Oktoberfest. If the September start date surprises you, you’re not alone. Despite the name, the festival has always begun in mid-to-late September, when Munich’s weather is warmer and the long beer-garden afternoons are at their best. It simply runs into early October — and in 2026 it stretches to October 4 to include the first weekend of the month. One date worth circling: Saturday, October 3 is German Unity Day, a national holiday. Expect the grounds to be especially packed that weekend.
The Oktoberfest 2026 opening day (Saturday, September 19)
Opening day follows a centuries-old ritual that’s worth seeing in person:- 9:00 a.m. — The beer tents open their doors.
- ~10:45 a.m. — The Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries begins, a colorful parade of horse-drawn beer wagons, brass bands, and decorated carriages winding through the city to the fairgrounds, led by the Münchner Kindl (Munich’s child mascot) on horseback.
- 12:00 noon — Munich’s Lord Mayor taps the first keg inside the Schottenhamel tent and shouts “O’zapft is!” (“It’s tapped!”). Only then does the beer officially begin to flow across the festival. Twelve gun salutes signal to the other tents that serving can begin.
Oktoberfest 2026 schedule: key events
Four signature moments anchor the festival calendar: Opening Parade & Ceremonial Tapping — Saturday, September 19. The landlords’ entry and the noon keg-tapping described above. Traditional Costume & Riflemen’s Parade — Sunday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. One of the highlights of the entire festival: roughly 9,000 participants in historic Bavarian and Alpine dress, marching bands, riflemen, and decorated horses parade about 7 km through Munich. It’s free to watch from the streets. Daily life on the Wiesn — September 21 to October 3. Tents, rides, parades of oompah music, and the famous fairground attractions run every day. Closing Ceremony — Sunday, October 4. On the final evening, the Hacker-Pschorr tent hosts an unofficial but beloved farewell: the lights dim, thousands of guests light sparklers, and the crowd links arms to sing traditional songs together. It’s an emotional send-off until next year.Daily opening hours
Hours differ slightly between the opening Saturday, regular days, and the large versus smaller tents:| Day type | Fairgrounds & tents | Beer service |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Saturday (Sept 19) | Tents open 9:00 a.m. | Beer from 12:00 noon |
| Weekdays (Mon–Fri) | 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Last beer ~10:30 p.m. |
| Weekends & holidays | 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Last beer ~10:30 p.m. |
How much does a beer cost at Oktoberfest 2026?
A Maß (one litre) of beer at Oktoberfest 2026 costs between €14.80 and €15.90, averaging €15.61. The cheapest beer in a large tent is at the Augustiner-Festhalle (€14.90); the most expensive is €15.90 at the Armbrustschützen-Festzelt, Bräurosl and Löwenbräu-Festzelt. Prices are set by each tent’s host and brewery, not by the city, and rose roughly 2.6–2.8% on 2025.
Kufflers Weinzelt is the outlier at €18.40 — it pours Paulaner wheat beer rather than standard Oktoberfestbier, alongside its wine list. The cheapest beer on the whole Wiesn is in the Oide Wiesn’s Museumszelt at €14.80.
| Tent | Brewery | Maß price |
|---|---|---|
| Augustiner-Festhalle | Augustiner | €14.90 — cheapest large tent |
| Fischer-Vroni | Augustiner | €15.75 |
| Hacker-Festzelt | Hacker-Pschorr | €15.80 |
| Hofbräuhaus-Festzelt | Hofbräu | €15.80 |
| Käfer Wiesn-Schänke | Paulaner | €15.80 |
| Marstall | Spaten | €15.80 |
| Ochsenbraterei | Spaten | €15.80 |
| Paulaner-Festzelt | Paulaner | €15.80 |
| Schottenhamel-Festhalle | Spaten | €15.80 |
| Schützen-Festzelt | Löwenbräu | €15.80 |
| Armbrustschützen-Festzelt | Paulaner | €15.90 |
| Bräurosl | Hacker-Pschorr | €15.90 |
| Löwenbräu-Festzelt | Löwenbräu | €15.90 — joint most expensive |
| Kufflers Weinzelt | Paulaner (wheat beer) | €18.40 — wheat beer, not Oktoberfestbier |
| Average across the Wiesn | €15.61 | |
Oide Wiesn prices
The historical Oide Wiesn section is consistently cheaper: Museumszelt €14.80, Volkssängerzelt €14.90, Musikantenzelt €15.30, Festzelt Tradition €15.80. If you want the traditional atmosphere and a lower bill, that’s where to go.
Beer prices confirmed for Oktoberfest 2026 (19 September – 4 October 2026). Last checked August 2026.
Entry, tents, and reservations
Entry to Oktoberfest is free. You don’t need a ticket to walk the grounds or enter a tent — but a seat is another matter. There are 14 large beer tents plus numerous smaller and traditional tents, along with the Oide Wiesn (“Old Oktoberfest”), a quieter historical section with vintage rides and a small entrance fee. On weekends and evenings the big tents fill up fast and often close their doors when full, so:- Arrive early (late morning on weekends) if you don’t have a reservation.
- Table reservations are made directly with each tent, are usually free but require a minimum food-and-beer voucher purchase, and tend to sell out months in advance.
- Weekday mornings and afternoons are the easiest times to walk in without a booking.
Getting to the Theresienwiese
The fairgrounds sit just southwest of Munich’s city center and are easy to reach by public transport:- U-Bahn: Theresienwiese (U4/U5), Goetheplatz (U3/U6), or Schwanthalerhöhe (U4/U5).
- S-Bahn / regional: Hauptbahnhof (Munich Central Station) is a roughly 15-minute walk.
Quick-reference: Oktoberfest 2026 at a glance
- Dates: September 19 – October 4, 2026 (16 days)
- Edition: 191st Oktoberfest
- Location: Theresienwiese, Munich, Germany
- Opening tap: Saturday, Sept 19, 12:00 noon (Schottenhamel tent)
- Costume parade: Sunday, Sept 20, 10:00 a.m.
- Closing day: Sunday, October 4
- Entry: Free; reservations recommended for tent seating
- Beer: Served by the liter (Maß); €14.80–€15.90, averaging €15.61
Heading to Munich this year? Check out our companion guides on choosing a beer tent, what to wear, and where to stay during Oktoberfest. We update this page as official 2026 details are confirmed.
Oktoberfest 2026: frequently asked questions
When is Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest 2026 runs from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026 — 16 days on the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich. This is the 191st Oktoberfest. The festival opens at noon on the 19th when Munich’s Lord Mayor taps the first keg in the Schottenhamel-Festhalle.
Do you need a ticket to get into Oktoberfest?
No. Entry to Oktoberfest is free, and so is entry to all 14 large beer tents. You pay only for what you eat, drink and ride. What people usually mean by “tickets” is a table reservation — a different thing, booked directly with an individual tent, and not required to attend.
How much is a beer at Oktoberfest 2026?
A one-litre Maß costs €14.80 to €15.90, averaging €15.61 in 2026. The cheapest large tent is the Augustiner-Festhalle at €14.90; the priciest are Armbrustschützen, Bräurosl and Löwenbräu at €15.90. Budget €1–2 more per Maß for the tip, and bring cash — most tents don’t take cards.
Why is Oktoberfest held in September?
The first Oktoberfest was the October 1810 wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese — the Theresienwiese is named after her. The dates were later shifted earlier into September for warmer weather and longer evenings, which is why a festival called Oktoberfest now mostly happens in September and simply runs into October.
What time does Oktoberfest open each day?
Tents open at 10:00 a.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. at weekends and on holidays, closing at 11:30 p.m., with last beer served around 10:30 p.m. Opening Saturday is the exception: tents open at 9:00 a.m. but no beer is poured until the ceremonial tapping at 12:00 noon.
Which days are busiest, and which should you avoid?
The busiest and most expensive periods are both weekends, the middle Saturday, and 3 October (German Unity Day), which in 2026 falls on the closing weekend. Popular tents routinely close their doors when full, sometimes by late morning. Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the quietest, and the easiest time to walk in without a reservation.