Planning a trip to the world’s largest folk festival? Here’s everything you need to know about Oktoberfest 2026, including the official dates, the full schedule of events, daily opening hours, what a beer will cost, and the traditions that make the Munich Wiesn unlike anything else on earth.
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 MĂĽnchner 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.
No beer is served before noon on opening day, so plan your morning around the ceremony rather than a 9 a.m. MaĂź.
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. |
Across the large tents, the music typically winds down and the last MaĂź is served around 10:30 p.m., with tents emptying by 11:30 p.m. The smaller and traditional tents keep similar hours, with the last song around 11:00 p.m.
How much does a beer cost at Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest beer is served only by the MaĂź — a full one-liter stein. For reference, in 2025 the official price ranged from about €14.50 to €15.80 per MaĂź depending on the tent. The 2026 prices are typically announced by the city in the summer; based on recent years, expect a modest increase, likely in the €15–€16.50 range. We’ll update this article once the official 2026 figures are confirmed.
A few things to budget for beyond the beer itself: tips (rounding up €1–2 per Maß is customary), food, and the fact that only festival beer brewed by the six Munich breweries — Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten — is served inside the tents.
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.
Driving is strongly discouraged — there’s no visitor parking at the grounds, and Munich’s transit network is fast and frequent.
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); ~€15–€16.50 expected
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.
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