Oktoberfest

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Food & DrinkMunich
Dates19 September–4 October 2026Confirmed listing
Duration16 daysListed event span
CrowdMassiveAbout 6M people
Best forBeer tents & foodFolk fair, markets, rides
Language["de"]Currency: EUR
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Oktoberfest in Munich

Oktoberfest began on October 12th, 1810, as a public celebration of the wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, held on a meadow later named Theresienwiese in her honour, with a public horse race drawing more than forty thousand spectators. Repeated the following year and made an official annual tradition by the Munich city council in 1819, it has grown into the world's largest beer festival, still held each autumn on the same ground.

Oktoberfest began on October 12th, 1810, as a royal wedding celebration marking the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, later King Ludwig the First, to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, with festivities opening at the Burgersaal in central Munich with a religious mass before the wedding party, national guard and regular military units processed together to a still-unnamed meadow just outside the city walls.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few of the world's largest festivals trace their exact founding to a single dated royal wedding celebration the way Oktoberfest does, October 12th, 1810, with the festival grounds themselves, Theresienwiese, still carrying the name of the bride whose marriage the first event celebrated

02

The mystery stays covered

The original 1810 public horse race, organised specifically so ordinary citizens could take part in royal festivities, drew more than forty thousand spectators, an extraordinary crowd for the period and a clear signal of the event's popular appeal from its very first edition

03

The city starts moving

Formal civic adoption by the Munich city council in 1819, converting a one-off wedding celebration into a decreed annual tradition, marks a specific, documented institutional turning point rather than an informal drift into repetition

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Six Munich breweries

Beer rule

Only Munich breweries may pour at the Wiesn, which keeps the beer local rather than generic.

Tents and benches

Gathering

The core ritual is sharing long tables, brass bands, roasted chicken, pretzels, and rounds of beer.

Theresienwiese

Place

The festival still belongs to Munich's fairground meadow, named for the royal wedding that started it.

Folk fair

Rhythm

Rides, parades, dress, food stalls, and family days keep it a Bavarian folk festival, not only a beer event.

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

19 September–4 October 2026

Getting around

Use Munich public transport. Roads around the Wiesn are not visitor-friendly during peak times.

What to wear

Traditional Bavarian dress, lederhosen for men and dirndls for women, is widely worn and welcomed though not required; comfortable shoes matter given hours of standing and walking across the...

Safety

Eat before drinking, keep your table manners friendly, and follow tent security rules.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

["de"] · EUR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map48.13 N, 11.55 EOpen in Google Maps

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Nearest airportMUC — Munich
TransportUse Munich public transport. Roads around the Wiesn are not visitor-friendly during peak times.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Munich via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Munich, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearTraditional Bavarian dress, lederhosen for men and dirndls for women, is widely worn and welcomed though not required; comfortable shoes matter given hours of standing and walking across the large festival grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Germany and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is listed for 19 September–4 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Oktoberfest take place?

The festival is listed in Munich, Germany. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

16 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

How big is it?

Massive: 6000000

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLoktoberfest.de
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates19 September–4 October 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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