The original
The Munich Oktoberfest guide
The Wiesn, from a royal wedding in 1810 to 7.4 million visitors in 2026.
History
The first Oktoberfest took place on October 17, 1810, with a large horse race celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The meadow on the city's edge where it was held was named Theresienwiese ("Therese's meadow") for the bride. Locals shortened it to d'Wiesn, which is why Munich people go "auf die Wiesn".
In 1872 the festival moved into September to take advantage of milder late-summer weather. Since then it has started on the Saturday after September 15 and ends on the first Sunday in October; if October 3 (German Unity Day) falls just after, the festival is extended. Also in 1872, according to the Schottenhamel family, they brought stronger Märzen beer to the festival when the regular beer ran out, and it became the classic Wiesn beer.
The Oide Wiesn ("old Wiesn") historical area was added in 2010. In 2026 the 191st Oktoberfest set an all-time record of about 7.4 million visitors and about 6.7 million Mass of beer, according to the city's preliminary final report.
Dates
- 2026 (191st): September 19 – October 4, 2026
- 2027 (192nd): Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, October 3, 2027
Key 2027 dates (City of Munich): Sat Sept 18, parade of the Wiesn landlords and breweries, then the first keg is tapped at noon in the Schottenhamel tent. Sun Sept 19, the traditional costume and marksmen's parade. Thu Sept 23, Oktoberfest church service in the Marstall tent. Sun Sept 26, open-air concert of the tent bands below the Bavaria statue. Sun Oct 3, gun salute at the Bavaria statue on the closing day.
Tuesdays are Family Day, with reduced prices at many rides and stalls until 7 PM.
The fairgrounds: Theresienwiese
The Theresienwiese is a large open space in central Munich, about a 15-minute walk from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). Entry to the grounds, tents and beer gardens is free. The festival has 17 large tents (14 on the main grounds plus 3 at the Oide Wiesn), 21 small tents and more than 100 rides and stalls. The bronze Bavaria statue and the Hall of Fame look over the grounds from the west. The Service Center behind the Schottenhamel tent houses festival management, police, first aid, the fire brigade and the Lost & Found desk.
The big tents
Capacities and hosts as published for 2026. Each tent has its own music, menu and crowd.
| Tent | Beer | Seats (inside / outside) | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festhalle Schottenhamel | Spaten | 6,288 in / 2,742 out | Where the Mayor taps the first keg at noon on opening day ("O'zapft is!"). Popular with young locals and students. The Schottenhamel family is credited with introducing Märzen to the Wiesn in 1872. |
| Hofbräu-Festzelt | Hofbräu | 6,018 in + ~1,000 standing / 3,022 out | Very international crowd, the Aloisius figure, and the only large standing area among the big tents. |
| Augustiner-Festhalle | Augustiner | 6,000 in / 2,500 out | Family-friendly, beer served from 200-liter wooden barrels ("Hirschen"); usually the cheapest Mass among the big tents. |
| Hacker-Festzelt | Hacker-Pschorr | 6,838 in / 2,540 out | Famous "Bavarian heaven" sky-painted ceiling and a lively atmosphere. |
| Pschorr-Festzelt Bräurosl | Hacker-Pschorr | ~8,250 total | Hosts Gay Sunday (Rosa Wiesn) on the first Sunday. |
| Löwenbräu-Festzelt | Löwenbräu | 5,700 in / 2,800 out | Traditional tent with the famous roaring lion on the tower. |
| Paulaner Festzelt | Paulaner | 6,385 in / 1,980 out | Formerly Winzerer Fähndl; at the Wiesn since 1885, with its rotating giant beer mug on the tower. |
| Armbrustschützenzelt | Paulaner | 5,820 in / 1,600 out | Crossbow-marksmen tradition; hosts the German crossbow championships. |
| Schützen-Festzelt | Löwenbräu | 4,923 in / 1,235 out | Marksmen tradition, below the Bavaria statue. |
| Ochsenbraterei | Spaten | 5,995 in / 1,646 out | Known for ox roasted on the spit; a board lists the oxen. |
| Marstall | Spaten | 3,200 in / 882 out | Art Nouveau style with horse quadriga on the roof; hosts the Oktoberfest church service. |
| Fischer-Vroni | Augustiner | 3,162 in / 700 out | Steckerlfisch (fish grilled on a stick) and Augustiner from wooden barrels. |
| Käfer Wiesn-Schänke | Paulaner | 1,500 in / 2,022 out | Upscale food, celebrity spotting; open until 1 a.m. |
| Kufflers Weinzelt | Paulaner Weissbier | 1,540 in / 540 out | Wine, sparkling wine and wheat beer; open until 1 a.m. |
The six breweries and Wiesn beer
Only Munich's six major breweries may serve beer at the Oktoberfest: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. Each brews a special Wiesnbier (Festbier) for the festival, golden and stronger than everyday lager, around 6% ABV (for example, Spaten's at Schottenhamel is 5.9% ABV). It's served only by the Mass, a one-liter glass mug.
What a Mass costs (2026)
The 2026 range was €14.80 – €15.90 per liter, an average of €15.61, up 2.38% on 2025. The City of Munich reviews but does not set the prices.
- Augustiner-Festhalle: €14.90
- Hofbräu-Festzelt: €15.80
- Schottenhamel: €15.80
- Hacker-Festzelt: €15.80
- Paulaner Festzelt: €15.80
- Bräurosl: €15.90
- Löwenbräu-Festzelt: €15.90
- Armbrustschützenzelt: €15.90
Non-alcoholic drinks averaged €11.13/liter for water, €12.47 for lemonade and €12.84 for Spezi (cola and orange soda) in 2026.
Foods and typical menus
The classics are a half Wiesn-Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), Schweinsbraten with dumplings, Ochsenbraten (roast ox), Steckerlfisch, bratwurst, Leberkäs, giant Brezn, Obatzda cheese spread with Radi (radish), Käsespätzle and Kaiserschmarrn. From the street stalls come candied almonds, gingerbread hearts (Lebkuchenherzen), crêpes and chocolate bananas.
Typical 2026 prices (examples, vary by tent)
- ½ Hendl: €16.90 (Ochsenbraterei), €17.20 (Augustiner, Löwenbräu), €17.50 (Hacker, Bräurosl), €17.60 (Hofbräu), €19.90 (Paulaner)
- Large Brezn: about €7–8
- Schweinshaxe: mostly €24–29 (e.g., €24.90 Bräurosl, €29.20 Löwenbräu)
- Kaiserschmarrn: €17.50 (Hofbräu) to €27.50 (Bräurosl)
- Rule of thumb: two Mass plus a half chicken is about €47–55 per person before tip
Many tents offer cheaper weekday lunch menus (Mittagskarte), Monday to Thursday.
Rides, vendors and stalls
More than 100 rides and attractions run alongside the tents, from the Ferris wheel and roller coasters to traditional carousels, haunted houses and shooting and throwing galleries. Ride tickets are bought at each ride. Market stalls sell gingerbread hearts, roasted nuts, souvenirs and steins (don't take the glass Mass mug; in 2026 about 105,000 mugs were confiscated from people trying).
Oide Wiesn
Since 2010, the Oide Wiesn in the southern part of the grounds recreates the festival's historic feel, with vintage rides, Bavarian music, folk dancing and a museum tent. Unlike the rest of the Wiesn it charges a small entrance fee (€4), and many rides are cheaper. Its tents include Festzelt Tradition, the Musikantenzelt, Museumszelt and Volkssängerzelt. About 447,000 people visited in 2026.
What to know before you go
- Reservations: book directly with each tent, months ahead, especially for evenings and weekends. Tables in beer gardens can't be reserved, and there's usually unreserved space on weekdays. Tents close their doors when full.
- Go on a weekday, ideally early. The city actively encourages it.
- Cash: bring euros. There are ATMs at the entrances and in some tents, and tipping your server is customary.
- Bags: maximum 3 liters and 20 × 15 × 10 cm. Larger bags can go in paid luggage storage (€5). No glass bottles, knives or sprays.
- Dress: no dress code. Dirndl and Lederhosen are popular but optional.
- Getting there: take the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram or walk. There's no visitor parking at the Theresienwiese; drivers should use park-and-ride.
- Kids: strollers are allowed until 6 PM except Saturdays and October 3. The Familien-Platzl has a family beer garden and kids' rides, and Tuesday is Family Day.
- Safety: emergency number 110. First-aid stations, the Safe Space for women ("Sichere Wiesn") and police are at the Service Center behind Schottenhamel. Pets aren't allowed (guide dogs excepted).
- Pace yourself: Wiesnbier is stronger than most lagers and comes by the liter. Drink water (free fountains are on the grounds).
Didn't make it to Munich this year, or can't wait until October? Visit Krush Brau Park year-round, including October.