The 191st Oktoberfest opens on the Theresienwiese meadow in Munich on 19 September 2026, running through to 4 October. More than seven million visitors are expected across the 16 days, making this one of the largest gatherings on the planet. Entry to the festival grounds is free, so your main outlay is the beer itself, with a Mass (one litre stein) priced at around €15, roughly £13, though tent reservations often come with a minimum spend.
The festival spreads across roughly 40 beer tents, from the enormous Hofbräu-Festzelt, which holds around 10,000 people, to smaller, more traditional tents with long wooden benches, brass bands, and servers carrying armfuls of steins. Alongside the drinking there is a serious food culture: expect rotisserie chicken, giant pretzels, roasted pork knuckle, and freshly baked bread sold throughout the grounds.
The opening weekend includes the traditional costume and riflemen’s parade through the city centre on 20 September, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators in dirndls and lederhosen. A full fairground runs alongside the tents with rides ranging from historic carousels to high-speed attractions.
Munich’s main station, München Hauptbahnhof, is a short walk from the Theresienwiese. Fly into Munich Airport and take the S-Bahn S1 or S8 direct to the city centre. Book accommodation well in advance as hotels fill months ahead of opening day. Tent reservations for evenings and weekend afternoons also go fast, so check individual brewery websites from early spring.
