Oktoberfest 2026 — the 191st Wiesn and the world's largest folk festival — runs from Saturday, September 19 to Sunday, October 4, 2026 on Munich's Theresienwiese. Watch the time tick down on our live Oktoberfest countdown.
When is Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest always begins in mid-to-late September and ends on the first Sunday of October. In 2026 the festival opens on September 19 and closes on October 4 — 16 days of celebration. Despite the name, it is mostly a September event: the first edition in 1810 was held in October, but it was gradually moved earlier to enjoy warmer late-summer weather.
The keg-tapping that starts it all
Oktoberfest officially begins at noon on the opening Saturday, when the Lord Mayor of Munich taps the first keg in the Schottenhaml tent and cries "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!"). Only then does the beer begin to flow across the grounds. The first ceremonial Maß is handed to the Minister-President of Bavaria.
What to expect at the Wiesn
- Beer tents — 14 large tents and many smaller ones serve beer in one-litre Maß steins from Munich's historic breweries.
- Tracht — traditional dress: lederhosen for men, dirndls for women.
- Food — pretzels, roast chicken (Hendl), sausages, pork knuckle and more.
- Fairground — roller coasters, Ferris wheel and family rides beyond the tents.
- Around six million visitors from all over the world each year.
Count down to Oktoberfest
Watch the days, hours and minutes to the keg-tapping on our live Oktoberfest 2026 countdown. Planning a trip to Munich? Create your own countdown to your travel date, or explore more countdown tools. You can also count down to German Unity Day on October 3.