Oktoberfest 2026

For sixteen days each autumn, a vast meadow on the edge of central Munich becomes the beating heart of Bavaria. The 191st Oktoberfest fills the Theresienwiese with fourteen cavernous beer tents, roaring funfair rides and the smell of roast chicken and toasted almonds, drawing roughly six million visitors from around the world. It is at once a deeply local tradition — Müncheners in dirndl and lederhosen, oompah bands, the ceremonial tapping of the first keg by the city's mayor — and one of the planet's great communal parties.

## What to expect

Entry to the fairground itself is free; the ritual centres on the tents, each run by a Munich brewery and each with its own character, from the family-friendly to the boisterously loud. Long communal benches, litre Maß steins of festival-strength beer, brass bands that switch from folk tunes to singalong anthems as the day wears on — this is the shape of an Oktoberfest afternoon. Beyond the tents stretches a full traditional funfair, plus the quieter, more historic Oide Wiesn. Weekends and evenings are shoulder-to-shoulder, and tents frequently reach capacity and close their doors.

For a table inside a tent — essential for large groups and peak times — reserve months ahead directly through the individual breweries; weekday mornings are the calmest time to walk in. The grounds sit right by Theresienwiese U-Bahn station, and public transport is by far the easiest way to arrive.

Fly into Munich Airport (MUC), about 35 km northeast; the S1 and S8 trains run to the centre in roughly 40 minutes. Oktoberfest takes place on the Theresienwiese, a huge open ground just southwest of the old town. The dedicated Theresienwiese station on the U4 and U5 lines sits right at the entrance, and Goetheplatz (U3/U6) and Schwanthalerhöhe are short walks away. The grounds get extremely busy, so use the U-Bahn rather than driving or taxiing. A single MVV ticket covers the airport train and the metro hop straight to the festival gates.