Munich’s Oktoberfest returns for its 191st edition from September 19 to October 4, 2026. The 16-day celebration continues a tradition dating back to 1810, with traditional parades, music and festival events. The opening begins with the mayor tapping the first beer barrel, marking the official start of the celebrations.
The 191st Munich Oktoberfest officially began at noon on September 19 with the traditional tapping of the first beer barrel. For the first time, Munich’s new mayor, Dominik Krause (Greens), carried out the opening tapping. He needed just two strong blows to open the barrel before handing the first Maß of beer to Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU).
The traditional “O’zapft is!” marked the official start of the festival, followed by “Auf eine friedliche Wiesn!”, meaning “Here’s to a peaceful Oktoberfest!” Twelve gunshots from the Bavaria statue then signalled to the other festival tents that beer could be served. Before the barrel was tapped, the traditional parade of Oktoberfest landlords and breweries made its way through Munich to the festival grounds, marking another established part of the opening celebrations.
The history of Oktoberfest reaches back to October 17, 1810, when a horse race was held in Munich to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The event was repeated the following year and gradually developed into the Oktoberfest known today.
The 191st edition continues a tradition that has been part of Munich’s history for more than two centuries. While the festival has changed considerably since its beginnings, traditional Bavarian customs remain an important part of its programme.
Oktoberfest’s programme extends beyond the opening ceremony. One of the major events is the costume and riflemen’s parade, featuring traditional costumes, musicians and groups making their way through Munich before reaching the festival grounds. Other established events include the Oktoberfest church service, landlords’ concert and traditional gun salute at the Bavaria statue. Music, traditional dress and Bavarian customs feature throughout the festival alongside the activities in the festival tents.
Beer is one of the defining parts of Oktoberfest, alongside traditional clothing such as Lederhosen and Dirndl. In 2026, a Maß of beer costs up to €15.90. Last year, around 6.5 million visitors attended Oktoberfest and consumed around 6.5 million Maß of beer. That works out to roughly one litre per visitor, with Oktoberfest beer being particularly strong.
Security is also a major focus this year. Police expect a high abstract threat level because of the many international crises, but said there are no specific indications of a threat to the festival. For the first time, Munich is also using AI-supported cameras to identify unusually large crowds at an early stage. The technology is intended to help authorities respond to large gatherings and, if necessary, close parts of the festival grounds.
The 2026 Oktoberfest has a new official motif created by Florian Huber from Kranzberg. His design was selected through the annual Oktoberfest motif competition and is being used for this year’s festival. The winning design was described as „Dynamisch, modern und emotional“, meaning “Dynamic, modern and emotional.” It combines familiar Oktoberfest elements including a tuba, pretzel, Ferris wheel, gingerbread heart and beer mug, along with the towers of Munich’s Frauenkirche.
The motif appears on the official Oktoberfest 2026 poster, online, licensed merchandise and the official collector’s mug.
The 191st Oktoberfest runs for 16 days, from September 19 through October 4. Its opening ceremony, traditional parades, music, festival tents and established Bavarian customs bring together the elements that have shaped the Munich festival across more than two centuries.
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