Oktoberfest (; ) is the world's largest Volksfest. It combines a beer festival with a fun fair and is held annually in Munich on the Theresienwiese from mid-September to the first Sunday in October.
The event draws around seven million visitors each year. In 2023, attendance reached a record 7.2 million. Visitors consumed approximately 7.4 million litres of beer. The festival features amusement rides, games, food stalls, and traditional Bavarian dishes.
The first Oktoberfest was held on 12 October 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The festival has been cancelled on multiple occasions, most recently in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.
History
Origins (1810–1811) On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Munich officials invited the public to celebrate on fields outside the city walls. The site was named Theresienwiese ("Therese's Meadow") the following year and is still called .
The first festival featured a horse race modelled on the medieval once run at the Karlstor. Major Andreas Michael Dall'Armi of the National Guard proposed the idea, although coachman Franz Baumgartner later claimed credit. The race was repeated in 1811, forming the core of the Oktoberfest tradition.
Sendlinger Hill—now —served as a natural grandstand for about 40,000 spectators. Sixteen pairs of children in regional costume opened the programme, thirty horses ran a course, and a student choir closed the event. Baumgartner's horse won, and he received a gold medal from Minister of State Maximilian von Montgelas.
19th century
1811 – An agricultural show was added to promote Bavarian farming. 1813 – The fair was cancelled during the War of the Sixth Coalition. 1814 – Skittles, swings and climbing poles were introduced on its return.
Carnival booths appeared in 1818, offering prizes of silverware, porcelain and jewellery. Munich's city council assumed control in 1819 and decreed that Oktoberfest be held annually.
A Greek delegation that visited in 1832 later cited the festival as a model for the Zappas Olympics, precursors of the modern Olympic Games.
During the century the opening was moved into late September to take advantage of warmer evenings; only the final days now fall in October.
Parades and monuments
Since 1850 the annual Trachten- und Schützenzug (costume and marksmen parade) has marched from Maximilianstraße to the Theresienwiese, with about 8,000 participants led by the Münchner Kindl mascot.
The bronze Bavaria statue, designed by Leo von Klenze and sculpted by Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler, was erected in 1850 in front of the Ruhmeshalle, which was completed in 1853.
Modernisation (1880–1900) Oktoberfest was cancelled for cholera epidemics (1854, 1873), the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and the Franco-Prussian War (1870).
Year Milestone 1880 Electric lighting illuminated more than 400 booths and tents. 1881 The first bratwurst stalls opened. 1887 A brewery-dray parade became part of the official opening. 1892 Beer began to be served in glass mugs. c. 1900 Small booths were replaced by the large beer halls still used today.
20th century In 1910 the centenary celebration recorded the consumption of about 120,000 litres of beer. In 1913 the pavilion opened, seating roughly 12,000 guests.
Interruptions 1914–18 – Cancelled during World War I 1919–20 – Held only as a smaller 1923–24 – Cancelled during hyperinflation
From 1933 to 1945 the Nazi regime used the festival for propaganda. In 1933 Jewish people were barred from working at the Wiesn. The festival was suspended 1939–45 during World War II; a modest "Autumn Fest" was held 1946–48.
Since 1950 the Mayor of Munich has opened Oktoberfest with a 12-gun salute and the cry "" ("It's tapped!").
1980 bombing
On 26 September 1980 a pipe bomb exploded near the main entrance, killing 13 people and injuring more than 225. It was the second-deadliest terrorist attack in Germany.
21st century In 2005 organisers introduced a "quiet Oktoberfest": tents played only traditional brass music until 18:00, with afternoon volume capped at 85 dB.
A Bavarian smoking ban, fully enforced from 2011, made the festival smoke-free.
The 200th anniversary in 2010 included a with a museum tent, special beer and a costumed horse race.
Attendance in 2013 reached 6.4 million, with 6.7 million litres of beer served.
The 2020 and 2021 festivals were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.
On 1 October 2025, the festival was temporarily shut down because of an explosion in an area of Munich.
Annual traditions
Opening parade
The tradition of the Oktoberfest entry parade began in 1887, when Hans Steyrer, then a festival host, marched from his establishment on Tegernseer Landstraße to the with his staff, a brass band, and a cart of beer.
In its current form, the parade has been held since 1935, when all participating breweries took part for the first time. Since 1950, the procession has been led by the Münchner Kindl, followed by the incumbent Mayor of Munich riding in the Schottenhammel family carriage. The parade also features decorated horse-drawn wagons and floats from the breweries, as well as carriages representing other restaurateurs and showpeople. Music bands from the beer tents accompany the procession.
Official opening ceremony
Following the parade, the official opening of Oktoberfest takes place at exactly 12:00 p.m. in the Schottenhammel tent. The Mayor of Munich taps the first keg of beer and announces the Bavarian phrase "" ( – "It is tapped!"). This marks the official start of the festival.
Twelve gunshots are then fired on the stairway of Ruhmeshalle. This is the signal for the other restaurateurs to start with the serving of beer. Traditionally, the Bavarian Minister-President is served the first litre of beer. Then in the other tents, the first barrels are tapped and beer is served to the visitors.
Every year, visitors see how many strokes the mayor needs to use before the first beer flows. Bets are even made. The best performance is still two strokes (Christian Ude, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; Dieter Reiter, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019), and there was also 19 strokes required. (Thomas Wimmer, 1950).
Costume and riflemen parade The first costume parade was held in 1835 to mark the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese. A second parade followed in 1895, organised by the Bavarian novelist Maximilian Schmidt and involving about 1,400 participants in 150 costume groups. A further parade was held during the centenary celebrations in 1910, directed by Julius and Moritz Wallach, early promoters of the Dirndl and Lederhosen as everyday fashion.
The modern parade has taken place each year since 1950—except in 2020–2021—and resumed in 2022. It is now a regular feature of Oktoberfest and is among the largest processions of its kind. On the first Sunday of the festival roughly 8,000 participants walk the route from the Maximilianeum to the Theresienwiese.
The procession is led by the , followed by members of the Munich city council, representatives of the Bavarian state government, musical and marching bands, traditional-costume and rifle clubs, flag-wavers, and about 40 decorated horse-drawn carriages. Most groups come from Bavaria, though delegations also arrive from other German states, Austria, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and other European regions. The entry of the (festival innkeepers) and the costume and marksmen procession are organised by Festring München.
Unofficial sport The unofficial sport of Oktoberfest is Masskrugstemmen, or Steinholding, in which competitors hold a filled one-liter dimpled glass mug, with an outstretched arm for as long as they can.
Duration and dates Since 1994, Oktoberfest has typically lasted 16 days, starting on the first Saturday after 15 September and ending on the first Sunday in October. If that Sunday falls before 3 October (German Unity Day), the festival is extended through 3 October.
Year Dates Duration Notes 2000 16 Sep – 3 Oct 18 days with ZLF 2001 22 Sep – 7 Oct 16 days 2002 21 Sep – 6 Oct 16 days 2003 20 Sep – 5 Oct 16 days 2004 18 Sep – 3 Oct 16 days with ZLF 2005 17 Sep – 3 Oct 17 days 2006 16 Sep – 3 Oct 18 days 2007 22 Sep – 7 Oct 16 days 2008 20 Sep – 5 Oct 16 days 175th Oktoberfest, with ZLF 2009 19 Sep – 4 Oct 16 days 2010 18 Sep – 4 Oct 17 days 200th anniversary, with ZLF 2011 17 Sep – 3 Oct 17 days 2012 22 Sep – 7 Oct 16 days with ZLF 2013 21 Sep – 6 Oct 16 days 2014 20 Sep – 5 Oct 16 days 2015 19 Sep – 4 Oct 16 days 2016 17 Sep – 3 Oct 17 days 2017 16 Sep – 3 Oct 18 days 2018 22 Sep – 7 Oct 16 days 2019 21 Sep – 6 Oct 16 days 2020 19 Sep – 4 Oct Cancelled COVID-19 pandemic 2021 18 Sep – 3 Oct Cancelled COVID-19 pandemic 2022 17 Sep – 3 Oct 17 days 2023 16 Sep – 3 Oct 18 days 2024 21 Sep – 6 Oct 16 days 2025 20 Sep – 5 Oct 16 days 2026 19 Sep – 4 Oct 16 days
The Bayerisches Zentral-Landwirtschaftsfest (Bavarian Central Agricultural Fair) is held every four years alongside Oktoberfest.
Attendance
Oktoberfest is one of the largest festivals in the world, attracting millions of visitors annually. In 1999, about 6.5 million people visited the 42-hectare Theresienwiese fairground.... Around 72 % of visitors came from Bavaria, and 15 % from abroad, including neighbouring EU countries, North America, Oceania, and East Asia....
The grounds also host other major events such as the Munich Frühlingsfest (April–May) and the Tollwood Festival (December).
Beer Only beer brewed within Munich's city limits and in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot may be sold at Oktoberfest. These beers are marketed under the protected designation "Oktoberfestbier".
Styles Two types of beer are served: The traditional Märzen lager, formerly the standard. The paler seasonal , which has become more common since the late 20th century.
Breweries The right to produce Oktoberfestbier is held by the six breweries of the Club of Munich Brewers: Augustiner Bräu Hacker-Pschorr Löwenbräu Paulaner Spaten Hofbräu München
Tents
As of 2025, Oktoberfest includes 14 large and 20 small tents. They are temporary wooden structures built for use during the festival.
Each large tent is associated with one of the Munich breweries, while a few smaller tents serve wine.
Large tents