“Munich’s famous celebration runs through October 4.”
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If the name Oktoberfest makes you think October, think again. Munich’s 2026 Oktoberfest began Saturday, September 19, and runs through Sunday, October 4, for 16 days on the city’s Theresienwiese. At noon on opening day, Munich’s mayor tapped the first keg with the traditional cry of “O’zapft is!” — “It is tapped!” The festival now draws millions of visitors in a typical year and, according to Oktoberfest organizers, between 6 million and 7 million liters of beer are consumed on average.
The tradition dates to 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12. Five days of festivities culminated in a horse race on October 17 on the grounds that became known as Theresienwiese, named for the bride. The celebration proved so popular that it became an annual event. Although Oktoberfest originally took place in October, its starting date was eventually moved into September, giving festivalgoers the benefit of generally milder early-autumn weather while preserving the Oktoberfest name.
Beer, of course, became inseparable from the celebration. Historically, Bavarian brewers produced Märzen — literally “March beer” — in the spring, before warmer temperatures made brewing and storing beer more difficult. The stronger lager could mature in cool cellars through the summer and was traditionally associated with autumn celebrations. Today, Munich Oktoberfest beer is generally a paler, highly drinkable Festbier, while the amber Märzen style remains closely associated with Oktoberfest celebrations, particularly outside Germany.
And not just any beer can be poured at the real Oktoberfest. Only six Munich breweries are permitted to serve official Oktoberfest beer: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, Spaten and Hofbräu München. The official Oktoberfest organization says the beers must come from these Munich breweries and comply with Munich and German purity requirements. So whether you are sitting beneath a massive beer tent in Munich or simply raising a stein closer to home, the celebration is already underway. Prost!
The Takeaway: Oktoberfest may carry October in its name, but in 2026 the party started September 19. It is a 216-year-old tradition built around Bavarian culture, food, music and, naturally, some very carefully brewed beer.
