Oktoberfest 2026: 16 days on the Theresienwiese

Oktoberfest takes over the Theresienwiese, the 42-hectare meadow on Munich's southwest edge named after Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen, whose 1810 wedding celebration became the first edition. The 2026 run is the festival's 191st, and it remains the world's largest folk festival by attendance, with millions passing through the grounds over the course of it.

The heart of it is the tent circuit — more than a dozen large beer tents plus a couple dozen smaller ones, each run by one of Munich's traditional breweries and each with its own character: some loud and international, others quieter and more local, plus the Oide Wiesn section set aside for an older-style version of the festival with vintage rides and folk music instead of the modern fairground. Beyond the tents there's a full fairground of rides and games running the whole length of the festival.

Entry to the grounds and every tent is free — there's no gate ticket for Oktoberfest itself, only whatever you spend once you're inside. Most first-time visitors underestimate how much of the experience comes down to picking the right tent for the crowd they want rather than just showing up.