Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest
Theresienwiese during the 2013 festival
Observed by	Munich
Type	Cultural
Celebrations	Parades, music, Bavarian food and beer
2024 date	21 September
2025 date	20 September
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Oktoberfest celebrations

Oktoberfest (German pronunciation: [ok'to:befɛst]; d'Wiesn) is the world's largest Volksfest (German for “folk festival”). It combines a beer festival with a funfair and takes place each year on the Theresienwiese in Munich from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. If German Unity Day (3 October) follows that Sunday, the festival continues until the holiday.

The event attracts about seven million visitors; a record 7.2 million attended in 2023.^[1] In the same year, visitors drank roughly 7.4 million litres of specially brewed Oktoberfest beer.^[2] The grounds feature amusement rides, games, food stalls and traditional Bavarian dishes.

Munich staged the first festival on 12 October 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.^[3] Oktoberfest has been cancelled only a few times, most recently in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4]

On 12 October 1810 Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Munich officials invited the public to celebrate on fields just outside the city walls. The grounds were named Theresienwiese (“Therese’s Meadow”) the following year and are still called Wiesn by locals.^[5]

The main attraction was a horse race based on the medieval Scarlet Race (Scharlachrennen) once run at Karlstor. Major Andreas Michael Dall’Armi of the National Guard proposed the idea, although coachman Franz Baumgartner later claimed credit. The Guard repeated the race in 1811, turning it into the annual festival now known as Oktoberfest.^[6]

Sendlinger Hill, now Theresienhöhe, formed a natural grandstand that held about 40,000 spectators. Festivities opened with sixteen pairs of children wearing costumes of the Wittelsbach dynasty—Bavaria’s ruling family—and of nearby regions. Thirty horses then covered a 3,400 metres (11,200 ft) course, and a student choir closed the programme with song. Baumgartner’s horse finished first, and Minister of State Maximilian von Montgelas awarded the rider a gold medal.^[7]

In 1811 the organisers expanded the wedding fair by adding an agricultural show that promoted Bavarian farming.^[8] The 1813 fair was cancelled while Bavaria fought in the War of the Sixth Coalition. When the event returned in 1814, amusements such as skittles, swings and climbing poles joined the horse race.

Carnival booths appeared in 1818 and offered prizes of silverware, porcelain and jewellery.^[9] Munich’s city council assumed control in 1819 and decreed that Oktoberfest would be held every year.

A Greek delegation visited in 1832 and later cited the festival as a model for the Zappas Olympics, early multi-sport meetings that led to the modern Olympic Games of 1896.^[10]

During the century the opening date moved into late September to take advantage of warmer evenings and longer daylight; only the final days now fall in October.^[11] The horse race continued until 1960, while the agricultural show still takes place every four years on the southern edge of the grounds.

A short procession honoured the royal couple at the first festival in 1810. The annual Trachten- und Schützenzug (costume and marksmen parade), first held in 1850, now marches from Maximilianstraße to Theresienwiese each year. About 8000 people in regional dress walk the seven-kilometre route behind the Münchner Kindl mascot.^[12]

The bronze Bavaria statue—designed by architect Leo von Klenze and sculptor Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler—overlooks the fairground. Foundry masters Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller cast the figure, which has stood on the site since 1850, in front of the Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame) completed in 1853.^[13]

Oktoberfest was cancelled in 1854 and 1873 because of cholera outbreaks, in 1866 during the Austro-Prussian War, and in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.^[14]

Technological change soon transformed the fair. Electric lighting illuminated more than 400 booths and tents in 1880. Bratwurst stalls opened in 1881, and beer is served in glass mugs, a practice adopted in 1892.^[15]

At the century’s end the organisers replaced small beer booths, skittle alleys and climbing trees with the large beer halls that remain today.^[16] An opening parade of decorated brewery drays, draft horses and brass bands, first staged in 1887, now opens the festival on its first Saturday.^[17]

Oktoberfest in the 20th century was shaped by major historical events, shifting traditions, and evolving social customs.

In 1910, the 100th anniversary was celebrated, with an estimated 120,000 litres of beer consumed. In 1913, the Bräurosl pavilion was introduced, becoming the largest beer tent built to date, with a capacity of about 12,000 guests.^[18]

World wars and crises frequently interrupted the festival.

• From 1914 to 1918, Oktoberfest was cancelled due to World War I.
• In 1919 and 1920, only a smaller event (Kleineres Herbstfest, or "smaller autumn celebration") took place.
• The festival was cancelled again in 1923 and 1924 during severe hyperinflation.^[18]

Between 1933 and 1945, the National Socialist regime used Oktoberfest for Nazi propaganda.^[19] In 1933, Jewish people were banned from working at the Wiesn, including as vendors and staff.^[20] - The 125th anniversary in 1935 featured a state-organized parade and large festivities, under the slogan Proud city—cheerful country. - In 1938, after the annexation of Austria and the Munich Agreement, the event was renamed Großdeutsches Volksfest ("Greater German Folk Festival"), with groups from the Sudetenland brought to the festival as a symbol of unity.^[21]

From 1939 to 1945, the festival was suspended again due to World War II. From 1946 to 1948, only a modest "Autumn Fest" was held, and traditional Oktoberfest beer was not allowed.

Since its beginning, Oktoberfest has been cancelled 26 times, mostly due to war, economic crises, or public health concerns.^[22]

Since 1950, the festival has opened with a standard ceremony: at noon on the first day, a 12-gun salute is followed by the Mayor of Munich tapping the first keg of beer and proclaiming "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!"). The first litre is presented to the Minister-President of Bavaria, a tradition started by Mayor Thomas Wimmer.

Before the official opening, two processions take place between 09:45 and 10:50:

• One features marksmen’s clubs (Schützenvereine).
• The other includes festival hosts and beer-tent proprietors.

Both processions end at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds.^[23]

Many visitors wear traditional Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte) decorated with a Gamsbart (tuft of chamois hair). Larger natural tufts historically indicated higher status; today, most are synthetic, which has reduced the ornament’s prestige.

Since the 1970s, Munich’s gay community has organised “Gay Days” at Oktoberfest, now meeting every year on the first Sunday at the Bräurosl tent.^[24]

On 26 September 1980 at 22:19, a pipe bomb concealed in an empty fire extinguisher and packed with 1.39 kg of TNT and mortar shells detonated in a dustbin near the toilets at the main entrance. Thirteen people were killed and over 225 were injured, 68 of them seriously.^[25]

This remains the second-deadliest terrorist attack in German history after the Munich massacre.

Federal and state law-enforcement authorities conducted multiple inquiries, ultimately concluding that a lone right-wing extremist, Gundolf Köhler of Donaueschingen, who died in the explosion, was responsible. However, both the lone-perpetrator finding and the suggestion of ties to Operation Gladio have been strongly disputed by various researchers.^[26]

In 2005, Oktoberfest organizers introduced the concept of a "quiet Oktoberfest" to make the festival, particularly the beer tents, more welcoming to families and older visitors. Until 6:00 p.m., tents were limited to playing traditional brass band music, such as folk tunes. After that time, pop genres like Schlager and electronic music were allowed. Afternoon music volume was capped at 85 decibels. These changes were intended to reduce disruptive behaviour and preserve a more traditional beer tent atmosphere.^[27]

That same year, Germany’s last travelling amusement ride enterprise, the Mondlift, returned to the Oktoberfest grounds.^[28]

In 2008, the state of Bavaria introduced a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces. Oktoberfest initially received a temporary exemption due to enforcement challenges in the large beer tents, although tobacco sales were prohibited. Following local elections, the state government granted broader exemptions for beer tents and small pubs. While smoking remained legal in the tents for a time, most introduced non-smoking areas, and tobacco sales were widely avoided by mutual agreement.

In 2010, a referendum reversed these exemptions and reinstated a strict smoking ban. Beer tents adopted the rule early that year as a trial. The ban took full legal effect in 2011.^[29][30]

In 2010, Oktoberfest marked its 200th anniversary. A special area, the historische Wiesn (“historical Oktoberfest”), was set up on the southern part of the fairgrounds and opened one day early. It featured a museum tent, a specially brewed anniversary beer, and historical attractions such as a horse race in costume.^[31]

In 2013, the festival attracted 6.4 million visitors and served 6.7 million litres of beer.^[32]

On 21 April 2020, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Munich mayor Dieter Reiter announced the cancellation of Oktoberfest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[33]

A second cancellation followed in 2021. Söder stated that the risk of a super-spreader event could irreparably damage the festival’s reputation, noting that social distancing could not be guaranteed in the beer tents.^[34]

In 2010, for Oktoberfest’s 200th anniversary, the Historical Oktoberfest (Oide Wiesn, Bavarian for “old fairground”) was created on the former Central Agricultural Festival site at the south end of the Theresienwiese. It opened one day before the official festival with the traditional keg tapping by the Lord Mayor.^[35] Its success led to its continuation as a permanent feature from 2011.^[36]

The fenced grounds cover 5 acres (2.0 ha) and include:

• Historic rides – carousel, chain swing, cotton-candy stand
• Beer tents – serving a special dark beer brewed to an early 19th-century recipe
• Food stalls – Steckerlfisch grill and traditional fare
• Animal tent and racecourse – managed by Hellabrunn Zoo and the Bavarian Farmers’ Association
• Museum tent – curated by the Munich Stadtmuseum

Cultural programmes featured local performers such as the Biermösl Blosn.^[36]

The six principal Munich breweries each presented their own historical dark beer:

• Augustiner
• Hacker-Pschorr
• Hofbräu
• Löwenbräu
• Paulaner
• Spaten

Mugs bore the inscription "Münchner Bier" instead of brewery logos. Unlike the main Oktoberfest, the Historical Wiesn closed at 20:00. Attendance exceeded 500,000 in its inaugural year, forcing temporary closures.

On 16 October 2012, the Munich City Council set the 2013 entry fee at €3 with re-entry allowed; historic rides charged €1 per use. Indoor seating in the musicians’ tent rose from 1,000 to 1,500 and outdoor seating from 800 to 1,000. A €200,000 grant supported the Showman Foundation’s museum tent, velodrome and children’s programme.^[37] The festival area and entrances were expanded in 2013.

A City Council decision also provided for an Oide Wiesn in 2015 before the Central Agricultural Exhibition returned in 2016.

The Rosa Wiesn (Pink Wiesn), also called Gay Oktoberfest, is a week-long series of LGBT events during Munich’s Oktoberfest. The main event is Gay Sunday in the Bräurosl tent on the first Sunday. Other activities include meet-and-greets, Löwennacht (Lion’s Night), brunches, and cultural programmes.^[38][39][40]

The tradition began in the 1970s when members of the Münchner Löwen Club (MLC) booked the Bräurosl balcony and were mistaken for a football club. Staff and guests welcomed them, so the gathering became annual.^[41]

Today, Rosa Wiesn is a key event in the German LGBT calendar. Gay Sunday draws about 8,000 visitors.^[42] Some say it is Germany’s second-largest LGBT gathering after Christopher Street Day.^[43]

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 Theresienwiese 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.^[44]

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 "O'zapft is!" (Es ist angezapft – "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.^[45] 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 eagerly await to 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),^[46] and there was also 19 strokes required (Thomas Wimmer, 1950).

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.^[47] 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.^[48][49]

The modern parade has taken place each year since 1950—except in 2020–2021—and resumed in 2022.^[50] 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 7 km (4.3 mi) route from the Maximilianeum to the Theresienwiese.^[51]

The procession is led by the Münchner Kindl, 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.^[52] The entry of the Wiesnwirte (festival innkeepers) and the costume and marksmen procession are organised by Festring München.^[53]

Only beer brewed within Munich’s city limits in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law) may be served at the Munich Oktoberfest.^[54]

Beers meeting these criteria are designated Oktoberfest Beer.^[55][56] Two styles fall under this designation:

• A traditional Märzen lager
• A paler seasonal Festbier, now more commonly served at the festival itself.^[57][58]

The following six breweries form the Club of Munich Brewers and hold the trademark for Oktoberfest Beer:^[59]

• Augustiner-Bräu
• Hacker-Pschorr
• Löwenbräu
• Paulaner
• Spatenbräu
• Hofbräu München

Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest (folk festival).^[60]

In 1999, approximately 6.5 million people visited the 42-hectare Theresienwiese fairground.^[61] About 72 % of visitors came from Bavaria, and 15 % from abroad, including neighbouring EU countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several East Asian countries.^[62][63]

The grounds also host other large-scale events, including the Munich Frühlingsfest (April–May) and the Tollwood Festival (December), which draws about 650,000 visitors annually.

Since 1994, Oktoberfest has typically lasted 16 days, 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	Notes
2000	16 Sep – 3 Oct	18 days, with ZLF
2001	22 Sep – 7 Oct
2002	21 Sep – 6 Oct
2003	20 Sep – 5 Oct
2004	18 Sep – 3 Oct	with ZLF
2005	17 Sep – 3 Oct	17 days
2006	16 Sep – 3 Oct	18 days
2007	22 Sep – 7 Oct
2008	20 Sep – 5 Oct	175th Oktoberfest, with ZLF
2009	19 Sep – 4 Oct
2010	18 Sep – 4 Oct	200th anniversary, with ZLF
2011	17 Sep – 3 Oct	17 days
2012	22 Sep – 7 Oct	with ZLF
2013	21 Sep – 6 Oct
2014	20 Sep – 5 Oct
2015	19 Sep – 4 Oct
2016	17 Sep – 3 Oct	17 days
2017	16 Sep – 3 Oct	18 days
2018	22 Sep – 7 Oct
2019	21 Sep – 6 Oct
2020	19 Sep – 4 Oct	Cancelled (COVID-19)
2021	18 Sep – 3 Oct	Cancelled (COVID-19)
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

ZLF refers to the Bayerisches Zentral-Landwirtschaftsfest (Bavarian Central Agricultural Fair), which is held every four years alongside Oktoberfest.

In 2004, a centralized service hub was established at the Behördenhof ("authorities' court"), bringing together police, fire services, medical teams, and the district administration. A dedicated police station is set up each year and can be reached via the emergency number 5003220.

Since 2005, law enforcement officers from Bolzano, Italy, have also been present to assist with crowd management and communication, particularly during the weekends when many Italian tourists attend.

Public safety operations are coordinated from the Behördenhof, located on the eastern edge of the Theresienwiese. This command center enables integrated emergency management by municipal agencies.

Medical services are led by the Bavarian branch of the German Red Cross, which has long supported Oktoberfest operations. Around 100 volunteer doctors and paramedics are on duty each day to assist visitors and staff.^[64]

Aicher Ambulance provides additional care through a medical post in the Fischer Vroni tent. The festival’s central service complex includes a miniature hospital with an operating theatre and a fully equipped ambulance. Emergency vehicles are stationed at key control points across the grounds, with reserve staff on standby.

The Behördenhof also houses a variety of visitor services, including a child reunification station, lost property office, and women’s security point. Further assistance is available at the nearby Theresienwiese U-Bahn station, where additional personnel from Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe are stationed.^[65]

To improve visitor safety and reduce incidents such as theft, violence, and sexual assault, various measures have been introduced. In 2003, the campaign Sichere Wiesn für Mädchen und Frauen ("Safe Oktoberfest for Girls and Women") was launched to support and protect female visitors.

In 2010, animals were banned from the festival grounds for public safety reasons. In 2012, glass bottles were prohibited following a rise in injuries caused by broken glass.

Accidents at Oktoberfest are rare. All rides undergo thorough safety inspections in advance, carried out by the cableways and temporary structures division of TÜV SÜD.

On 30 September 1996, 30 people were injured in a collision on the Euro Star roller coaster. The cause was a worn safety brake that had not been identified during inspection. Although prosecutors in Munich sought to charge an engineer from TÜV Munich with negligent bodily harm, the case did not result in a conviction.^[66]

• 1981 – Main entrance redesigned after the 1980 bombing.
• 2001 – Permanent checkpoints added at the main gate after the September 11 attacks.
• 2008 – Theresienwiese closes to the public during the annual construction phase.
• 2009 – Roadblocks and stricter access controls respond to threats from Islamist groups.
• 2010 – Three security rings, tighter screening, flight restrictions, and 52 2 m (6 ft 7 in) concrete bollards secure all gates.^[67]
• 2011 – Authorities install 170 retractable bollards, widen the Bavariaring emergency corridor, and gain powers to redirect crowds or shut rail stations.^[68][69]
• 2016 – A retractable fence seals the final 350 m (1,150 ft) of perimeter. Up to 450 guards man 13 entrances. Bags over 3 L (0.66 imp gal; 0.79 US gal) are banned. The Theresienwiese U-Bahn front exit is closed.^[70]

Oktoberfest draws electricity through 43 km (27 mi) of cable linked to 18 partly underground transformer stations. Together they provide about 2.9 million kilowatt-hours each year, a figure that excludes the energy used to erect and dismantle the fairground.^[71]

Natural gas reaches the beer tents through a 4 km (2.5 mi) distribution network. Kitchens burn roughly 159,000 m³ (5,600,000 cu ft) of gas each season, while outdoor heaters add about 42,000 m³ (1,500,000 cu ft).^[71] Most marquees and rides rely on certified green electricity from Stadtwerke München to curb local emissions.

The electrical grid is fully redundant: every circuit can be fed from an independent line, and each marquee receives power from two separate substations. Even so, disruptions are possible; on 25 September 2007 heavy rain floods an underground cable duct, interrupts supply for several hours, and slows morning food service, although the sparse crowd remains calm.^[72]

To keep mobile phones working despite the dense crowd, network operators install several temporary masts on the surrounding lawns before each festival opens.

Transportation to the Oktoberfest is mainly provided by public transit, with special arrangements in place due to the large number of visitors each year.

The Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (Munich Transport Company) reports that nearly four million visitors travel to and from the festival grounds during each Oktoberfest. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains are especially crowded at night. The nearest underground station, Theresienwiese, operates at rush-hour frequency, with trains arriving every three minutes. After the beer tents close, the station is sometimes closed temporarily due to overcrowding. To ensure safety and smooth operations, both the Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft and Deutsche Bahn increase security staff during the event.

Visitors are also encouraged to use nearby stations:

• Goetheplatz
• Schwanthalerhöhe
• Hackerbrücke (S-Bahn)

Many also walk from the nearby main railway station.

Traffic congestion is a major issue during the festival. Many attendees attempt to drive home after consuming alcohol, so the Bavarian State Police conduct large-scale DUI checks. Major roads, including the city ring and surrounding highways, are sometimes reduced to a single lane, leading to delays.

During the middle weekend—locally known as "the Italians' weekend"—many Italian visitors arrive with caravans.^[73] The city enforces camping bans in various zones and sets up remote parking areas, such as near the Allianz Arena, which are accessible by public transport. Despite these measures, parking near the festival remains limited, requiring extensive controls and towing.

In 2010, as part of a revised security concept, taxi stands were moved outside the secure perimeter, farther from the fairgrounds.

To maintain safety and hygiene during Oktoberfest, organisers maintain strict waste-management and restroom policies.

All public trash bins were removed after the 1980 bombing to prevent concealed explosives.^[74]

By 2004, queueing delays at toilets had grown so severe that police managed access. Patrons needing only to urinate are directed to urinals (large sheltered grates), which reduces wait times. In 2005, capacity was increased by 20%, and today about 1,800 toilets and urinals serve visitors.^[75]

Organisers explored installing a Faraday cage and mobile-phone jammers in 2005 but abandoned both—jammers are illegal in Germany, and cages proved too costly. Instead, signage requests that patrons refrain from phone use inside restrooms.^[76] More recently, occasional live music amplification near the facilities has discouraged telephone use, transforming restrooms from quiet retreats into lively spaces.^[77]

There are currently fourteen large tents and twenty small tents at Oktoberfest. The tents are wooden^[78] non-permanent structures erected solely for the festival. The beer (or wine) served in each is listed below.^[79]

Tent name	Brewery	Seats (inside / outside)	Description
Marstall	Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu	3,200 / 1,000	Features evening performances by Münchner Zwietracht playing Oktoberfest classics.[80]
Armbrustschützenzelt	Paulaner	5,839 / 1,600	Known as the Crossbowman’s Tent; hosts crossbow competitions since 1895.
Hofbräu-Festzelt	Hofbräu München	6,896 / 3,622	The tent affiliated with the Hofbräuhaus; very popular with international visitors.[81]
Hacker-Festzelt	Hacker-Pschorr	6,900 / 2,400	Known as Himmel der Bayern (“Heaven of the Bavarians”); features rock music evenings.
Schottenhamel	Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu	6,000 / 4,000	Site of the official keg tapping by the Mayor; popular gathering for students.[82][83]
Winzerer Fähndl	Paulaner	8,450 / 2,450	Recognizable by its tall tower topped with a beer mug; named after a Bavarian military unit.
Schützen-Festhalle	Löwenbräu	4,442 / 0	Situated beneath the Bavaria statue; current building dates from 2004.
Käfer Wiesn-Schänke	Paulaner	1,000 / 1,900	The smallest large tent; noted for gourmet food and celebrity guests; opens later.
Weinzelt / Paulaner Weißbier	Nymphenburger Sekt / Paulaner Weißbier	1,300 / 600	Combines a wine bar (over 15 wine varieties) with Paulaner wheat beer.
Löwenbräu-Festhalle	Löwenbräu	5,700 / 2,800	Features a large lion figure over the entrance and beer towers.
Bräurosl	Hacker-Pschorr	6,000 / 2,200	Named for the brewer’s daughter; hosts the Rosa Wiesn LGBT event.
Augustiner-Festhalle	Augustiner Bräu	6,000 / 2,500	Favoured by locals; serves Augustiner beer from wooden kegs.
Ochsenbraterei	Spaten	5,900 / 1,500	Specialises in roasted ox dishes.
Fischer-Vroni	Augustiner	2,695 / 700	Known for fish dishes, notably grilled Steckerlfisch.

Tent name	Brewery	Seats (inside / outside)	Description
Able’s Kalbs-Kuchl	Spaten	300 / 0	Bavarian-style “calf kitchen” hut with a lively atmosphere.
Ammer Hühner & Entenbraterei	Augustiner	450 / 450	World’s first chicken roastery (since 1885); serves chicken and duck.
Bodo’s Cafezelt	Exotic Cocktails	450 / 0	Offers cocktails, Prosecco, champagne, coffee, pastries and ice cream.
Café Kaiserschmarrn	Rischart (cocktail bar)	400 / 0	Commemorates the first Oktoberfest and royal wedding of Ludwig I and Therese.
Café Mohrenkopf	XXL Cocktails	420 / 0	Fresh cakes and pies baked daily since 1950.
Feisingers Ka’s und Weinstubn	Wine & Wheat Beer	92 / 90	Specialises in cheese and complementary dishes.
Glöckle Wirt	Spaten	140 / 0	Decorated with oil paintings and antique instruments.
Heimer Hendl- und Entenbraterei	Paulaner	400 / 0	Family-friendly tent popular with locals.
Heinz Wurst- und Hühnerbraterei	Paulaner	360 / 0	Serving sausage and chicken since 1906.
Hochreiters Haxnbraterei	Löwenbräu	250 / 0	Prepares pork knuckles in the festival’s only knuckle roaster.
Münchner Knödelei	Paulaner	300 / 90	Dedicated to Bavarian dumplings and preserving dumpling culture.
Poschners Hühner- und Entenbraterei	Hacker-Pschorr	350 / 0	Family-run chicken and duck roast for four generations.
Schiebl’s Kaffeehaferl	Irish Coffee	100 / 0	Family coffeehouse; “Haferl” means mug or pot in Bavarian.
Wiesn Guglhupf Café-Dreh-Bar	Mix Bar	60 / 0	Carousel bar shaped like a Guglhupf (bundt cake).
Wildmoser Hühnerbraterei	Hacker-Pschorr	320 / 0	Owned by Wildmoser family since 1981; favoured by locals.
Wildstuben	Augustiner	271 / 0	The newest tent, with detailed woodwork and hunting‐lodge decor.
Wirtshaus im Schichtl	Schichtl	120 / 0	Famous for unique Oktoberfest shows; considered essential.
Zum Stiftl	Paulaner	360 / 0	Known for duck and roasted chicken, daily entertainment.
Zur Bratwurst	Augustiner	160 / 0	Opened in 2007; revives the Bratwurstglöckl tradition.

Several large folk festivals worldwide follow the model of Munich’s Oktoberfest:

• Qingdao Oktoberfest (Qingdao, China) – approximately 3 million visitors annually
• Kitchener–Waterloo Oktoberfest (Kitchener, Canada) – around 700,000 visitors annually
• Blumenau Oktoberfest (Blumenau, Brazil) – about 600,000 visitors annually
• Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (Cincinnati, United States) – held since 1976 in honour of the city’s German heritage; over 500,000 visitors, the largest in the United States.^[84]
• Viennese Wiesn (Vienna, Austria) – inaugural event held 23 September–2 October 2011 on the Kaiserwiese, attended by about 150,000 visitors in three tents.^[85]

Festivals inspired by Oktoberfest are also held in Australia, Russia, Namibia and Japan.

In Germany itself, many cities host their own Oktoberfest-style events:

• Oktoberfest Hannover – approximately 500,000 visitors, the second-largest Oktoberfest in Germany
• Cranger Kirmes (Herne) – about 4.4 million visitors
• Rheinkirmes (Düsseldorf) – about 4 million visitors
• Freimarkt (Bremen) – more than 4 million visitors
• Schützenfest Hannover (Hanover) – more than 1 million visitors
• Kiel Week (Kiel) – about 3 million visitors

A German historical drama called Oktoberfest: Beer and Blood was released in 2020.^[86] Set in 1900, it focuses on the showman brewer Curt Prank as he transforms the festival into a global tourist attraction by replacing the local brewery stands with one large pavilion.^[87] Critics have compared the show's graphic violence and German new wave music soundtrack to Peaky Blinders.^[88] A second season was announced by head writer Ronny Schalk in 2021.^[89]

• Beer and Oktoberfest Museum
• Schunkeln (sway dance)

• Official website
• Virtual exhibition: Oktoberfest – History, Background, Highlights, in the culture portal bavarikon

48°7′53″N 11°32′57″E / 48.13139°N 11.54917°E / 48.13139; 11.54917