Oktoberfest

What Oktoberfest is

Oktoberfest, locally called the Wiesn, is the world's largest folk festival and takes place on the Theresienwiese in Munich. It centres on large beer tents run in conjunction with Munich's breweries, a funfair, traditional costume and a long-standing civic ritual of tapping the first barrel.

Our data lists the 2028 edition as rule-based, which means the dates follow a fixed formula and have not been published by the organiser yet.

Dates in 2028 and how they are set

By the rule in our data, the festival starts on the Saturday after 15 September and ends on the first Sunday in October or, where needed, on 3 October. In 2028 that gives Saturday 16 September to Tuesday 3 October, which is 18 days.

The first Sunday in October is 1 October, but the festival is extended to 3 October, the Day of German Unity, which falls on a Tuesday. Because these dates are derived from a rule, confirm them with the city of Munich when they publish the official calendar.

History and character

The festival traces back to 1810, when the wedding of the Bavarian crown prince Ludwig and Therese was celebrated with a horse race on the meadow later named after her. The tradition grew into the large annual festival it is today.

The character combines tradition and spectacle: brass bands, costumed visitors and long benches in the tents, alongside rides and stalls on the grounds. Only beer from Munich breweries is served.

What to see, do and eat

Visit the tents for beer and music, but also leave time for the festival grounds, the rides and the costume parade, which usually takes place on the first Sunday. Daytime is calmer and better for families.

Traditional food includes roast chicken (Hendl), pretzels, white sausage and sweet treats such as roasted nuts. A full litre of beer is the standard serving, so plan your pace.

Getting there and where to stay

Munich is well connected by train and air, and the Theresienwiese is reached by the city's S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Public transport is the sensible way to reach the grounds, since parking is scarce and public-transport lines are crowded in the evenings.

Rooms and tent seats are worth booking early, as our data advises. Prices are highest in the festival weeks, so consider staying in a neighbouring town with a quick rail connection.

Public holidays, bridge days and your vacation budget

The festival starts on a Saturday and ends on a Tuesday. In Bavaria, 3 October 2028 is the Day of German Unity, a public holiday on a Tuesday. That makes Monday 2 October a classic bridge day: one vacation day on Monday 2 October gives you four days off, from Saturday 30 September to Tuesday 3 October.

The festival period contains 11 weekdays outside the holiday (18 to 22 September, 25 to 29 September and 2 October). A full-festival visit would therefore cost up to 11 vacation days, but a long weekend of Friday 29 September to Tuesday 3 October costs only two days, Friday and Monday, and covers the final weekend and the holiday.

Tips and who it suits

Oktoberfest suits groups, couples and visitors who enjoy a lively, traditional festival atmosphere. The final weekend with the public holiday is likely to be busy, so book early if you plan to go then.

Because the 2028 dates come from a rule and not from an official announcement, check the city of Munich's Oktoberfest pages for confirmed dates, opening times and entry rules before booking non-refundable travel.

Planning a Wiesn trip two years ahead is mostly about flexibility. Keep the full range of 16 September to 3 October in mind, and decide whether you prefer the opening weekend, a calmer weekday or the final holiday weekend. Weekday lunchtimes are usually easier for tent seats than evenings or weekends. Tents often accept reservations for groups, but those details are set by the tent operators and the city closer to the date, so do not rely on any figure from this page. A sensible step now is to bookmark the official city pages and decide your preferred week, so that you can act as soon as dates and booking rules are announced.