Oktoberfest 2026: dates, beer prices and rules for guests
Oktoberfest 2026 will take place from September 19 to October 4 (oktoberfest.de). Sixteen days on the Theresienwiese meadow in Munich.
Hotels for these dates sell out long before the festival opens, and children under six are not allowed in the tents after 8:00 PM.
Below you will find dates and opening hours, beer prices, food, and accommodation options. We will also cover the rules that get guests turned away at the entrance.
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Date and venue of Oktoberfest 2026
💡 In short:
- 2026 dates: September 19 - October 4, 16 days (festival dates).
- Entry to Theresienwiese is free, you only pay for beer, food, and rides.
- A liter of beer costs 14.80-15.90 € (beer prices, as of 09/2026).
- Hotels for the festival dates are booked months in advance.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.
In 2026, Oktoberfest takes place for the 191st time. The venue remains the same: the Theresienwiese meadow southwest of Munich's city center (organizers' website, as of 09/2026).
Getting there is easy. From Munich's main train station (Hauptbahnhof) to the festival entrance is about a 10-minute walk. The Theresienwiese (U4 and U5 lines) and Goetheplatz (U3, U6) subway stations are right next to the grounds.
Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
Festival dates | September 19 - October 4, 2026 |
Entry to the grounds | free |
Tents on weekdays | 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM |
Tents on weekends | 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM |
Source: opening hours, as of 09/2026.
© Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern · CC BY-SAPhoto: Heribert Pohl --- Thanks for half a million clicks! from Germering bei München, Bayern, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhy Oktoberfest is worth visiting
Oktoberfest is considered the world's largest folk festival. Other beer festivals exist, but none compare to Munich's in scale.
If you think people come here only for beer, you are mistaken. Families come to the festival together, and everyone finds something for themselves. Tents, rides, and evening shows await you in September.
© Jonathan Grundmann · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jonathan Grundmann, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsBeer and prices at Oktoberfest 2026
Beer at Oktoberfest is brewed only by six Munich breweries: Paulaner, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Spaten, Löwenbräu and Hacker-Pschorr. In 2026, a liter mug (Mass) costs from 14.80 to 15.90 € (official price list, as of 09/2026). That is on average 2.38% more expensive than a year earlier.
The price depends on the tent, not the beer. Augustiner and Paulaner usually have long lines; in smaller tents you can sit longer without neighbors at the table.
© Lunna Campos · CC BYPhoto: Lunna Campos, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsFood and drinks at the festival
You won't go hungry. Oktoberfest classics: grilled chicken (Hendl), white sausages, Steckerlfisch (fish on a stick) and Bavarian meat dishes. For dessert, try gingerbread and candied almonds.
Many tents have a separate menu for children. The rule is: children under six are not allowed in the tents after 8:00 pm (guest information, as of 09/2026).
Rides and evening shows
Beer is not the only entertainment at Oktoberfest. For visitors with children there is a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, a chain carousel and other rides. In the evening, brass bands play and shows take place in the tents.
The list of rides changes every year. You can find the current lineup on the festival's official page (as of 09/2026).
Oktoberfest rules
Check these points in advance so you don't get turned away at the entrance.
- Smoking is not allowed in the tents and beer gardens; separate areas are designated for it.
- Entry with bags larger than 10×15×20 cm is restricted; lockers are available nearby (visitor rules, as of 09/2026).
- Animals are not allowed.
- Riding scooters and bicycles on the grounds is prohibited.
What to see nearby in Munich
If you get tired of the festival, take a walk around the city. Between visits to Theresienwiese, three places are worth seeing.
The BMW Museum is next to the Olympic Park. It houses cars and motorcycles from different eras. Tech enthusiasts will need a couple of hours.
The Munich Residenz (Residenz München) was the home of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Inside you will see collections of porcelain, silver, paintings and rare furniture.
The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) stands on Marienplatz. The building is built in the neo-Gothic style, and its mechanical clock features life-size figures.
All three spots are reachable from central Munich by metro or tram. Munich tours on GetYourGuide will help you cover the city in one day.
© AuHaidhausen · CC BYPhoto: AuHaidhausen, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to stay in Munich
Hotels for festival dates are booked several months in advance. By early autumn, available rooms in the center are almost gone, and prices go up.
Popular Munich hotels: Laimer Hof, Bayerischer Hof, and Pension am Jakobsplatz. Among hostels, check out The Tent, Meininger, and Hostival. A campsite during the festival costs from 40 to 100 € per night (festival website, as of 09/2026).
You can pitch a tent at Campingplatz München Obermenzing, Campingplatz Nord-West, or at Messe Riem.
Available Munich hotels on Trip.com should be checked right after you decide to go.
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⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When does Oktoberfest 2026 take place?
The festival runs from September 19 to October 4, 2026, 16 days in total. Opening is always on a Saturday, closing on a Sunday. The location never changes: Theresienwiese meadow in Munich (festival calendar, as of 09/2026).
How much does a liter of beer cost at Oktoberfest 2026?
A one-liter mug (Mass) costs from 14.80 to 15.90 € depending on the tent. The average increase compared to 2025 was 2.38%. You will see the exact price right in the tent (2026 price list, as of 09/2026).
Do I need a ticket for Oktoberfest?
No, entry to the Theresienwiese grounds is free. A ticket may only be needed for individually reserved tables in the tents (festival tents, as of 09/2026).
Can I come to Oktoberfest with children?
Yes, families come throughout the day. There is a separate menu and rides for children. Note the rule: children under six are not allowed in the tents after 8:00 PM (family rules, as of 09/2026).
From Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) it is about a 10-minute walk to the meadow. The Theresienwiese (U4, U5) and Goetheplatz (U3, U6) subway stations exit right at the grounds. During the festival, it is better to arrive by subway rather than by car.
Where to stay during Oktoberfest?
Book well in advance: by September there are almost no rooms left. Popular hotels include Laimer Hof, Bayerischer Hof, and Pension am Jakobsplatz, and popular hostels include The Tent, Meininger, and Hostival. A night at a campsite costs from 40 to 100 € (official portal, as of 09/2026).
In short: what to book
If you are traveling with family: choose a hotel in the center near the metro, and plan attractions for the morning. If you are on a budget: a hostel or a campsite like Campingplatz München Obermenzing. If you want to see all of Munich: add a city tour between visits to Theresienwiese.
Whatever you choose, book your accommodation as soon as you decide to go. Compare Munich hotel prices on Trip.com and lock in your dates in advance.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.