Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
Oktoberfest 2027 runs from Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October on the Theresienwiese in Munich, the 192nd Wiesn according to the city. The keg is tapped at noon on 18 September with the call "O'zapft is!". The costume and riflemen's parade is on Sunday 19 September, family days fall on Tuesdays 21 and 28 September, and the festival closes with a gun salute at the Bavaria statue on Sunday 3 October. Entry is free; you pay for beer, food and rides. We spent 5 days in Munich in July 2023, outside festival season; this guide uses the city's own Oktoberfest pages and flags what is not yet announced for 2027.
• Festival: Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2027 (16 days, including three weekends in whole or part).
• Opening day: tents open at 9:00, rides at 12:00, and the first beer is served after the keg is tapped at 12:00. An opening parade of festival hosts precedes it; one organiser guide puts it at 11:00.
• Costume and riflemen's parade: Sunday 19 September 2027, through the city centre to the Theresienwiese.
• Family days: Tuesdays 21 and 28 September, with discounted rides until 19:00.
• Closing: gun salute at the Bavaria statue at noon on Sunday 3 October.
• Not yet announced for 2027: ticket or tent-reservation dates, beer prices, and exact set-up closures on the grounds.
The city publishes the Wiesn hours, and the 2027 schedule follows the same pattern. The grounds are open Monday to Thursday 10:00 to 23:30, Friday 10:00 to midnight, Saturday 9:00 to midnight and Sunday 9:00 to 23:30. Beer tents open at 10:00 on weekdays and 9:00 on Saturday and Sunday, with last call at 23:30 on the official page. Large festival halls serve their last beer and music at 22:30, small tents at 23:00. Käfer's Wiesn-Schänke and Kufflers Weinzelt stay open later, with last drinks at 00:30.
Rides continue after the tents close. The Oide Wiesn, the historical section with its own entrance fee, opens Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to 23:30 and Friday and Saturday 10:00 to midnight. There are 17 large and 21 small beer tents plus over 100 rides and stalls.
The practical point for planning: mornings and early afternoons on weekdays are the easiest time to find a seat without a reservation. Evenings, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays fill quickly, and tents can close their doors temporarily when they reach capacity.
There is no entrance fee for the grounds or tents. The Oide Wiesn charges admission. Table reservations are made directly with the individual tents, and reservations are generally free, but in the main hall of the large tents you are normally required to pre-purchase vouchers, typically for two Maß of beer and half a chicken per person. Every tent must keep a substantial share of seats free for guests without reservations, so showing up without one is realistic at off-peak times.
Timing of 2027 reservations has not been announced; individual tents publish their own booking windows, so watch the tents' sites and the official Oktoberfest page from the start of 2027. The tent you choose changes the atmosphere: some are loud and music-driven, others quieter and family-friendly. We have not tested individual tents, so use the city's tent list rather than ours.
The 2026 festival priced a Maß between roughly €14.80 (≈ $16.5) and €15.90 (≈ $17.8), per press reports citing the city's published list, up from €14.50 to €15.80 (≈ $16.2–17.6) in 2025. The cheapest were in the Familienplatzl and the museum tent on the Oide Wiesn, and a few specialty drinks cost more. Expect 2027 to be at or above the 2026 range; no 2027 price has been published.
Budget separately for food, rides and tipping. Our German tipping guide explains rounding up for the server, which is normal in the tents. For what to eat before and after, see what to eat in Munich.
Bags and backpacks are limited to a maximum of 3 litres and 20 x 15 x 10 cm, according to the city's Oktoberfest page. Bring a small crossbody or leave the big bag at the hotel. Strollers are generally allowed until 18:00 if the festival is not overcrowded, but are banned all day on Saturdays and on 3 October.
Traditional dress is not required. Many people wear dirndl and Lederhosen, but jeans are fine. Oktoberfest also has a full set of house rules the city publishes as the Golden Oktoberfest Rules; read them before you go.
Hotels in Munich book out and rise sharply in price for the festival, so book as soon as your dates are firm, or stay outside the city and take the S-Bahn in. See our where to stay in Munich guide for areas, and Munich airport to the city for arrival. Mornings before the tents fill are a good time to see the old town; our how many days in Munich and day trips from Munich explain what else is worth the time.
Mid-September to early October is typically mild but changeable, with cooler evenings, so bring a layer. For the year-round picture, see the best time to visit Germany. If you prefer a different festive season, our German Christmas markets guide has dates for this winter, and our Munich guide covers the city.
Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2027, on the Theresienwiese in Munich. The keg is tapped at noon on 18 September.
Yes, the grounds and tents are free to enter. You pay for food, drinks and rides. The Oide Wiesn section charges admission.
On opening day tents open at 9:00 and the first beer is served after the noon keg tapping. Weekdays tents open at 10:00, and at weekends at 9:00.
Not always. Reservations are made with the tents and usually require vouchers for two Maß and half a chicken in the main hall, but every tent keeps seats for walk-ins, especially on weekday daytimes.
Only small ones: the city's page gives a limit of 3 litres and 20 x 15 x 10 cm.
In 2026 a Maß cost roughly €14.80 to €15.90 (≈ $16.5–17.8). The 2027 price has not been published.
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