Oktoberfest in Munich — dates, closures & crowds
Six million visitors, one city. When it falls in 2026, 2027, 2028, what actually closes, and how to plan around it — plus a live checker for your exact dates. Verified 2026-09.
Quick answer: Oktoberfest in Munich runs Sat 19 Sep 2026 – Sun 4 Oct 2026. Munich hotel prices triple or worse; rooms sell out months ahead. Sleep in Augsburg, Regensburg or even Salzburg and train in — vastly cheaper.
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Germany · Sat 19 Sep 2026 → Sun 4 Oct 2026
🍺 Oktoberfest in Munich · Sat 19 Sep 2026 – Sun 4 Oct 2026
Munich hotel prices triple or worse; rooms sell out months ahead
Full Oktoberfest in Munich guide →- Sat 3 Oct 2026 — German Unity Day
Holidays: nationwide public holidays only (regional ones excluded), verified 2026-09. Lunar-calendar events are approximate. Confirm anything date-critical locally.
What it is
The world's biggest beer festival runs 19 Sep–4 Oct 2026, 18 Sep–3 Oct 2027 and 16 Sep–3 Oct 2028, drawing over six million visitors to Munich.
Dates
| Year | Impact window |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sat 19 Sep 2026 – Sun 4 Oct 2026 |
| 2027 | Sat 18 Sep 2027 – Sun 3 Oct 2027 |
| 2028 | Sat 16 Sep 2028 – Tue 3 Oct 2028 |
What to expect
- Munich hotel prices triple or worse; rooms sell out months ahead
- Trains from Austria/southern Germany run full on weekends
- The city outside the Theresienwiese functions normally — just expensive
- Weekday visits are far calmer than weekends; tents fill by early afternoon anyway
How to plan around it
- Sleep in Augsburg, Regensburg or even Salzburg and train in — vastly cheaper
- Go on a weekday morning, leave before the evening crush
- Big groups need tent reservations nearly a year ahead; walk-ins work solo/duo on weekdays
⚠️ Nationwide public holidays only; regional holidays and one-off closures aren't listed. Lunar-calendar dates (Ramadan, Tết, Diwali) are approximate. Verified 2026-09 — confirm anything date-critical with official local sources.