When is Oktoberfest 2026?
The festival runs from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October, at Munich’s Theresienwiese. The opening barrel-tapping is at noon on 19 September. Grounds, tents and rides have different operating hours; check the official timetable for your day. Give queues and the return journey their own time allowance.
Entry, tickets and tent reservations
The main grounds and beer tents have free admission. Rides, food and drinks cost extra; the separate Oide Wiesn has its own admission rules. Free entry does not guarantee space in a crowded tent. Reserve directly with the tent operator, following its voucher requirements, or use the official resale channel linked by the organizer. Avoid treating a third-party “entry ticket” as necessary for the main grounds.
Get there by public transport
U4/U5 serve Theresienwiese and Schwanthalerhöhe; U3/U6 serve Goetheplatz and Poccistraße. S-Bahn services on the main line serve Hackerbrücke. Choose the station for your entrance and walking needs, then check current service and lift status. These are station options, not an audited step-free walking route. Save the return connection before leaving your accommodation.
Visit with children
Family days are 22 and 29 September, with special offers; check participating operators. Strollers are restricted: no Saturdays or 3 October, and otherwise only until 18:00 when crowd conditions permit. Agree on a meeting point, choose a small number of rides and finish before everyone is tired. A weekday visit is a planning preference, not a promise of quiet.
Plan for mobility, sight and sensory needs
The organizer’s accessibility guide covers tent access, wheelchair facilities and services for blind visitors. Contact your chosen venue about its entrance and assistance. A map alone is insufficient for a blind traveler: agree on verbal meeting-point descriptions and how to reach staff. Plan seated breaks and an early exit if noise or crowds become tiring.
Pack small and make a simple plan
Check the official bag limits: up to 3 litres or 20 × 15 × 10 cm. Leave luggage at your accommodation. Use the trip checklist below for your travel documents, return journey and personal needs, then apply the festival’s own security rules to what you carry inside. Decide your spending limit before arriving.
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