Munich is pulling its lederhosen and dirndls out of the closet again—because the fifth season is beginning! On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the 191st MunichOktoberfest kicks off at the Theresienwiese. For you, this means: The world’s largest folk festival opens its gates and invites you to enjoy unforgettable days filled with Bavarian tradition and customs. Opening Saturday is by far one of the most exciting days of the entire Wiesn. Before the first mugs are tapped, flower-decorated parade floats and the legendary tapping of the first keg in the tent set the whole city abuzz.
To make sure you’re fully informed and don’t miss any highlights , we’ve compiled all the facts about the schedule and the most important traditions on opening day .
Here’s what to expect when the Oktoberfest landlords make their grand entrance
The festival day begins in the morning at 10:35 a.m. with the traditional procession of the Wiesn tavern owners. Around 1,000 participants, including tavern owners, servers, carnival performers, and musicians, set off together for the Theresienwiese, which the parade is expected to reach around 12:00 p.m. The procession will line up on Sonnenstraße starting at the intersection with Josephspitalstraße. From there, the route will proceed along Schwanthalerstraße, Hermann-Lingg-Straße, and the Bavariaring directly to the Theresienwiese and on to Wirtsbudenstraße.
This year, for the first time, the new Münchner Kindl, Sina Hochreiter, will lead the parade. Following behind her will be the new Mayor, Dominik Krause, who will ride in the Schottenhamel family’s festival carriage. Also featured in the parade are the impressive floats of the six Munich Oktoberfest breweries, complete with richly decorated wooden barrels. Spectators can watch the entire parade route from the sidewalk free of charge. Those who prefer to sit comfortably can secure grandstand seats on Sonnenstraße for 30 euros. But here’s the thing: it pays to be quick, because as always, tickets sell out fast.
The Wiesn tapping ceremony in Schottenhamel: At 12:00 p.m. sharp, it’s “O’zapft is!”
Although the festival tents open as early as 9:00 a.m. on opening day, beer isn’t served just yet. Starting at 10:00 a.m., only non-alcoholic beverages (except non-alcoholic beer) and light snacks are served.
The special moment marking the opening of Oktoberfest takes place at 12:00 p.m. sharp in the Schottenhamel Festhalle (Wirtsbudenstraße 35, Theresienwiese). There, Mayor Dominik Krause will wield the mallet for the very first time during his term in office. When the keg is tapped, the traditional words “O’zapft is! Here’s to a peaceful Wiesn!”
After the successful tapping of the first keg, twelve celebratory cannon shots are fired in front of the Bavaria statue. They serve as a signal to all the other Oktoberfest tents that beer service has now officially begun. According to tradition, the very first freshly tapped Maß is presented to the Bavarian Minister-President.
There is no grandstand open to the public for the Wiesn tapping ceremony . In addition, seats in Schottenhamel for the opening are extremely sought-after. However, as always, admission to the festival grounds is free, so all guests can celebrate the start of Oktoberfest 2026 together.
