Oktoberfest 2026 will officially open on Saturday, September 19, at 12 PM. During the ceremony, the Mayor of Munich will announce "O'zapft is" by tapping a keg of beer, which means "It is tapped." This announcement will be accompanied by 12 gunshots signaling all festival tents to begin serving customers.
Details and Dimensions of the Festival
Over 6 million people are expected to attend the world's largest festival in Munich, which will continue until October 4 this year. The festival grounds span 34.5 hectares in Theresienwiese, Munich, which is roughly the size of 48 football fields. However, the crowd can increase to dangerous levels, especially on weekends. Last year, officials had to temporarily close the entrances.
One reason for this crowding is that nearly all 38 beer tents operate on two or three shifts. When one group of guests leaves and the next group arrives, many visitors try to enter or exit simultaneously. As a result, on one Saturday afternoon last year, the crowd became so dense that movement was temporarily halted, causing panic among some visitors.
New Security Measures
To prevent a repeat of this situation, the city of Munich has designed a new security plan for this year's festival. 26 new cameras will be added to the existing 56 police cameras to monitor the festival grounds. An artificial intelligence system will also be implemented to analyze visitor flow and issue alerts in case of overcrowding in various areas. A new coordination center has also been established to improve communication between security organizations and event organizers.
Organizers and police have also developed a plan to deal with drones over the festival grounds, although details have not been disclosed. Additionally, 600 police officers will be present on-site.
Although Oktoberfest is recognized as an international attraction for tourists, most visitors do not travel far to reach it. A study commissioned by the city of Munich last year showed that the festival is primarily regional. In 2025, 41% of visitors were from Munich, 25% from surrounding areas, and 9% from other parts of the region. In total, three-quarters of the approximately 6.5 million Oktoberfest visitors were from Bavaria.
Costs and Local Culture
Regarding costs, the price of a Mass (the traditional 1-liter beer at Oktoberfest) will range from €14.80 to €15.90 ($17 to $18.25), which is only slightly more than last year. Additionally, a liter of mineral water will be offered at €11, although several free drinking water fountains will also be available on the festival grounds.
Visitors planning to enjoy one of the many Oktoberfest rides should remain relatively sober. Ticket prices range from less than €5 to €14. Furthermore, the culture of traditional German fairs was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2026, and this tradition is fully alive at the 191st Oktoberfest.
Finally, people coming to Munich usually wear traditional local clothing. Women and girls wear dirndls, and men wear lederhosen. These outfits are highly regarded, and locals do not appreciate cheap imitation clothing. For newcomers, renting traditional attire instead of buying it is recommended.
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