Oktoberfest Countdown
Oktoberfest 2026 opens on September 19, 2026 in Munich, Germany, the world's biggest folk festival, drawing over six million visitors for two-plus weeks of beer tents, brass bands and lederhosen. This countdown ticks to opening day, when the mayor taps the first keg at noon and cries 'O'zapft is!', 'It's tapped!'
How many days until Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest 2026 is on Saturday, September 19, 2026, which is 79 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
The world's largest folk festival
First held in 1810 to celebrate a Bavarian royal wedding, Oktoberfest, 'die Wiesn' to locals, now fills Munich's Theresienwiese with enormous beer tents run by the city's historic breweries, plus rides, roast chicken and pretzels the size of your head.
Mostly in September
Despite the name, most of Oktoberfest happens in September: it starts on a Saturday in mid-September and runs about 16, 18 days, ending the first Sunday of October (or October 3, German Unity Day, if that falls later).
Quick facts
- First held in 1810 in Munich, Bavaria
- Over six million visitors each year
- Opens when the mayor taps the first keg at noon
- Runs from mid-September to the first Sunday of October