Oktoberfest Setup 2026 – Photo impressions from July 20, 2026
Oktoberfest Countdown: 60 days left until the start of the world's largest Oktoberfest in Munich – this year, our traditional "Wiesn" and the "Oide Wiesn" will last a full 16 days.
Munich Oktoberfest: September 19 to October 4, 2026, at the Theresienwiese in Munich (ENGLISH, DEUTSCH, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS)
Munich. Setup for the world's largest folk festival! The Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese is growing like a temporary city: the truly massive beer tents belonging to the flagship breweries already line the *Wirtsbudenstraße* (Tavern Tent Avenue). The sun is shining, and the Bavaria statue looks out over her "Wiesn," seemingly smiling at the temporary closure of the grounds for the "Oktoberfest construction site." Indeed, I, too, marvel every day at the progress of the festival setup for the 191st Munich Oktoberfest. Construction began back in early July; after all, nearly 40 festival tents and over 100 rides and food stalls must be ready within an 80-day assembly period. The festival tents always go up first, followed by the rides.
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| Main entrance to Wirtsbudenstraße at the Munich Oktoberfest – July
20, 2026, during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess
(press photo) |
The area designated for the historic "Oide Wiesn" at the southern end of the Theresienwiese is still open, allowing skaters, cyclists, and basketball players to continue using the space.
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| This is the site for the OIDE WIESN – Munich Oktoberfest grounds – July
20, 2026, during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess
(press photo) |
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER 19TH
Munich’s new Mayor, Dominik Krause (Green Party), will perform the traditional keg-tapping ceremony in the Schottenhamel festival tent at 12:00 PM on September 19, 2026...
– word has it that practice is already underway.
This will be followed by the traditional words "O'zapft is! Here's to a peaceful Wiesn," and the first *Maß* (liter mug) of beer will be served to Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder to mark the opening of the festival.
This officially kicks off the 191st Munich Oktoberfest.
Salute shots from the Bavaria statue can be heard, and all of Munich knows that the beer is flowing in the festival tents.
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| Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026, during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess (press photo) |
Incidentally, the keg-tapping tradition dates back to September 1950, when it was initiated by Munich’s then-Mayor Thomas Wimmer (SPD)
Incidentally, Wimmer needed 17 strikes to tap his first beer barrel. The record holder remains Christian Ude (Mayor of Munich from 1993 to 2014) with just two strikes—a feat he achieved on several occasions. His successor, Mayor Dieter Reiter, has averaged between two and four strikes.
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| Kuffler’s Wine Tent and the Bavaria statue in front of the Hall of Fame!
Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026, during the setup of the *Wiesn*;
photo: Helga Waess (press photo) |
Anyone interested can book exclusive tours of the "Oktoberfest construction site" on the Theresienwiese through Munich Tourism
- these take place on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
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| The "Spaten" tent viewed from the "Theresienwiese" subway station!
Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026, during the setup of the festival
grounds; photo: Helga Waess (press photo) |
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| Entrance to Wirtsbudenstraße from the south – the Paulaner Tower and
Löwenbräu Tower flank the entrance... Munich Oktoberfest – July 20,
2026, during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess
(press photo) |
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| Exploring the Theresienwiese on the yellow Pakka bike – the sign reads
"Oktoberfest Construction Site": Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026,
during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess (press
photo) |
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| Kuffler’s Wine Tent, the Bavaria statue, and the Paulaner and Löwenbräu
towers – Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026, during the setup of the
festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess (press photo) |
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| Pschorr Braurösl festival tent – Munich Oktoberfest – July 20, 2026,
during the setup of the festival grounds; photo: Helga Waess (press
photo) |
