On the first Sunday of the Wiesn, around 8,000 people in traditional costume followed the *Münchner Kindl* through Munich's city center.
September 20 in Munich: The traditional costume groups are coming! The *Münchner Kindl*, the Minister-President, and the Mayor lead the procession in their carriages; accompanied by music groups and participants in traditional dress, the parade makes its way through Munich's city center to the Theresienwiese
Thousands of participants march in the Traditional Costume and Marksmen’s Parade on the first Sunday of the festival, traveling from Maximilianstraße (Max II Monument) to the Theresienwiese at Bavariaring. This traditional parade has taken place on this date every year since 1950. It is part of the 191st Oktoberfest, which continues to delight everyone here until October 4, 2026
Munich – City Center – Traditional Costume Parade from Maximilianstraße to the Theresienwiese on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The first Sunday of the Wiesn drew many spectators with the grand, traditional parade—spanning approximately 7 kilometers—from Maximilianstraße to the Theresienwiese. The parade of traditional costumes moved from Munich's city center to the Oktoberfest grounds. For a good two hours, 50 traditional costume and marksmen’s groups from across Europe filed past us, following the decorated honorary carriage. Directly behind the *Münchner Kindl* (riding on horseback), we see Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder and Dominik Krause, the Mayor of Munich.
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| Many flag-wavers and fanfare bands delight the spectators; photo: Helga Waess |
It kicked off just before 10 a.m. at the Max II Monument, right next to the Maximilianeum.
Around 8,000 people—members of traditional costume and marksmen's associations—take part in the event every year.
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Polnische Trachtengruppe im Festzug, Pressefoto: Helga Waess
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Spectators enjoy the Munich Morris Dancers, as well as the many marching bands, choral societies, and brass bands that enrich the traditional costume parade.
In addition, the breweries send out festively decorated, magnificent multi-horse wagons, offering a splendid sight to spectators lining the streets and watching from windows.
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| Geschmückte Kutschen und winkende Trachtenvereinmitglieder im Festzug - Foto: Helga Waess |
The groups in traditional costume and the bands represent their respective regions, traveling to Munich from all over Europe.
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| The dance groups also deserve admiration—seen here near the Theresienwiese; photo: Helga Waess – Sept. 20, 2026 |
Crowds delight in the historic costumes on display, ranging from regional *Dirndls* and *Lederhosen* to Biedermeier-era fashion, guard regiments, and suits of armor.
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| Participants in traditional costume at the Theresienwiese; photo: Helga Waess – Sept. 20, 2026 |
The 2026 "Münchner Kindl," Sina Hochreiter - a 27-year-old Munich native -welcomes the traditional costume and marksmen's groups.
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| The "Münchner Kindl" welcomes the participants at the Theresienwiese; photo: Helga Waess – Sept. 20, 2026 |
The parade is led by the "Münchner Kindl," the Mayor of Munich, and the Minister-President of Bavaria
The procession through Munich’s city center is led by the reigning "Münchner Kindl" (the city’s emblematic figure, also seen on the coat of arms at the Town Hall on Marienplatz) and the carriages of Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder and Munich’s Mayor Dominik Krause.
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| Trachtlerinnen im Festumzug, Foto: Helga Waess |
Decorated carriages and waving members of traditional costume associations in the parade
A brief history of the traditional costume parade:
The traditional costume parade first took place in Munich in 1835 to mark the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria. The couple had married 25 years earlier, on October 12, 1810—an event celebrated with the very first Oktoberfest.
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| Erstmals dabei die Kölner-Trachtler, Pressefoto: Helga Waess |
