Oktoberfest in Munich usually runs from mid-September to the first Sunday in October, not just in October as the name suggests.

Quick Scoop: When is Oktoberfest?

  • The festival traditionally starts in the second half of September and ends on the first Sunday of October (or October 3, if that date falls later and is a public holiday in Germany).
  • For 2026, the official dates are Saturday, 19 September 2026, to Sunday, 4 October 2026.

In other words: if you’re planning a trip, think “last two weeks of September plus the first days of October” rather than the whole month of October.

Typical Pattern by Year

Oktoberfest follows a repeating rule: it starts on a Saturday in September and ends on the first Sunday in October or on October 3, whichever is later.

Some upcoming examples:

  • 2026: 19 September – 4 October
  • 2027: 18 September – 3 October
  • 2028: 16 September – 3 October

These ranges help you estimate future dates even before they’re officially published.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.