The 190th outing of the Oktoberfest is being held on Munich's Theresienwiese from September 20 to October 5, 2025. Setup has been underway since the end of June, and now — just days before the world's largest folk festival kicks off — preparations are complete. To get the festival started, the mayor of Munich traditionally taps the first barrel with a cry of "O'zapft is!."

Over the next two-and-a-half weeks, it's estimated that 6 to 7 million visitors will attend Oktoberfest. The majority of them come from Germany, especially the state of Bavaria. There are plenty of international guests, too, with the largest crowds coming from the US, Italy, UK, Austria, Poland, France, Switzerland, Spain, Netherlands — and since 2024, India.

Record prices: €15 for a liter of beer

The big question at Oktoberfest each year is: "How much for a beer?" 

Last year, a Mass — a one-liter stein of beer — cost around €15 ($17,65). This year, most beers are priced over €15, the most expensive being at the Münchner Stubn, costing €15.80. Only a few vendors are selling a liter of beer in a jug for less than €15.

Even though the event on the "Wiesn" — as the field where Oktoberfest is held is locally known — is officially hosted by the Bavarian capital, Munich, the prices for drinks are set by the vendors themselves. All the same, Munich's city authorities keep a close eye on how the prices develop to ensure that they remain reasonable. No matter how expensive the beer gets, though, every year around 7 million liters are drunk at the fest.

Collectors often try to smuggle empty Mass jugs out of the festival grounds — with many being caught by the security personnel. In 2024, 98,000 steins were recovered at the exits. In previous years, the number was even higher.

Oktoberfest tents have something for everyone 

Oktoberfest has 14 large and 21 smaller tents. For the "Oide Wiesn" section, there are three festival tents to choose from. The larger tents typically have room for around 6,000 people, while the smaller tents fit up to 3,000.

The Oide Wiesn is a special part of the Theresienwiese, offering a more classic Oktoberfest experience. Traditional brass bands perform in the three tents, and the rides are more of the old-fashioned kind. To keep everything up and running, there's an admission price of €4.

Oktoberfest is free to attend: Just come straight to the Theresienwiese — ideally wearing a traditional dirndl, or lederhosen — and you're off! Entry to the larger tents is always allowed, provided they aren't too crowded already.

It's recommended you book a table in advance. You can do that on any of the different festival tents' own websites. The tents have something for everyone — from traditional Bavarian music, to "schlager," or pop hits. Most tents also have live bands that play a bit of everything, from Oktoberfest hits to rock classics.

How much gets eaten?

Food at Oktoberfest has followed the trends toward eating more regional and organic products. More and more, you'll find vegetarian and vegan meals on offer: sweet potato, bean stew, chickpea dishes, jackfruit goulash — the list does on.

Classic, hearty meat dishes nonetheless remain the most popular: 125 oxen and 70,000 pork knuckles were consumed at Oktoberfest in 2024. One dish tops the list though: "Hendl" — roast chicken — is served around 500,000 times every year.

What ends up at the lost and found?

Every year, around 3,500 to 4,500 items wind up in the lost and found office: mostly wallets, mobile phones, jackets, keys and glasses. Bags, backpacks and umbrellas also regularly make their way there, but there have also been some stranger finds.

In 2024, 16 lederhosen, a pair of handcuffs, a mouth guard and several pairs of women's shoes were handed in. Hearing aids and dentures show up every year, too. The more bizarre items of recent years include a live 8-centimeter-long species of grasshopper, a dog and a Viking helmet.

Smooth security planning 

At major events like this, security always has priority — which is why Oktoberfest tweaks its security strategy each year. The concept seems to be working: the fire department, police, paramedics and security staff have all noted the visitors' good behavior. Security measures at the entrances aren't causing problems, and many visitors even thank the staff for helping them feel safe.

Munich police reported a 25% drop in offenses in 2024, and binge drinking among adolescents has also taken a downward turn. The police has attributed the change to preventive work that is carried out both before and during the Oktoberfest. 

Munich's ambulance services also had a calmer Oktoberfest 2024, with the need for emergency responses down 29%.

Climate-neutral by 2028

In 2024, Oktoberfest began a campaign for more environmental protection and sustainability. Since 2023, the Wiesn has been supplied with entirely green electricity. The water used to rinse the beer mugs is also being recycled for use in the sanitary facilities.

The recycling system is continually being improved, with less disposable plastic tableware and an increase in regional and organic products. The city has introduced a points system for the vendors to monitor their sustainability. Authorities are aiming to make Oktoberfest entirely climate-neutral by 2028.

This article was originally written in German.