What is Oktoberfest? History, beer, food, and how to enjoy the authentic experience
A complete guide to Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, including its history, origins, the six major breweries, and classic dishes. Schmatz, who actually visited Munich, shares the authentic experience not found in guidebooks.
Every autumn, curious news arrives from Munich: 6.5 million people gather, drinking 6.5 million liters of beer over 16 days. The staff alone numbers 13,000. A single glass of beer costs about 2,500 yen.
"What kind of festival is this?" The four of us at Schmatz, who had been wondering about it, finally visited Munich's Oktoberfest last year. There were countless surprises there, and we plan to share those stories in detail in an upcoming "Visit Report" series. For now, we hope this article helps you grasp the overall picture of Oktoberfest!
1810: It began with the name of a bride
Oktoberfest was born on October 17, 1810.
To celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later King Ludwig I), a horse race was held in a meadow on the outskirts of Munich. It is said that some 40,000 citizens gathered to celebrate grandly.
The Origin of the Name "Therese's Meadow"
King Maximilian I of Bavaria named this meadow. "Let's call this place 'Therese's Meadow' in honor of the bride, Therese" - that is the origin of the name "Theresienwiese" that remains today. Munich citizens affectionately call it "Wiesn" for short, and the name has not changed in over 200 years.
The following year, an agricultural fair was added, eventually entertainment facilities increased, and large breweries began to erect huge tents - it took 200 years to reach its current form.
Incidentally, the horse race that started it all actually continued until 1960. It's hard to imagine now that it's established as a beer festival, but horses were running there for a century and a half. This unexpected history is part of what makes Oktoberfest so interesting.
Overcoming Wars and COVID-19, this year marks the 191st time
Over its 200-year history, Oktoberfest has been canceled approximately 24 times. Wars, cholera epidemics, hyperinflation, and most recently, two consecutive cancellations in 2020-2021 due to COVID. It was the longest hiatus since 1813. Nevertheless, the festival has always revived and will celebrate its 191st edition in 2026.
Why does the "October Festival" start in September?
"It's the 'Oktoberfest' (October Festival), so why does it start in September?"
This is a common point of confusion for many. The answer is simple: the weather in Munich in October is often bad.
The answer lies in the "blizzard" of 1872
Records show that during the 1829 festival, a sudden blizzard forced the complete closure of all tents. On the other hand, late September often sees a period of mild, sunny weather known as "Indian Summer" (Altweibersommer). So, to take advantage of this, the opening was moved to September in 1872.
Only the name "October Festival" remained, while the event itself shifted to September. It's a rather practical reason, but very German, isn't it (laughs)?
The current rules state, "It opens on the third Saturday in September and closes on the first Sunday in October or October 3rd, whichever is later." **In 2026, it will run for 16 days, from Saturday, September 19th to Sunday, October 4th.**
The scale is beyond imagination.
To be honest, until I actually went there, I only thought of it as "a big beer festival." But the moment I stepped onto the grounds, my perception changed completely.
6.5 million people, 42 hectares, 38 tents
The Theresienwiese covers an area of 42 hectares (approximately 9 times the size of Tokyo Dome). It hosts 14 large tents and 21 small tents, with a total seating capacity of about 120,000. In 2025, 6.5 million people visited and 6.5 million liters of beer were consumed over 16 days. The highest attendance ever was 7.2 million in 2023, breaking the 1985 record of 7.1 million after 40 years.
The World of Beer, Contested by Six Breweries
The only beers you can drink at Oktoberfest are those from Munich's six official breweries: Augustiner, Paulaner, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, and Spaten.
Each tent has a completely different "personality"
Each brewery has its own large tent, and the atmosphere and clientele are completely different. There's Hofbräu, lively with international tourists and English songs; Hacker-Pschorr, known as "Bavarian Heaven" with a mural of a summer sky on its ceiling; and Spaten's tent, where the mayor annually taps the first barrel and declares "O'zapft is!" (It's tapped!). The experience varies greatly depending on which tent you enter.
The tent particularly beloved by local Munich residents is Augustiner. The reason why will be explained later.
Why does only Augustiner continue to use wooden barrels?
While the other five companies have all transitioned to steel tanks, Augustiner alone continues to serve beer from **oak wooden barrels called "Hirsch" (deer)**. 55 200-liter wooden barrels are stored in a 25-meter-high refrigerated tower called "Kühlturm" within the tent, and brought out by a glass elevator. They are collected every night and freshly brought in the next morning, repeating this cycle. This dedication is one of the reasons why it is beloved by the local Munich citizens.
The brewing philosophy behind why Augustiner alone continues to preserve wooden barrels will be discussed in detail in the next visit report.
Incidentally, Oktoberfest beer used to be typically an amber-colored Märzen. Why did it change to the current pale Helles-style "Festbier"? That story will be explained in the Lager (Märzen) explanation column and in another installment of this series.
Not just sausages: authentic local dishes
Do you think of "sausages" when you think of Oktoberfest food? In fact, the classic menu is much richer.
Classic dishes you must try
**Hendl**, half a chicken roasted whole over charcoal, is a festival specialty. The skin is crispy, the meat juicy, and each tent competes for the best quality (as of 2024, one whole chicken costs 17-24 Euros).
The classic way to eat a salty pretzel, or **Brezn**, is to spread it with Obatzda, a spread made from Camembert cheese.
**Schweinshaxn**, salt-cured and roasted pork hock, offers a satisfying volume with just one. And what's surprisingly less known is the Bavarian tradition of eating **Weißwurst** (white sausage) for breakfast with wheat beer. There's even a mysterious rule that "you shouldn't eat it after noon."
Food and beer pairings are also discussed in detail in the Weizen and Weisswurst column. We'll share our actual dining experiences from the festival in the "Visit Report" series.
The "traditional costume" Dirndl was actually a recent cultural development.
When you think of Oktoberfest, you think of women's **Dirndl** and men's **Lederhosen**, right? But actually, the widespread adoption of these outfits is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Looking at photos and paintings from the 19th century, visitors wore frock coats and top hats, or fashionable dresses of the time. The Dirndl, which was rural workwear, was shunned by urban dwellers as "provincial."
The turning point came in the 1990s. The younger generation rediscovered the Dirndl as party fashion, and the trend became established in the 2000s. What we thought of as "traditional attire" is actually a relatively new custom, only about 30 years old.
There's no single "right" way to dress, but knowing the history of "tradition" can make you see things in a slightly different and interesting way.
Enjoy Oktoberfest in Japan!
Even if you can't go to Munich, there are opportunities to experience the Oktoberfest atmosphere in Japan. Events are held annually in autumn in various locations, including Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Tokyo, and Osaka.
Enjoy authentic German beer at Schmatz
At Schmatz restaurants, you can enjoy directly imported German beers. If you want to learn more about German beer, start by reading "What is German Beer?". Reading this will greatly deepen your understanding of the beer styles drunk at Oktoberfest.
Click here for reservations and store information for Schmatz restaurants.
For those who want to enjoy the Oktoberfest spirit at home, our online shop delivers directly imported German beer. Experience the authentic atmosphere right in your own home.
We've given you a brief overview of Oktoberfest: its history, scale, beer, food, and culture.
Next, we'll finally deliver our "Visit Report" series, recounting our actual walk through Munich.
We'll share what we felt after trying beers from the six major tents, our surprise at Augustiner's wooden barrel tower, and the reality of the people who support the festival—stories not found in guidebooks, told as honestly as possible.
