Oktoberfest 2026: This is Why You Should Book Before Christmas
Millions of gallons of beer, thousands of bratwurst, warm Bavarian charm, and hundreds of years of history… it has to be Oktoberfest! But you can’t just turn up to the world’s largest and longest-running beer festival, and expect to swan in and find yourself a seat – unless you book with Insight Vacations. Here’s why booking Oktoberfest 2026 with us is your ticket to enjoying the festivities, worry-free.
This is your sign to get your calendar sorted, and lock in Oktoberfest 2026 before our exclusive itinerary sells out – and we can promise you it will.
When is Oktoberfest 2026?
Oktoberfest 2026 runs from Saturday September 19th to Sunday October 4th (yes, Oktoberfest starts in September, contrary to the name). The celebration sees around 7 million visitors walk through its doors (2023 was a record year with 7.2 million festival-goers) to explore its 38 tents. Hofbräu-Festhalle is the largest tent, seating nearly 11,000 people and towering 43 feet hight – it takes three months to build and two months to take apart.
Oktoberfest only sells beer brewed within the city of Munich
How to celebrate Oktoberfest with Insight Vacations
With our Oktoberfest, the Germanic Experience tour, you’ll be exploring the Bavarian region from September 20th to September 30th on this 10-day journey, stopping by Munich and the legendary Oktoberfest for three nights.
After an initial orientation around the city of Munich, your itinerary gives you an entire day to soak up the revelry at Oktoberfest. You’ll have ample time to enjoy the festival atmosphere, amusement rides, entertainment, and of course beer and local Bavarian specialities for dinner.
When you travel with Insight Vacations your tables are reserved in your very own VIP hall, with your very own a dedicated host, so you can focus on simply enjoying yourself rather than jostling with millions of other beer-lovers for a seat. Lose yourself in the colorful parades, enjoy the fairground rides and admire the traditional Bavarian outfits.
Why you should book Oktoberfest 2026 before Christmas
With millions of people descending on Munich over just a few weeks, it’s no surprise that Oktoberfest gets very busy. For a chance to get a seat in the beer tents you’ll have to arrive early in the day, but in the evening you’ll struggle to find a table for your travel group while some tents are even closed off if they’re full or overcrowded.
Based on previous years and current bookings, we can guarantee that our Oktoberfest 2026 tour will sell out – so get ahead of the curve and secure your booking before Christmas. Your future self will thank you when you’re sipping Wiesn beer and savoring a warm pretzel!
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Of course, there’s more to Bavaria than just beer – and that’s why we’ve added stops to other iconic destinations including across Germany and Austria in our itinerary, so you can soak up the culture of two distinctly different countries on your journey.
You’ll truly get under the skin of cities like Berlin, Dresden, Nuremburg, Salzburg and Vienna as you explore them with Local Experts, giving you the chance to put as many questions as you like to our passionate destination specialists.
There are 17 large and 21 small tents to explore at Oktoberfest – 38 in total!
We’ll make sure you’re fully immersed in the culture while you’re traveling too. Yes, that means stopping by the wonderful Oktoberfest, but it also includes attending a magical concert of Viennese music playing Mozart and Strauss, feeling like royalty at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace, and meeting a very special guest in Munich: Patrick von Richthofen, a descendent of Manfred von Richthofen otherwise known as “The Red Baron”. Dine on regional specialties during an unforgettable evening with Patrick at a local restaurant, and revel in his intriguing tales as you learn about Germany, its history and his fascinating lineage.
Picture-perfect views are also part of the journey; every glance out of your window reveals something new as you drive through the scenic Berchtesgaden countryside in the Bavarian Alps, passing by snow-capped peaks and lush green meadows.
Make Oktoberfest 2026 one to remember with an unforgettable trip – book now before space runs out!
About Jess Williamson
Jess is an experienced writer and editor, with 6 years' experience working within the whisky industry. Her work has taken her to Scotland and beyond, while her personal travel highlights include backpacking around Vietnam with her sister, trips to California, Madrid, and the Greek islands.
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