---
title: "Munich Oktoberfest: History and Origins of the World’s Largest Beer Festival"
description: "The history of the Munich Oktoberfest dates back to October 12, 1810, when Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, son of King Maximilian I, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen."
url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/munich-oktoberfest-history-and-origins-of-the-worlds-largest-beer-festival/
date: 2024-09-18
modified: 2026-09-19
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Oktoberfest-Munich.jpg
categories: ["Culture", "History"]
tags: ["Alemanha", "Festbier", "Germany"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Munich Oktoberfest: History and Origins of the World’s Largest Beer Festival

The history of the [Munich Oktoberfest](https://www.oktoberfest.de/) dates back to October 12, 1810, when Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, son of [King Maximilian I](https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/m/maximiliano_i_alemania.htm), married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

![Munich Oktoberfest](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Oktoberfest-Munich.jpg)*Munich Oktoberfest*

For the celebrations, all [citizens of Munich](https://www.thebeertimes.com/guia-munich-los-amantes-la-cerveza/) were invited to participate in a great party on the meadows located at that time outside the city walls, which lasted 5 days, until October 17.

## Origin of the Munich Oktoberfest

This first celebration bore little resemblance to today’s celebration, as it was a horse race organized for the closing of the festivities and which was very well received.

The celebration was repeated the following year and continued until 1960, originating a long tradition that has only been canceled 24 times throughout its more than 200 years of history, mainly due to wars and epidemics.

![Horse race during the 1810 Oktoberfest celebration](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Carreras_caballo_oktoberfest_1810.jpg)*Horse race, 1810*

The site of the festivities was later named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadows in German), abbreviated as “Wies’n,” in honor of the woman who would become Queen Consort of Bavaria.

The following year, in 1811, an agricultural fair was also organized alongside the horse race with the aim of promoting the Bavarian economy.

This fair later became independent and is currently held every four years in the southern part of the Wiesn.

In 1813 the celebration was canceled for the first time due to the war against Napoleon. From 1819, the Munich city council took responsibility for organizing the party, formalizing it as an annual event.

From then on and successively, the duration of the Oktoberfest has been extended and the start date has been brought forward, to take advantage of the longer and hotter days of September.

In 1854 the Oktoberfest was canceled due to a cholera epidemic. Later in 1856 it would be canceled due to Germany’s war against Prussia.

In 1873 cholera reappeared and the Oktoberfest was suspended again.

By 1885, electric light illuminated the Oktoberfest tents for the first time. From 1887 the tradition of the opening parade, originally from 1810, was resumed.

In 1887 the owners of the breweries (Wirte) and the showmen gathered for the first time to inaugurate the Oktoberfest on the Wiesn meadows.

Since 1892 beer has been served in [glass mugs (Maß)](https://www.thebeertimes.com/la-cerveza-vaso-vaso-seidel-stein-mug/). Since 1896 and thanks to the initiative of the hosts, in collaboration with the beer producers, the first tents were set up instead of the old stalls.

## Oktoberfest in the 20th Century

In 1910, Oktoberfest celebrated its first 100 years in a celebration that reached 120,000 liters of beer consumed.

In 1913 the Braurosl was founded, the largest Oktoberfest tent with a capacity of 12,000 seats.

From 1914 to 1918, World War I prevented the celebration of the Oktoberfest. In 1919 and 1920 the great party was replaced by an “Autumn Festival” (Herbstfest).

![Attendees at the 1910 Oktoberfest](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Oktoberfest_1910.jpg)*Attendees at the 1910 Oktoberfest*

In 1923 and 1924 the celebrations were again suspended due to the hyperinflation that Germany was experiencing during those years.

During [World War II](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segunda_Guerra_Mundial), from 1939 to 1945, the Oktoberfest was again canceled. From 1946 to 1948, as in the years following World War I, Munich replaced the Oktoberfest with an “Autumn Festival” in which the sale of beer was strictly prohibited and instead a drink that did not reach 2% alcohol was sold.

## Traditional Opening of the Oktoberfest

In 1950, what is now a traditional opening ceremony of the festival was presented for the first time, where the Mayor of Munich and a character representing the [Münchner Kindl](https://germangirlinamerica.com/what-is-the-muenchener-kindl/) (figure that appears on the official coat of arms of the city) lead the parade.

They are then followed by ostentatious horse-drawn carriages loaded with barrels of beer and also by the carriages of the Wiesnwirte and showmen. The music bands that will later play in the tents also accompany the parade.

![Representation of the Münchner Kindl](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Muenchner_Kindl.jpg)*Representation of the Münchner Kindl*

Thus, on the first Saturday after September 15, at 12 noon, the Mayor of Munich opens the first barrel of beer in the Schottenhamme tent with the cry of “O ‘zapft is!” (It’s tapped!).

Year after year, everyone waits to know how many strokes the mayor will need to [open the barrel](https://www.thebeertimes.com/barriles-de-cerveza-historia-tipos-y-usos/) and bets are even made.

The current record is two strokes, achieved by Mayor Christian Ude in 2005, but in 1950, Thomas Wimmer, the mayor who started this tradition, needed nineteen.

Immediately afterward, twelve cannon salutes are fired from the steps of the statue representing Bavaria. This is the signal for the Wiesnwirte to start serving.

The party extends for 16, 17, or 18 days, depending on the annual calendar, ensuring that its minimum duration always reaches October 3, German Unity Day, which commemorates [reunification](https://www.dw.com/es/somos-un-pueblo-el-camino-a-la-reunificaci%C3%B3n-de-alemania/a-4755081) since 1990.

## Official Oktoberfest Beers

[Inside the Oktoberfest tents](https://www.thebeertimes.com/8-cosas-que-debes-saber-si-quieres-ir-al-oktoberfest-de-munich/) only one type of beer known as [Oktoberfestbier](https://www.thebeertimes.com/que-es-una-cerveza-festbier-descripcion-de-estilo-segun-la-guia-bjcp/) is served, a designation of origin that only includes those beers brewed within the urban limits of Munich and that strictly comply with the German Purity Law ([Reinheitsgebot](https://www.thebeertimes.com/es/2016/12/28/reinheitsgebot-la-ley-de-pureza-alemana-y-sus-500-anos-de-historia/)) of 1516.

There are only six breweries in Munich that produce the official Oktoberfest beers, which are generally around 6% [alcohol by volume](https://www.thebeertimes.com/abv-vs-abw-cual-es-la-diferencia-en-la-forma-que-medimos-el-contenido-de-alcohol/).

### 1. Augustiner Bräu

The [oldest brewery](https://www.thebeertimes.com/cervecerias-mas-antiguas-del-mundo/) in Munich produces an Oktoberfestbier with an alcohol content of 6.3% ABV that is served in the Augustiner Festzelt and Fischer Vroni tents.

### 2. Hacker-Pschorr

The brand, known for its characteristic flip-top bottles, brews an Oktoberfestbier of 5.8% ABV served in the Hacker-Festzelt and Pschorr Bräurosl tents.

### 3. Hofbräu München

The official brewery of the state of Bavaria traditionally brews the strongest Oktoberfestbier of the festival, since today its Märzen has 6.3% ABV and is served in the largest tent of the festival, the Hofbräuzelt.

### 4. Löwenbräu

The lion brewery produces for the occasion an Oktoberfestbier with an alcohol content of 6.1% ABV, served in its official tent Löwenbräu-Zelt and the Schützenzelt.

### 5. Paulaner

[Paulaner](https://www.thebeertimes.com/cerveza-paulaner/) is undoubtedly the most famous brand of this event; known for its wheat beer, it brews an Oktoberfestbier with 6.0% ABV, served in the Winzerer Fähndl, Armbrustschützen-Zelt, and Käferzelt tents.

### 6. Spaten

The shovel brand produces what they claim is the number one beer of the festival, the Spaten Ur Märzen, an Oktoberfestbier with an alcohol content of 5.9% ABV, served in several tents such as Schottenhammel, Marstall, Ochsenbraterei, and Spaten-Zelt.

| **Brewery** | **ABV (%)** | **Tents** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Augustiner | 6.3 | Augustiner Festzelt, Fischer Vroni |
| Hacker-Pschorr | 5.8 | Hacker-Festzelt, Pschorr Bräurosl |
| Hofbräu | 6.3 | Hofbräuzelt |
| Löwenbräu | 6.1 | Löwenbräu-Zelt, Schützenzelt |
| Paulaner | 6 | Winzerer Fähndl |
| Spaten | 5.9 | Schottenhammel |

## A Quick Summary of the Oktoberfest

The Munich Oktoberfest is the most famous annual beer festival in the world, with more than 200 years of history. It began in 1810 with the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The festival is held at the Theresienwiese, a meadow in Munich, and is known for its opening ritual with the cry “O’ zapft is!”. Only beers from the six official Munich breweries are served, brewed in accordance with the German Purity Law of 1516.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. Why is it called Oktoberfest if it is celebrated in September?

The tradition began in October 1810. However, in later years, the celebration was moved forward to September to take advantage of the better weather, with longer days and milder temperatures, extending the festival until the first weekend of October.

### 2. What is the Theresienwiese?

The Theresienwiese or “Therese’s Meadow” is the field in the center of Munich where the Oktoberfest is held every year. Its name is a tribute to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the bride of Prince Ludwig.

### 3. What is the meaning of “O’ zapft is!”?

It is a Bavarian expression that means “It’s tapped!” It is the phrase pronounced by the Mayor of Munich when tapping the first barrel of beer, marking the official start of the festival.

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