Berlin Leadership Insights Program - September 2025

The Munich Oktoberfest takes place each year on the Theresienwiese and runs from mid-September until the first weekend in October. The festival opens with a festive procession of the brewery hosts in decorated carriages and is officially inaugurated at noon when the mayor taps the first beer barrel and proclaims “O’zapft is!” (“It is tapped!”), accompanied by twelve celebratory cannon shots.

Oktoberfest is deeply rooted in tradition. Since 1950, the opening tapping has been performed by the lord mayor, and the famous phrase has become a symbol of the celebration. Another highlight is the Trachten- und Schützenzug, the traditional costume and marksmen parade held on the first Sunday of the festival, with thousands of participants in historic dress, floats, and marching bands making their way through the city to the festival grounds.

The flow of the festival unfolds over about sixteen days, filled with music, parades, and celebrations. Ornate beer tents run by Munich’s historic breweries, fairground rides, and food stalls create a lively atmosphere that combines Bavarian hospitality with a strong sense of cultural tradition, making Oktoberfest both a local and international highlight.