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Next Saturday, when Munich Mayor Dominik Krause taps the first beer barrel on the city’s Theresienwiese, the famous cry of “O’zapft is” will ring out once again as Oktoberfest 2026 kicks off.
From Saturday, 19 September to Sunday, 4 October, more than six million visitors are expected at Oktoberfest, Germany’s world-renowned folk and beer festival.
But attendees will have to keep some important rules in mind.
Cannabis
Munich’s Oktoberfest is a cannabis-free zone.
Back in July 2024, the Bavarian state parliament passed the “Bayerische Cannabisfolgenbegrenzungsgesetz,” banning the consumption of cannabis in certain places.
Anyone caught smoking cannabis on the festival grounds faces a fine of €1,500, while repeat offenders could have to shell out more than €5,000.
In the official final report for last year, Munich police recorded a total of 27 breaches of the cannabis ban at Oktoberfest. Simply possessing cannabis is allowed, as long as adults stay within the nationwide legal limit of up to 25 grams.
Smoking tobacco is permitted on festival grounds and in beer gardens, although a strict smoking ban has been in place inside beer tents since 2010. Most tents offer designated smoking areas or balconies, however.
There are potential fines of up to €1,000 for anyone who does not follow the rules.
Rules for children
As lively as the atmosphere may be between beer steins, music and candy floss, the law does not make exceptions for the youngest visitors.
Anyone strolling across the fairground with a pram or buggy should keep an eye on the clock. From Sunday to Friday, children in prams are welcome until 6 pm. After that it gets too crowded – and therefore too dangerous. The rules are even stricter on Saturdays and on 3 October, when prams and buggies are completely prohibited for safety reasons.
When it comes to youth protection, organisers have clear boundaries.
For the very youngest, the evening in the beer tent ends at 8 pm. Children under six, even when accompanied by their parents, must leave the tents at that time. For children and teenagers under 16, the rule from 8 pm is that they are no longer allowed on the fairground without a legal guardian. Those aged 16 or 17 may stay on the site until closing time without their parents – although in certain tents such as Käfer or the Weinzelt the night ends at midnight.
Anyone coming to the Wiesn by bicycle, e-scooter, scooter, skateboard or inline skates must leave them outside the entrance to the festival grounds. They are not permitted on the site itself.
Anyone who gets on an e-scooter or a bicycle afterwards should remember that the same alcohol limits apply as for motor vehicles. Starting at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5%, you risk a €500 fine, two penalty points on your license, and a potential one-month driving ban.
Cocaine
Cocaine is among the most commonly detected illegal drugs at Oktoberfest. In 2025 alone, around 100 people were caught using it.
The Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation (BLKA) reported in April 2025 that the number of cocaine offences in Bavaria had risen from 2,148 in 2020 to 3,972 in 2024 – an increase of almost 85% within four years. The agency said a “cocaine surge” across Germany was also being felt in Bavaria.
The figures are also rising in Munich. In 2025, 1,396 drug offences involving cocaine or crack were recorded, up from 1,227 in 2024 – an increase of 13.8%.
Drinking contests banned
Despite all the rules, people are of course allowed to enjoy themselves at Oktoberfest – but organisers draw a clear line between a lively atmosphere and a loss of control.
Drinking contests in which guests down their Maß as quickly as possible or encourage each other on to drink to excess are not welcome. Anyone who also starts clambering around on tables or benches and puts other guests at risk may find themselves being thrown out.
Oktoberfest visitors will also have to dig deep into their wallets in 2026, as beer is becoming increasingly more expensive.
A Maß now costs between €14.80 and €15.90. This puts the average price 2.38% above last year.
Visitors are also reminded to keep their hands to themselves and follow the rules while enjoying the event as it is meant to be, with a hearty “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!”
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