As Oktoberfest approaches, beer prices rise slightly, but other expenses also factor into the overall cost of attending the festival in Munich.
London, United Kingdom Aug 22, 2026 ALN: Good news for beer fans in Germany and around the world – we're now less than a month from the start of Oktoberfest!
The 191st Oktoberfest kicks off at the Theresienwiese in Munich on September 19th this year, with the event set to continue until the last song is sung on October 4th.
Wiesn, as it is called by the locals, is also sometimes referred to as 'the world's largest folk festival', because it attracts more than six million visitors each year.
And you'd better believe that all those visitors bring a hefty cash flow to Munich. The event is estimated to bring somewhere around €1.5 billion in revenue to the Bavarian capital, contributing around two percent of the city's total annual GDP.
More than €400 million of that is spent directly at the festival grounds – for food and rides and, yes, of course plenty of local brews – while the rest goes on accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and attractions around town.
If you've been to Oktoberfest before and feel like the prices have gone up, you're not wrong. Beer prices at the Wiesn are announced several months ahead of the festival, and they tend to go up a bit each year.
While the breweries set their own prices, the city of Munich plays a role in making sure the announcements are honored, and also that the beer tents consistently pour full litres of beer – nothing less.
For anyone planning a visit to the Wiesn this year, here's a look at what you can expect to pay for a beer and other drinks.
So how much is the beer?
According to the city of Munich, a litre of beer at Oktoberfest costs between €14.80 and €15.90 this year, depending on which brewery's tent you choose to drink in.
For anyone who may be reading this from festival grounds, perhaps with a full Maßkrug full of Märzen already in hand, we'll go ahead and crunch the numbers for you:
...And if you're buying seven litres (we really hope that's a round for you and your mates and not just your own consumption) you'll need more than a hundred euro note, or specifically up to €111.3.
For comparison, beer at restaurants in Munich currently costs between €7.70 and €13.40 per litre.
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Compared to the previous year, that puts 'beerflation' at the festival at 2.38 percent on average. In 2025, the price range was from €14.50 to €15.80.
Note that the beer on tap here is brewed especially for the Oktoberfest. Often called Festbier (or Märzen) it has more original wort and a higher alcohol content than other light beers.
So if you're planning to make a whole day of the event, do go easy at the beginning. Plenty of visitors have been known to bow out long before the sun sets.
How expensive will other drinks be?
The average prices for non-alcoholic beverages are:
You can save a bit here by strategically drinking water from one of the free fountains, which have been available on the grounds in recent years.
How much does a visit to the Wiesn cost in total?
The total cost of a visit to Oktoberfest varies immensely depending on where you're coming from, your method of travel, and choice of accommodation etc. How much you drink is a rather small factor here.
To give a rough idea, those who live in Munich or nearby might expect to pay between €70 and €150 during a day-long visit at the festival, including some beers, food, and a ride or souvenir.
If you're coming from far enough away that you need to spend the night, accommodation is usually the biggest cost, at around €200 to €600 for standard hotel rooms in Munich's central neighborhoods during this period.
The best way to minimize this cost is to plan and book your trip well in advance.
There are more budget-friendly alternatives, including campsite accommodation set up specifically for festival-goers who want to save a bit and/or party with other international visitors during their stay.
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