The world’s largest folk festival is under way. Oktoberfest 2026 opened on the Theresienwiese in Munich on Saturday, September 19, with the traditional tapping of the first barrel, and runs until Sunday, October 4. As every year, the first question for many visitors is how much a Mass, the one-litre beer stein, will cost.
Beer prices in 2026
- Range: €14.80 to €15.90 per litre.
- Average: €15.61.
- Cheapest: €14.80 at the Museumszelt in the Oide Wiesn area and at the Familienplatzl.
- Most expensive: €15.90 at several tents, including Bräurosl, the Löwenbräu tent and the Armbrustschützen tent.
- Large tents: from €14.90 at the Augustiner-Festhalle.
Some tents held prices steady, while others raised them by up to 60 cents from 2025.
It’s not only the beer
Soft drinks have also become more expensive. A litre of water averages €11.13 (up from €10.95), lemonade €12.47 and the cola-orange mix Spezi €12.84. Alcohol-free beer averages €15.73, almost the same as regular beer, which surprises many visitors.
Getting around the festival
There are 14 large festival tents, 16 small and medium ones and four tents in the quieter, more traditional Oide Wiesn section, which charges a small entry fee. A few practical tips:
- Arrive early on weekends. Tents can close their doors when full, often by late morning.
- Reservations are for groups and sell out months ahead, but large parts of every tent are kept free for walk-ins.
- Bring cash as a backup, and expect to tip waiting staff.
- Use public transport. The U4 and U5 to Theresienwiese and the S-Bahn to Hackerbrücke are the easiest options.
- Pace yourself. A Mass is a full litre of beer that is usually stronger than an average lager.
Why prices keep rising
Higher costs for energy, staff, security and ingredients are usually cited by the festival’s tent operators. For many locals the steady climb, now close to €16 a litre, has become part of a wider debate about the cost of living, but visitor demand shows little sign of fading.