Don your Bavarian outfits and raise a glass to the best worldwide Oktoberfest events you should attend in your lifetime.
Oktoberfest’s roots trace back to 18th-century Bavaria, where the folk festival began. The first Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage—since then, it’s evolved into a massive social gathering.
While many associate Oktoberfest with beer drinking, traditional outfits, and Polka music, the beloved event holds much cultural significance. It inspires a sense of community and honors historic traditions through festivities ranging from live music to parades.
Head to the world’s best Oktoberfest celebrations to quench your thirst for adventure.
Munich, Germany
You probably aren’t surprised to hear that the world’s best and largest Oktoberfest is in Munich, Germany. Roughly six million people attend Munich’s Oktoberfest celebration every September and October. The massive event features 17 large beer tents and 21 smaller tents selling regional specialties, such as roasted duck, dumplings, donuts, and more.
One highlight is Oide Wiesn, a traditional area featuring nostalgic rides, costumes, and a museum tent. Visitors of all ages will have a blast exploring the exciting festival grounds and learning more about Bavarian culture.
Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane’s Oktoberfest is worth experiencing at least once. Oktoberfest in the Gardens is a one-day event that goes all out with the Bavarian-inspired attractions. From DJs to rides and friendly competitions, there’s much to discover at this exciting beer festival.
Costumes are highly encouraged, so you’ll see crowds of festivalgoers in old-fashioned Bavarian outfits. Oktoberfest in the Gardens is an 18+ event, making it ideal for adults seeking a unique way to celebrate the season.
Pretoria, South Africa
Add South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, to your international Oktoberfest bucket list. The festival started in 1977—today, over 10,000 people gather annually to enjoy the friendly atmosphere over three days in September.
Activities at Pretoria’s Oktoberfest include live Oompah music, sing-alongs, and kid-friendly play areas. You can also savor delicious treats and craft beers while watching traditional German choirs, bands, and dancers.
Leavenworth, Washington, USA
Stay stateside to celebrate Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, a Bavarian town set against Washington’s Cascade Mountains. Leavenworth is a popular Pacific Northwest vacation spot and hosts a multi-day festival with musical performances, entertainers, shops, and food vendors. The Leavenworth Oktoberfest event welcomes visitors of all ages so the entire family can enjoy the activities.
Villa General Belgrano, Argentina
Walking through Villa General Belgrano in Argentina, you might think you’ve wandered into a small Bavarian village. This quaint mountainous town hosts a legendary Oktoberfest that honors its German roots. Plan an October visit to check out the beer festival’s epic concerts, delicious pints, and lively dance parties.
London, England
Taste the finest German beers and food at the annual Oktoberfest in London. The adults-only festival, which takes place over two weekends in October, attracts crowds of beer lovers dressed in Bavarian outfits. There’s even an on-site costume shop that sells and rents Lederhosen and dirndls so you can look the part.
Bands travel to London from Germany to perform at Oktoberfest, which serves Bavarian-style beer specially made for the event. Grab your loved ones and head to London Oktoberfest for fun memories you’ll never forget.
Yokohama, Japan
Did you know Japan hosts its own Oktoberfest? It might seem like an unexpected place to celebrate Oktoberfest, but Yokohama doesn’t hold back with the German-inspired festivities. The Yokohama Oktoberfest unites the community to share a meal and a beer while watching live entertainment at the historic Red Brick Warehouse.
There are multiple daily performances by a musical orchestra, over 100 Japanese and German brews, and tasty foods to recreate the traditional festival atmosphere. Visitors of all ages are invited to this unique cultural celebration, where you’ll often see crowds singing, dancing, and laughing together into the night.
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
The largest Canadian Oktoberfest, which began 56 years ago, takes place in Kitchener-Waterloo. Over nine days, people travel from all over Canada to join the festivities. To make sure everyone feels included, specific KIDtoberfest and DOGtoberfest days are also offered during this time.
Downtown Kitchener is transformed into a bustling festival area with a Biergarten, food stalls, keg tapping, and dress-up contests. Head to the Festhallen, where you’ll step into a world of Polka music, mouthwatering Bavarian fare, and staff adorned in German Tracht. You might even meet Onkel Hans, the event’s official mascot, who wanders the grounds with other quirky characters.
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Downtown Cincinnati has held an unforgettable annual Oktoberfest since 1976. In 2023, over 800,000 people attended the festival, making it America’s largest. It gives attendees the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in German culture without stepping foot outside of Ohio.
Stockholm, Sweden
Head to Stockholm for the largest Oktoberfest in Sweden, which draws thousands of attendees. The celebrations occur over three days in the fall season and offer German cuisine, beer tasting, and family-friendly entertainment.
Stockholm takes this event very seriously, even importing an Oktoberfest beer straight from Germany. The highlight is a massive tent with long tables where friends, family, and coworkers gather to eat and drink while listening to Bavarian bands playing Tyrolean music.
Blumenau, Brazil
Most people aren’t aware that Brazil boasts one of the world’s biggest Oktoberfest events. Each October, the streets of Blumenau in Santa Catarina come alive with travelers donning lederhosen and dirndls. Blumenau is the ideal Oktoberfest setting because it was founded by German immigrants and features traditional Bavarian architecture.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna is an excellent alternative to Munich for celebrating Oktoberfest, as Austrian and Bavarian cultures are similar in many ways. The Kaiser Wiesn is a free annual festival that lasts 18 days, offering activities for children, mouthwatering German foods, and exciting performances.
With multiple tents, stages, dance floors, and food options, there’s something new to discover each day of Kaiser Wiesn. Don your dirndls and Lederhosen and join the hundreds of thousands of annual festivalgoers who gather to celebrate the historic Bavarian traditions.
Bangalore, India
For nearly 20 years, Bangalore’s Indo-German Cultural Society has planned a traditional Oktoberfest every fall. This two-week-long event invites families, friends, and colleagues to partake in the seasonal festivities. For an authentic Oktoberfest experience outside of Munich, Bangalore is hard to beat.
Helen, Georgia, USA
If you can’t attend Oktoberfest overseas, consider a trip to North Georgia. The charming town of Helen is a replica Bavarian village tucked among the mountains.
This usually quiet region buzzes with activity in fall, thanks to its popular Oktoberfest activities. For over 50 decades, locals and out-of-towners have flocked to Helen’s Festhalle for dancing, Polka music, food, and drinks.
Grab your passport and prepare to party
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
