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Germany is a country of beer, and its beer culture enjoys worldwide popularity. You may not have experienced German beer festivals firsthand, but you’ve surely heard of it. As Germany’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest gives beer lovers the full German beer experience. But what if you visit Germany and miss this grand event?
Don’t fret! Starting every May, beer festivals pop up across Germany, each with its own unique local traditions and charm—all well worth exploring. No matter where you’re traveling in Germany, there’s likely one nearby! In this article, I will introduce six such festivals held in different German cities, some even older than Oktoberfest.
Explore 6 German Beer Festivals
Oktoberfest, Munich
Despite its name (Oktober meaning “October”), Oktoberfest kicks off in late September, running for 16 days until the first Sunday of October. As the world’s largest folk festival, Oktoberfest attracts over six million visitors every year consuming over seven million liters of beer.
The first Oktoberfest took place on October 12, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The couple invited all of Munich to join the celebration in a meadow outside the city, later named “Theresienwiese” (Meadow of Theresa) in honor of the bride. The following year, the Bavarian Agricultural Association ((Landwirtschaftlicher Verein in Bayern) revived the event, showcasing local products. Later, Oktoberfest was funded by private sponsors and by 1819 it became a top priority and was held annually.
In the beer tents at Oktoberfest the principle is: The customer is king. Besides the beer, the festival also features colorful brewery parades, people dressed in traditional Bavarian outfits like Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen, lots of live music and the local fare like German sausages (Würste) and pretzels (Brezeln).
Stuttgart Beer Festival (Stuttgarter Bierfestspiele or Cannstatter Volksfest), Stuttgart
Stuttgart Beer Festival, also known as the Swabian Oktoberfest, is the second-largest German beer festival. Held on the Cannstatter Wasen, this festival lasts for about 17 days from the end of September and attracts over 4 million people every year. The first Cannstatter Volksfest took place on September 28, 1818, and in this year it will be the 178th time Stuttgart Beer Festival has been held. Originally a harvest celebration, the festival has evolved into a major event featuring beer tents, an impressive parade of horse-drawn brewery vehicles, and modern attractions such as a double-looping roller coaster, bumper cars and Chair-O-Planes. At the festival, you can enjoy delicious dishes such as grilled pork knuckle or Swabian stuffed pasta (Maultaschen).
Freimarkt, Bremen
As the oldest folk festival in Germany, Freimarkt dates back to 1035. This beer festival attracts over 4 million visitors to Northern Germany every year. It is a grand festival with more than 300 attractions, including rides, a huge street party and a parade of floats, as well as stalls selling a variety of goods and tasty treats such as pastries, roasted almonds and licorice candies. Freimarkt will take place in 2025 from October 17 to November 2. If you are planning a trip to Bremen, don’t miss the Freimarkt.
Bergkirchweih, Erlangen
Erlangen Beer Festival, Bergkirchweih in German, is one of the oldest beer festivals in Germany. Taking place annually at the end of May or beginning of June, Bergkirchweih attracts over 1 million visitors — ten times the population of the city itself. At the festival people can try the beer served in stone beer mugs, which is brewed specifically for the festival and the Franconian and international dishes like German sausages (Würste), pretzels (Brezeln) and delicious Obatzda cheese. Besides the food there are also various rides and attractions for all ages.
Starkbierfest, Munich
Held every year in May, Starkbierfest is Munich‘s second most popular beer festival. Stark means strong, so at this festival, strong beer is served, usually the Doppelbock (usually 7%-12% ABV). In March, the local breweries start brewing the extra strong beer to celebrate the wonderful things in the life. The tradition traces back to Paulaner monks, who brewed this “liquid bread” as dietary supplement during the fasting period.
Starkbierfest is a great opportunity for foreign visitors to try the freshly made beer, sing the drinking songs, dance, and experience Bavarian culture alongside the locals in Lederhosen.
International Berlin Beer Festival (Internationale Berliner Bierfestspiele), Berlin
Since 1997 International Berlin Beer Festival has been a great event for those who want to try the beer from all over the world. During this three-day festival at the beginning of August, over 300 breweries from more than 90 countries offer over 2,000 sorts of beer. In 2011, the festival’s Beer Mile was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest beer garden in the world at 5,921 feet. You can pair your beer with a wide variety of delicious food and live music at the festival.
Oktoberfest is just the beginning – Germany has many more exciting beer festivals waiting to be explored in the coming months! Prost!
