Everything's ready for the start of Oktoberfest on Saturday!

New hosts at the Volkssängerzelt Schützenlisl (Oide Wiesn 38)

Michael Bietsch, who will remain the operator and host of the Historischen Kegelbahn at the Oidn Wiesn through 2025, joins forces with the managing directors of the Münchner Suppenküche, Florian Fendt and Manfred Kneifel, to form the new trio of hosts at the Volkssängerzelt Schützenlisl. The traditional Old Munich character of the Volkssängerzelt is not expected to change significantly: Traudi Siferlinger will remain the musical director. New initiatives in hospitality, quality, and programming are intended to gently evolve the tent. There is one change regarding the beer - in the future, Hacker Pschorr will be served from wooden barrels.

90 Years of the Willenborg Family and the recognition of Schaustellerkultur (Fairground Culture) as Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Willenborg family has been in the Schaustellergeschäft for 90 years now. Today, the business is run by the third generation of the family. Before Heinrich Willenborg became the first German Schausteller to have a steel Riesenrad built in 1960 - and to set it up at the Oktoberfest - the family operated various attractions, at times as many as four simultaneously, including Autoscooter, Geisterbahn, the “Teufelskutsche” (a precursor to the “Wilde Maus”), and Laufgeschäfte. The iconic 50-meter Riesenrad of the Schaustellerfamilie has been a fixture at the Oktoberfest since 1979.

UNESCO: Schaustellerkultur as Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Schaustellerkultur at folk festivals in Germany was inscribed on UNESCO’s National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2026. It embodies the interplay of amusement rides, games, and mobile food vendors, a characteristic that also defines the Oktoberfest. The Beschicker*innen combine traditional craftsmanship, technical expertise, and living family traditions, transforming the folk festivals into vibrant places of encounter, entertainment, and participation for all segments of the population.

Shake & Roll (Matthias-Pschorr-Straße 52)

The “Shake & Roll” Rundfahrgeschäft is making its debut this year. It is an evolution of the classic “Break Dance”. Unlike its predecessor, the gondolas are not rigidly mounted but can flip freely. Centrifugal forces cause the gondolas to sway and perform full loops - not controlled by a motor, but solely by the physics of motion. This makes every ride unique, as the number and intensity of the loops depend on the weight of the passengers and the operator’s driving style.

Fisherman’s (Straße 3 Ost/ 5)

The Schau- und Belustigungsgeschäft „Fisherman‘s“ is also making its debut at Oktoberfest. The ride is a new structure completed in 2026 and offers fun, action, and water adventures across three floors. Thematically, visitors find themselves in a fishing village designed not only with smooth metal panels but also with numerous polyester add-ons to create impressive 3-D effects. The experience is complemented by a 15-meter Laufparcours in front of the attraction itself.

Chaos Pendel (Straße 3 Ost/ 9)

The Chaos Pendel will also make its debut at Oktoberfest in 2026. The ride whips its guests through the air at heights of up to 47 meters and speeds of up to 90 km/h. Driven by a rotating arm that itself hangs from a swiveling propeller, the two gondolas spin around their own axes. The triple-coupled motion creates ever-changing ride paths and constant acceleration.

Bodos Café Zelt (Straße 2/4)

For Oktoberfest 2026, Festwirt Otto Lindinger is replacing the old aluminum tent from Bodo’s Cafézelt & Cocktailbar with a completely new festival tent featuring a gallery, built using sustainable wood construction. The bar inside the tent has been enlarged and moved to the gallery. An additional outdoor area next to the gallery offers more space and a more enjoyable atmosphere. The new, covered street-side stand invites visitors to stop by with seating and a portafilter coffee machine. The number of guest seats remains unchanged at 587; the new, more open layout creates greater freedom of movement and is intended to prevent overcrowding.

100 years Hühnerbraterei Poschner (Wirtsbudenstraße 47)

Seit 1926 verwöhnt die Hühnerbraterei Poschner ihre Gäste mit Hendln und Enten frisch vom Grill. Sie steht für Qualität, Handwerk und bayerische Wirtshauskultur auf der Theresienwiese. Zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum präsentiert sich Poschner mit dem bewährten familienfreundlichen Angebot. Sowohl Nachhaltigkeit als auch Inklusion prägen das Handeln des Traditionsunternehmens. Als erstem bayerischen Festzelt wurde Poschner das Signet „Bayern barrierefrei“ des Freistaats verliehen.

Since 1926, the Hühnerbraterei Poschner has been treating its guests to Hendl and duck fresh off the grill. It stands for quality, craftsmanship, and bayrische Wirtshauskultur at the Theresienwiese. To mark its 100th anniversary, Poschner is showcasing its tried-and-true family-friendly offerings. Both sustainability and inclusion shape the actions of this long-standing company. Poschner was the first Bavarian festival tent to be awarded with the ,,Bayern barrierefrei'' seal by the Freistaat Bayern.

Barts Flößerstadl (Wirtsbudenstraße 26)

Klaus Bartl will be taking over the spot of the “Münchner Stubn” at the Oktoberfest in 2026 on short notice. The longtime manager of the Thalkirchen campground will be represented at the Theresienwiese with his tent, “Bartls Flößerstadl.” In his tent, Klaus Bartl aims to highlight the history and significance of rafting for Munich and the region and to integrate the rafting tradition into the Oktoberfest experience. The menu will feature high-quality regional products with an emphasis on organic and fair-trade ingredients. The tent will seat 398 guests.

A new Wirte-Paar in the Paulaner Festzelt (Wirtsbudenstraße 11)

Following their stint at the Schützenlisl at the Oide Wiesn, Christine und Lorenz Stiftl are taking over the Paulaner Festzelt as the new hosts of one of the large Brauereifesthallen at Oktoberfest.