The 190th Oktoberfest will transform 42 hectares of empty field into a temporary city hosting over six million visitors from September 20 to October 4, 2025.
The world’s largest folk festival is taking shape in Munich as construction crews have begun the massive undertaking of building the iconic beer tents for Oktoberfest 2025. Construction for the 2025 Oktoberfest in Munich officially began in the first week of July 2025. The event will take place from September 20 to October 5 on the Theresienwiese.
There are 14 large and 21 small tents at the Oktoberfest and three festival tents to choose from at the Oide Wiesn. The construction process involves hundreds of workers transforming the Theresienwiese meadow into a temporary city that will welcome over six million visitors wearing traditional dirndl dress and lederhosen from around the world.
Each tent requires a special construction approach, with the largest accommodating up to ten thousand people at once. The whole setup gets completed with traditional Bavarian décor, contemporary sound systems, and massive kitchens capable of serving thousands of meals daily.
“Construction begins as early as July, around ten weeks before the start.”
The scale of the event is crazy. The largest beer halls can accommodate up to 10,000 people at once. It is more than some concert venues, all under canvas roofs that have to withstand the weight of thousands of revelers getting plastered.
“The cultural story of Sheffield is a city built on live music. These are sacred spaces,” says Paul ‘Tufty’ Tuffs about his venue. The same could be said about Oktoberfest, as it’s become a sacred space for beer culture, and the Germans don’t mess about when it comes to building it properly.
Construction teams are coordinating the delivery of thousands of tons of materials like traditional wooden beams, specialized tent fabric, brewing equipment, and more. Each tent needs its own electrical grid, plumbing system, and fire safety infrastructure.
Building a Beer Empire from Scratch
The logistics are staggering. We’re not just talking about functional spaces here. These are hand-carved wooden decorations, traditional Bavarian murals, and elaborate lighting systems that create that authentic atmosphere for millions of visitors. Workers are installing advanced cooling systems to keep the beer at perfect temperatures and massive ventilation systems to manage the crowd density.
The process involves hundreds of workers transforming the meadow into what’s essentially a temporary city. Specialized crews work around the clock to erect wooden frameworks that will support massive canvas roofs, some spanning areas larger than football fields.
Construction of Oktoberfest represents one of the most complex temporary building projects in the world. The process starts with foundations for structures that must withstand the weight of thousands of revelers while maintaining safety standards.
The madness doesn’t stop at the tents either. They are laying down temporary roads, installing street lighting, and setting up waste management systems that could handle a small city. All for three weeks of absolute carnage.
The Numbers that’ll Blow Your Mind
With more than six million guests annually, Oktoberfest isn’t just the largest public festival in the world but a proper economic powerhouse. The festival generates an economic impact that ripples far beyond Munich’s borders. Hotel bookings surge throughout Bavaria, with many establishments fully booked months in advance. Airlines add extra flights to Munich, while tour operators design specialized packages that bring visitors from literally every continent.
The brewing industry alone requires massive preparation. All the major Munich breweries are represented at Oktoberfest, brewing extra strong Wiesn beer specifically for the festival. These breweries start their prep months before under the Bavarian purity laws that have governed beer production for centuries.
The festival consumes approximately 7.5 million liters of beer annually. That is roughly 13 million pints, if you are keeping track. Local businesses experience a proper windfall during the festival period, traditional costume shops see increased demand for authentic lederhosen and dirndls, while souvenir manufacturers work overtime producing millions of beer steins and memorabilia.
More than Just a Piss-Up
What makes the German Oktoberfest truly special is not just scale but how a centuries old celebration has evolved into a global phenomenon while keeping its soul intact. The festival has become a symbol of German culture and community celebration.
The sight of rising beer tents represents the continuation of a tradition that has survived wars, economic downturns, and global pandemics. Musicians from around the world perform at Oktoberfest tents. They create a soundtrack that blends traditional German folk music with contemporary hits.
There is something almost magical about how Oktoberfest attracts people from everywhere. It is not just about the beer but about the atmosphere, the tradition, the sense of community that emerges when millions of people come together.
Looking Ahead
Hundreds of builders are working day and night to get everything ready right now. Munich is about to welcome the world again, and they are doing it with great enthusiasm like always.
In a few weeks, this empty field will be packed with beer tents, food stalls, and millions of people having a memorable time. Then again in October, it all gets packed away like it never happened.
The tents are going up, the machines are working, and Munich’s getting ready to become the world’s biggest party destination once again. Some traditions just never get old.
