Oktoberfest, first held in Japan in 2003 with official certification from Munich, Germany, returns to Shiba Park starting Friday, September 11, 2026, and organizers have released new details ahead of the opening.
This autumn's centerpiece is Festbier, a special beer brewed only for this season, with the unofficial motto being to turn to the person next to you and share a "Prost" (cheers). For 13 days, the park overlooking Tokyo Tower in the heart of the city fills with the kind of energy usually reserved for the real thing in Germany.
Festbier: A Beer Brewed Only for This Season
There's a beer brewed just once a year, for this season alone. Festbier — German for "festival beer," also known as OktoberFestBeer — is made exclusively for Munich's Oktoberfest.
Brewing begins each spring and takes months to finish in time for the festival's opening, with the barrels tapped at the start of autumn. Compared to a standard lager, it carries more body and sweetness while staying smooth on the palate, with a rich aroma that makes it easy to reach for a second glass.
In Germany, the moment this beer is poured marks the unofficial start of autumn. In Japan, it's meant to be enjoyed the same way, as the drink that signals the season has arrived. Festbier taps on September 11 at Shiba Park.
Traditionally centered on Märzen, a dark lager suited to the autumn harvest, Festbier tends to run a bit stronger, at around 5 to 6 percent alcohol by volume, with a deep flavor and fragrant aroma that add to the festive mood. Quantities are limited.
*The specific Festbier brands appearing this year will be announced on the official website and social media accounts.
Eleven German brands pour draft beer at the Shiba Park venue, including Munich's official Oktoberfest breweries Paulaner, Hofbräu, and Hacker-Pschorr, alongside traditional monastery-rooted breweries and a craft brewery from Berlin. Each brewer's distinct character is worth comparing side by side, especially with this season's exclusive beer.
Participating brands: Paulaner, Hofbräu, CAMBA, Arcobräu, BRLO, Hacker-Pschorr, Karmeliten, MEISSNER, Der Hirschbräu, ERDINGE
Japan Debut: MEISSNER, Saxony's Oldest Brewery
Meissen, in Germany's Saxony region, is best known for its fine porcelain, but the city is also home to the state's oldest beer brewery. That brewery, MEISSNER, brings its draft beer to Japan for the first time at the Shiba Park venue. The brand has won numerous gold medals from the German Agricultural Society (DLG).
- Privat Pils — A pilsner with a refreshing aroma reminiscent of flowers and lime, balanced by a smooth, refined bitterness.
- Rubin Lager — A lager with a vivid ruby-red color and a rich sweetness recalling freshly baked bread or toffee.
- St. Afra Schwarzbier — A dark beer with a light drinking feel and a well-balanced, high-quality hop aroma.
German Sausages Worth Comparing Side by Side
Germany's sausage culture varies widely by region, and Oktoberfest's stalls reflect that diversity, with each vendor serving something different.
Look for the grilled Bratwurst, the long and slender Frankfurter, the soft white Weisswurst, and Currywurst topped with a curry-spiced sauce. Beyond a sampler plate of these four classics, the menu also includes an eye-catching option called Guruguru Sausage, coiled into a spiral and grilled whole.
Daily Stage Performances and Hands-On Activities
The main stage hosts live performances every day of the festival. The lineup includes JEON JINN & ASIANSOUL and Dir Prost! by ASUNA crew, plus a first-ever DJ set from DJ KIBO. An opening ceremony is planned for the first day, Friday, September 11.
*Performers and program details are subject to change. Check the official website for the latest stage schedule.
Muscle Beer Challenge
In this popular participatory event, competitors hold an approximately 3.4kg aluminum beer stein at arm's length, horizontally, for as long as they can. The rules are simple, but once an arm starts shaking, the crowd usually joins in with cheers.
The challenge runs almost every day of the festival, and anyone can enter on the spot. Think you can set a record?
Traditional German Costumes and the Oktoberfest Girl Contest
Visitors can rent traditional German outfits, the dirndl and lederhosen, for photos that capture the atmosphere of the real thing at the venue's photo spots. Kids' sizes are available too, so the whole family can join in.
*Rental costs ¥500 (with a bonus) on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and is free on weekdays.
*Rentals are for a two-hour period.
An Oktoberfest Girl Is Crowned on the Final Day
The "Miss Oktoberfest Girl" is an official ambassador dressed in a dirndl who shares German fashion, food culture, and the festival atmosphere across official social media, and who visits guests around the venue carrying bottled beer featuring her own photo.
Voting works on a points system: one point for each vote cast on the official website, and three points for each bottled beer purchased at the venue. The grand prize winner for the year will be crowned at an award ceremony on September 23 (Wednesday, a holiday), the final day of the Shiba Park run.
Event Overview: Shiba Park Venue
| Name | Oktoberfest 2026 in Shiba Park (Onarimon Station Plaza) — Autumn |
| Dates | September 11 (Friday) to September 23 (Wednesday, a holiday), 2026 — 13 days total. Rain or shine (canceled in severe weather) |
| Hours | Weekdays: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Last entry 9:00 PM; last order 9:30 PM |
| Venue | Tokyo Metropolitan Shiba Park No. 4 Area, 3-2 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 |
| Admission | Adults (junior high school age and up): ¥500, includes an original reusable cup. Elementary school age and under: free |
| Access | 1-minute walk from Exit A6 of Onarimon Station (Toei Mita Line); 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya Line); 8-minute walk from Exit A6 of Daimon Station (Toei Oedo Line); 10-minute walk from the North Exit of JR Hamamatsucho Station |
| Payment | Cash and various cashless payment methods are accepted on-site |
| Organizer | Oktoberfest Executive Committee |
| Co-organizer | APAMAN Co., Ltd. |
| Support | German National Tourist Office, Bavaria State Representative Office in Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japan Environment Association |
| Cooperation & sponsorship | SKW East Asia, KKday Japan, Bunka Broadcasting |
| Official website | https://www.oktober-fest.jp |
Also Running: Oktoberfest at LaLaport Toyosu, From September 18
During the second half of the Shiba Park run, Oktoberfest also opens at the Seaside Deck courtyard of Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, starting Friday, September 18. That venue runs for 25 days through October 12, with free admission.
From September 18 (Friday) through September 23 (Wednesday, a holiday), both venues run at the same time, giving visitors two contrasting settings to enjoy: an urban park overlooking Tokyo Tower, and an open-air deck with sea breezes.
LaLaport Toyosu venue overview:
- Name: Oktoberfest 2026 in Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu
- Dates: September 18 (Friday) to October 12 (Monday, a holiday), 2026 — 25 days
- Hours: Weekdays 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM (last order 9:00 PM)
- Venue: Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, Seaside Deck (courtyard), 2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo
- Admission: Free. Rain or shine (canceled in severe weather)
