The highlight on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest: groups and route
Traditional costume and riflemen's parade at Oktoberfest 2025
On September 21, 2025, the traditional costume and riflemen's parade will once again wind its way through downtown Munich. Thousands of people in traditional costumes, marching bands, and floats create a colorful spectacle that tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators watch from the streetside. This makes the parade one of the festive highlights of Oktoberfest. Here you can find out everything about the history, route, and participating groups.
Plus d'actions
The traditional costume and riflemen's parade at a glance
- When? Always on the first Sunday of Oktoberfest (starting point: Max II Monument) – this year on September 21 at 10 a.m.
- What? Over 9,000 participants from traditional costume groups and shooting clubs parade through Munich city center – on foot, in carriages, and in floats
- Where? The parade route leads from Maximilianstraße through the old town to Theresienwiese
- Since when? The parade premiered in 1835 and has been held annually since 1948, with the exception of 2020 and 2021. The parade is organized by Festring München e.V.
- What else do you need to know? The parade is around 7 kilometers long. Watching from the side of the road is free, but tickets for seats in the paid grandstands are available in advance.
Who is participating in the traditional costume and riflemen's parade?
Around 9,000 participants from traditional costume and shooting clubs in Bavaria and across Europe take part in 60 groups – many of them wearing historical and traditional costumes that are impressive in their own unique way. In the middle of it all are magnificent brewery carriages and coaches with various traditional craft groups, while numerous bands provide musical entertainment with folk music and traditional marches.
The Munich participants with Mayor Dieter Reiter and Münchner Kindl
Right at the start, the Munich police mounted police ride, followed by Münchner Kindl, the symbolic figure representing the city. Mayor Dieter Reiter rides in the ceremonial carriage with his wife Petra Reiter, accompanied by the city guard “Würmesia.” Minister President Dr. Markus Söder participates with his wife Karin Baumüller-Söder, as does Wiesn City Councilor Anja Berger with her son Lucca Kunkel.
But Munich shows much more than just political representation: the city's cultural and craft diversity is evident in the traditional Munich Marionette Theater, the Moriskentänzer dancers from the Technical University of Munich, the Narrhalla with its prince and princess and court, and the Munich guilds. Circus Krone is also represented with its historic float from 1923.
Highlights include the magnificent brewery floats from Hofbräu, Augustiner, Paulaner, Spaten, Löwenbräu, and Hacker-Pschorr, which characterize the parade with impressive horses and richly decorated floats.
The picture is completed by numerous Munich traditional costume associations such as the “Alpenrösl” from Allach, the Isartaler, and the Blutenburgler, which show how deeply rooted customs are in Munich.
The 60 groups at a glance
The route
The route of the traditional costume parade
The festive parade always starts at the Max II monument on Maximilianstraße.
From there, the parade moves along Maximilianstraße – Residenzstraße – Odeonsplatz / Feldherrnhalle – Ludwigstraße (to Galeriestraße) – Briennerstraße – Amiraplatz – Kardinal-Faulhaber-Straße – Promenadeplatz – Pacellistraße – Lenbachplatz – Karlsplatz / Stachus – Sonnenstraße – Schwanthalerstraße – Paul-Heyse-Straße – Kaiser-Ludwig-Platz – Schubertstraße – Esperantoplatz to Theresienwiese.
Spectators can purchase tickets for the grandstands in advance. Watching from the side of the parade route is, of course, free of charge.
History: How long has the traditional costume and riflemen's parade been around?
Almost as long as the Oktoberfest itself: it first took place in 1835 in honor of the silver wedding anniversary of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria—at the same time, the 25th anniversary of the Oktoberfest was celebrated.
Initially, the parades only took place on special occasions, such as in 1910 for the 100th anniversary of the Oktoberfest or in 1935.
It has only been held annually since 1948. It has long since established itself as an indispensable part of the world's largest folk festival – far beyond the borders of Munich.
Dates
-
dim , 20. September 2026
10:00
Theresienwiese