Oktoberfest may have been born in Munich in 1810, but it has long since become a global phenomenon. Today, more than a thousand Oktoberfest-style celebrations take place around the world every autumn, from million-strong festivals in South America to neighbourhood beer halls in Asia. Wherever there is a German community – and plenty of places without one – the tents go up, the lederhosen come out and the steins are raised. Here are ten of the biggest and best Oktoberfest celebrations beyond Germany in 2026.
1. Blumenau, Brazil
The largest Oktoberfest outside Germany takes place in Blumenau, a city in southern Brazil founded by German immigrants. Drawing well over half a million visitors, it features huge beer halls, parades through streets lined with half-timbered architecture, and a joyful Brazilian twist on Bavarian tradition. It is the undisputed king of international Oktoberfests.
2. Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada
North America’s biggest Bavarian festival, the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Ontario, runs for nine days around Canadian Thanksgiving. With festival halls, a famous Thanksgiving Day parade and its mascots Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda, it is a beloved fixture drawing hundreds of thousands of guests.
3. Cincinnati, USA
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, taking over downtown Cincinnati for a weekend each September. It is famous for its scale, its food, and the wonderfully silly “World’s Largest Chicken Dance”, which sees tens of thousands flapping along together.
4. Tulsa, USA
Regularly rated one of the best Oktoberfests in the United States, Tulsa Oktoberfest in Oklahoma brings authentic German bands, tents and food to the banks of the Arkansas River, and has won national awards for its atmosphere and authenticity.
5. London, United Kingdom
London hosts several large Oktoberfest events across the autumn, with big tents, imported German beer, oompah bands and bratwurst popping up in venues around the city. They are a fun, accessible taste of the festival for anyone who cannot make it to Munich.
6. Brisbane & Sydney, Australia
Australia embraces Oktoberfest with enthusiasm, and Oktoberfest Brisbane is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere, complete with authentic tents, stein-holding contests and traditional food. Sydney and Melbourne host their own popular celebrations too.
7. Tokyo & Yokohama, Japan
Japan is surprisingly devoted to Oktoberfest, hosting numerous German beer festivals through spring and autumn. The events in Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka feature imported German beers, live Bavarian bands flown in for the occasion, and enthusiastic crowds toasting in German.
8. Cincinnati aside – Frankenmuth, USA
The small Bavarian-themed town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, holds an officially sanctioned Oktoberfest with the blessing of Munich itself, making it one of the most authentic in America, set in a town that looks like a slice of Bavaria year-round.
9. Buenos Aires (Villa General Belgrano), Argentina
Argentina’s national beer festival, the Oktoberfest in Villa General Belgrano in Córdoba province, is a huge celebration of the town’s central European heritage, with beer, parades and traditional dancing drawing visitors from across the country.
10. Hong Kong & Singapore
Across Asia’s major cities, hotels and convention centres host large, polished Oktoberfest events each autumn, flying in German bands and beer for weeks of celebration – proof that the appeal of the Wiesn truly knows no borders.
Why Oktoberfest travels so well
What makes the festival so exportable is its simple, universal formula: good beer, hearty food, live music and the warm, inclusive spirit the Germans call Gemütlichkeit. You do not need to speak German or understand Bavarian history to raise a stein, sing along and clink glasses with a stranger – and that is exactly why the celebration has spread to every continent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest Oktoberfest outside Germany? Blumenau in Brazil, drawing over half a million visitors.
Where is the biggest US Oktoberfest? Oktoberfest Zinzinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Are international Oktoberfests authentic? Many are surprisingly so, with imported German beer and bands; some, like Frankenmuth, are officially recognised by Munich.
Why the celebration spread so far
Oktoberfest’s global reach is no accident. Waves of German emigration in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries carried Bavarian customs to the Americas, Australia and beyond, and communities recreated the festivals of home as a way to hold on to their heritage. Over time, the appeal jumped well beyond the diaspora: the simple, joyful formula of beer, music, food and togetherness translates into any language. Breweries and event companies spotted the opportunity, and today an “Oktoberfest” is as likely to be found in a Tokyo hotel or a London warehouse as in a Bavarian beer hall.
What to expect at an international Oktoberfest
Wherever you go, the core ingredients are remarkably consistent: long communal tables, German or German-style beer served in steins, bratwurst and pretzels, a live band playing oompah classics alongside crowd-pleasers, and games like stein-holding contests. The scale and authenticity vary enormously – from million-strong city festivals to a single tent in a car park – but the spirit of Gemütlichkeit is the common thread. Many events are ticketed, run over a weekend rather than weeks, and add their own local flavour, whether that is Brazilian samba energy or a Japanese precision for detail.
Tips for choosing one near you
If you cannot make Munich, look for an event with imported German beer and a live band – those two things separate an authentic celebration from a themed bar night. Check whether it is family-friendly or adults-only, whether tickets sell out, and whether traditional dress is encouraged. Arriving early secures a table, and many of the best international Oktoberfests are just as worth booking ahead as the original.
More questions answered
Are international Oktoberfests in October? Many are in September and October, but some – especially in Asia and the southern hemisphere – run at other times of year.
Do people wear Tracht abroad? Yes – Dirndl and Lederhosen are popular at the bigger international events.
Is the beer actually German? At the better events, yes – many import genuine Munich or German beer for the occasion.
Of course, nothing quite matches the original. Plan a trip to the real thing with our trip planner, or explore other great German beer festivals and all the 2026 dates.