Every year, the entire Oktoberfest waits for one tent to start the party. The Schottenhamel is where the festival officially begins, when the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg at noon on the opening Saturday and cries “O’zapft is!”. As the oldest and one of the most historic tents on the Theresienwiese, it holds a unique place in the festival’s heart. This complete 2026 guide covers the Schottenhamel’s history, atmosphere, beer and how to experience it.
The tent where it all begins
The Schottenhamel is the ceremonial home of Oktoberfest. Since the late nineteenth century it has hosted the official opening ceremony: at exactly twelve noon on the first Saturday, the Lord Mayor of Munich drives the tap into the first barrel, and only once he has done so – and the traditional gun salute has sounded – may any other tent on the grounds begin serving beer. Being inside the Schottenhamel for that moment is one of the most sought-after experiences at the entire festival, though securing a seat for it requires a reservation made many months ahead.
A long and storied history
First established in 1867 as a modest wooden booth run by the Schottenhamel family, the tent has grown over more than a century and a half into one of the largest at Oktoberfest, seating many thousands of guests. Its long history and its role in the opening ceremony give it a prestige few other tents can match, and it has been at the centre of the festival’s traditions for generations – a living piece of Oktoberfest history.
The beer and the atmosphere
The Schottenhamel serves Spaten, one of Munich’s six traditional breweries, whose smooth golden festival lager is poured by the litre in the classic Maß. The tent is famous for its lively, youthful atmosphere – it is especially popular with students and younger visitors, and on weekend evenings it becomes one of the most energetic party tents on the grounds. Yet by day, and during the week, it retains a more relaxed, traditional feel, so the experience varies a great deal depending on when you visit.
Who is it best for?
The Schottenhamel is a brilliant choice for anyone drawn to the history and ceremony of Oktoberfest, and especially for younger visitors and students who want a lively, high-energy party tent in the evenings. If you can get a seat for the opening Saturday, it offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the famous tapping in person. For a quieter, more traditional or family-focused day, one of the calmer tents such as the Augustiner may suit you better, but for sheer significance and youthful energy, the Schottenhamel is hard to beat.
How to get a seat
As one of the most famous and historic tents – and the home of the opening ceremony – the Schottenhamel is in enormous demand, and a reservation made directly with the tent is essential for the opening day and strongly recommended for any weekend evening. These prime slots sell out very early in the year. On weekday mornings and afternoons, however, you can often walk in and find a communal seat without a booking, which is the easiest way to experience this landmark tent.
The verdict on the Schottenhamel
No tent carries quite the same weight of tradition as the Schottenhamel. It is the place where Oktoberfest is born each year, where a single tap of a mallet sets six million litres of beer flowing, and where over a century and a half of festival history is renewed every September. That significance, combined with its lively, youthful evening atmosphere and its excellent Spaten beer, makes it one of the most compelling tents on the Theresienwiese. Whether you come for the ceremony, the party or simply to stand in the spot where it all begins, the Schottenhamel offers a connection to the very heart of Oktoberfest that few other tents can rival.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Oktoberfest officially begin? In the Schottenhamel tent, where the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg at noon on the opening Saturday.
What beer does the Schottenhamel serve? Spaten, one of Munich’s six traditional breweries, by the litre.
Is it a young people’s tent? It is especially popular with students and younger visitors, particularly on lively weekend evenings.
Can I attend the opening ceremony? Only with a reservation made many months in advance, as seats for the noon tapping are extremely sought after.
Tips for visiting the Schottenhamel
How you experience the Schottenhamel depends enormously on when you go. If your dream is to witness the famous opening tapping on the first Saturday, understand that this requires a reservation secured many months in advance, as it is one of the most coveted seats at the entire festival. For the rest of the run, the tent has two distinct personalities: by day and midweek it is relaxed and traditional, easy to walk into and pleasant for a calm Maß; on weekend evenings it transforms into one of the liveliest, most youthful party tents on the grounds, packed with students and a high-energy crowd. Decide which experience you want, and time your visit accordingly.
For most visitors without a reservation, the best approach is to arrive in the late morning or early afternoon on a weekday, when you can usually find a communal seat and soak up the history of the place at a gentler pace. Bring cash, tip your server, and take a moment to appreciate that you are sitting in the very tent where, for over a century and a half, Oktoberfest has officially begun each year. Few tents offer such a direct connection to the festival’s living traditions, and that sense of occasion is part of what makes the Schottenhamel so special.
Quick facts
The Schottenhamel is one of the oldest and largest tents at Oktoberfest, founded in 1867 and seating many thousands of guests. It serves Spaten, one of Munich’s six traditional breweries, by the litre, and it is the ceremonial home of the festival’s opening, when the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg at noon on the first Saturday. Popular with students and younger visitors, it is lively and energetic on weekend evenings yet more relaxed by day. Reserve far ahead for the opening or any weekend evening, or arrive early on a weekday to find a communal seat in this landmark tent.
Compare it with the other tents in our complete beer-tent guide, read about the opening ceremony, and check the 2026 dates.