One month to Oktoberfest: Bayern Munich’s lederhosen kick-off

There is just one month to go until the Oktoberfest 2025 and it's already a hot topic. This year, it will kick off in Munich, where fans are already waiting in anticipation. The world’s largest Volksfest, which is also an iconic beer festival and funfair, has been held annually since 1810 on Munich’s Theresienwiese.

History and traditions

The festival originated on October 12 in celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King. It concluded five days later with a horse race held in an open area called “Therese’s Green.” The event was so popular that it became an annual tradition and cultural practice, eventually moving into late September for better weather and extending into early October.

The Mayor of Munich usually taps the first keg to open Oktoberfest, with a total beer consumption of nearly 2 million gallons. But the festival is not simply a beer-benders' paradise, as its heart lies in "Gemütlichkeit" with warm, friendly Bavarian tradition, music, parades, and hearty food.

Fans enjoy iconic features, such as the ceremonial tapping with the shout "O'zapft is!" by the Mayor to open the festival, signalling that the fun has begun.

A number of U.S. cities that have large German American populations also hold Oktoberfests based on the original. America’s Oktoberfest is held between late September and early November.

This also includes traditions such as beer gardens and dances that originated in Munich. Some of the Oktoberfests in the U.S. hold wiener dog races instead of the traditional horse races.

Bayern Munich joins the festivities

Against this lively backdrop, Bayern Munich and its partner Paulaner have embraced the spirit of Oktoberfest early. Just a month ahead of the festival, the players took part in their annual "lederhosen photoshoot", which includes swapping football training gear for the classic Bavarian dress.

The photoshoot was also a special introduction for the club's new signings. Luis Díaz, Jonathan Tah, and Tom Bischof donned Lederhosen for the first time. Díaz said that experiencing the world's largest folk festival in traditional clothing "will be a great experience for my family and me".

Tah added that the lederhosen "fit very well and look cool", and he looks forward to celebrating on and off the pitch during Oktoberfest, when Bayern have four games scheduled.

The Bayern München 2025-2026 Oktoberfest kit is mostly light beige with shades of green. It has a subtle pattern similar to the 24-25 Anniversary shirt and the classic Trefoil logo.

Tradition meets football culture

Visitors are getting ready to descend on Theresienwiese for Glockenspiel, rides, beer tents, and Bavarian fare. The photoshoot of Bayern Munich sets the tone as it embodies what makes Oktoberfest a hot topic. This festival is deeply connected to history and tradition, but also has a modern appeal.

Oktoberfest starts on the 20th of September and Bayern's Bundesliga opener is already underway. So, fans can look forward to spirited matches framed by that specific Bavarian backdrop. Football meets folklore, just a month early.

Parades, powerful brews, and centuries of tradition

The first Sunday of the festival is a colourful festive parade through Munich and the festival grounds. There are about 9,500 people who take part in the costumed parade with horse carriages, and they are accompanied by bands.

The ladies wear a Dirndl, which is an eye-popping piece consisting of a skirt, apron, and tight bodice. The guys are all in leather with the Lederhosen, tailor-made to perfection, paired with a button-up shirt.

The beer served at the festival is stronger than most standard lagers, and it can only come from the six old traditional and Munich-based breweries. The breweries are:

• Augustiner
• Paulaner
• Spaten-Franziskaner
• Löwenbräu
• Hacker-Pschorr
• Hofbräu

Each of the main Oktoberfest tents serves its own brand, and they are often run by the same Munich-based families for generations. Oktoberfest brings around six million visitors annually, and so many are travelling internationally to join the festivities.