Festival Info & FAQ

Nashville Oktoberfest 2026 runs Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN). Thursday and Friday until 4 PM are complimentary, but you must request a ticket online. Tickets are complimentary, but all entries require a ticket. Paid tickets are required Friday after 4 PM, Saturday, and Sunday.

Thursday and Friday until 4 PM are complimentary, but you must request a ticket online. Tickets are complimentary, but all entries require a ticket. Saturday–Sunday General Admission starts at $10 online ($12 at the gate). VIP experiences start from $197 and include private tent access, unlimited pours, and more.

The festival is held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243, steps from downtown and Germantown. WeGo transit stops at the mall; rideshare drop-off zones are marked at the entrance.

Yes, it's an all-ages celebration. Children under 3 enter free. Non-alcoholic drinks are available throughout the grounds, and signature events like the Pup Parade and Dachshund Derby are popular with families.

Nashville Oktoberfest is the city's flagship fall beer festival: German imports and Nashville craft on draft, live music, and contests across four days in early October. See the beer list and ticket pages on thenashvilleoktoberfest.com for the current lineup.

Nashville Oktoberfest has run every year since 1980 and is widely cited as one of America's most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations (Business Insider). It combines Munich-style beer and food with Music City live entertainment at Bicentennial Capitol Mall.

Yes, it's an all-ages celebration and children under 3 enter free. Non-alcoholic drinks are available throughout the grounds.

Yes, General Admission is $12 at the gate. Advance tickets are $10/day online, so buying ahead saves you money and time. Popular days can sell out, and VIP is especially limited, so we strongly recommend purchasing online ahead of time.

General Admission includes full festival grounds access and all live entertainment stages. VIP includes additional perks: private tent, unlimited pours, catered food, and more. See the Tickets and VIP pages for full details.

Nashville Oktoberfest is a rain-or-shine event. We have covered areas throughout the festival grounds. The VIP tent is covered, though it is not climate-controlled. No refunds are issued for weather.

Yes! Dogs are welcome on a leash. Saturday has the Pup Parade and Sunday has the Dachshund Derby. Please clean up after your pet and keep them leashed at all times.

Personal steins are welcome as long as they are not glass. Plastic, metal, and ceramic steins are all permitted. Glass containers of any kind are not allowed on festival grounds.

Yes, our food vendor lineup includes options for vegetarians. Look for the vegetarian-friendly signs at vendor booths. We also have vendors serving pretzels, strudel, roasted almonds, funnel cakes, and more.

Yes. Thursday and Friday until 4 PM are complimentary, but you must request a ticket online. Tickets are complimentary, but all entries require a ticket. Beer still requires a free 21+ wristband; food and merchandise are available for purchase.

Yes. Friday until 4 PM is complimentary if you request a ticket online. Paid tickets are required after 4 PM. Advance General Admission is $10 online ($12 at the gate). Saturday and Sunday also require paid tickets.

Orders of 10 or more paid Friday or Sunday tickets automatically get 10% off those tickets. Saturday is not included. For a custom quote on a larger group, use the group inquiry form on the tickets page.

WeGo public transit stops directly at Bicentennial Capitol Mall, the easiest car-free option. Uber and Lyft drop-off zones are marked at the festival entrance; expect surge pricing Friday and Saturday evenings.

It's a Germantown tradition since 1980 with German and local draft beer, two stages of live music, authentic German food, and signature contests, including the Dachshund Derby, Pup Parade, Stein Holding Championship qualifier, and 5K Bier Run, all at Bicentennial Capitol Mall.