By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026
The Munich Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest) takes place every year in April and May on the Theresienwiese, in 2027 provisionally from 16 April to 2 May. The “little Wiesn” has two large beer tents, the Hippodrom and the Festhalle Bayernland, plus fairground rides, fireworks and family days. Entry to the grounds and the tents is free.
We run a boarding house with 54 apartments at Ländstraße 6 in Lehel, opening in autumn 2027. From here, the U4 or U5 takes you straight to the Theresienwiese without changing. In this guide we have gathered everything you need to know for a visit to the Munich Spring Festival: dates, tents, flea market, programme and how to get there. All information is as of October 2026.
In this article:
- Munich Spring Festival at a glance
- 2027 dates and opening times
- Tents: Hippodrom and Festhalle Bayernland
- Theresienwiese flea market
- Fireworks, family days and programme
- Getting there from Lehel
- How it differs from the Oktoberfest
- Tips for your visit
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Munich Spring Festival at a glance
The table sums up the key facts about the Spring Festival on the Theresienwiese. The 2026 details come from muenchen.de, in-muenchen.de and fruehlingsfest-muenchen.de. For 2027, only provisional dates are available so far.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | northern part of the Theresienwiese, below the Bavaria statue |
| 2027 dates | provisionally 16 April to 2 May 2027 |
| 2026 dates | 17 April to 10 May 2026 (60th edition, three weeks) |
| 2026 opening times | Mon–Fri 11am–11pm, Sat/Sun 10am–11pm, last orders 10.30pm |
| Beer tents | Festhalle Bayernland (Augustiner), Hippodrom (Spaten), plus a wheat beer garden |
| Flea market | BRK (Bavarian Red Cross) flea market on the first Saturday of the festival, 7am to 4pm |
| Admission | free, including the tents |
| Getting there from Lehel | U4/U5 from Lehel to Theresienwiese, four stops |
Munich Spring Festival 2027: dates and opening times
There are no officially confirmed dates for the 2027 Spring Festival yet. According to muenchen.de, the festival is set to take place again over the usual period of just over two weeks in April and May. The website fruehlingsfest-muenchen.de gives 16 April to 2 May 2027 as the provisional dates, with 9 to 25 April mentioned as an alternative.
16 April 2027 is a Friday and 2 May a Sunday. That fits the usual pattern: the festival opens on a Friday with the ceremonial tapping of the first keg and ends on a Sunday around two and a half weeks later. Check the dates on muenchen.de before booking, once the organisers have confirmed them.
When is the Munich Spring Festival open?
According to in-muenchen.de, the Munich Spring Festival opening times in 2026 were 11am to 11pm on weekdays and 10am to 11pm at weekends. The rides start an hour later each day, and last orders in the tents are at 10.30pm. We expect similar times for 2027, though they have not yet been confirmed.
Looking back: Munich Spring Festival 2026
To mark its 60th anniversary, the 2026 festival exceptionally ran for three weeks, from 17 April to 10 May. According to muenchen.de, more than 100 showmen took part, and the programme included a Night Glow with hot-air balloons and a crafts spring to close the festival. The festival has been held since 1965 and is organised by Munich’s showmen.
For a long weekend in April, it is well worth combining the festival with the city: the old town in the morning, a beer tent in the evening. If you are looking for accommodation in Munich, enquire early for the two festival weekends, as the city is well booked on spring weekends.
By U-Bahn from your apartment to the Theresienwiese
Our boarding house at Ländstraße 6 has 54 apartments with their own kitchen, a few minutes’ walk from Lehel U-Bahn station. From there, the U4 and U5 run directly to the Theresienwiese, and after the beer tent you are quickly back home. We open in autumn 2027 and are already taking enquiries.
Tents at the Munich Spring Festival: Hippodrom and Festhalle Bayernland
Unlike at the Wiesn, there are only two large beer tents at the Spring Festival. Both stand on the northern part of the Theresienwiese, not far from the U-Bahn exit. Entry is free, but at weekends in the evening seats go quickly without a reservation.
Festhalle Bayernland: Augustiner and brass bands
The Festhalle Bayernland, run by the Schöniger family of landlords, serves Augustiner straight from the wooden barrel. The music is traditional, with brass bands and Bavarian food. If you are looking for Augustiner at the Munich Spring Festival, this is the place. According to in-muenchen.de, a Maß (one-litre stein) cost 13.50 euros in 2026.
The Hippodrom at the Spring Festival: Spaten and party music
The Hippodrom, run by the Krätz family, used to be an Oktoberfest tent and now stands on the Theresienwiese in spring. It serves Spaten, the music is more modern and the crowd younger. A Maß cost 14.50 euros in 2026.
In fine weather there is also a wheat beer garden, where reservations are not possible.
Reserving a table in a beer tent
You can reserve tables directly via the websites of the two tents. Munich Spring Festival reservations are tied to food and drink vouchers, meaning you pay an amount per person in advance and redeem it in the tent. Friday and Saturday evenings are usually booked up first; on weekdays and at lunchtime you can often find a seat without a reservation.
Theresienwiese flea market on the first Saturday
On the first Saturday of the Spring Festival, the BRK flea market takes place on the Theresienwiese. The Bavarian Red Cross has organised it for more than 30 years, and muenchen.de calls it one of the largest flea markets in Bavaria. In 2026 it was held on 18 April, from 7am to 4pm.
If the festival opens on Friday 16 April 2027 as provisionally announced, the flea market would be on Saturday 17 April 2027. That is our own deduction and has not been confirmed. Only second-hand goods from private sellers are sold; new goods and commercial traders are excluded. If you would like a stall yourself, you will find registration details and conditions at BRK München.
Our tip for the Theresienwiese flea market in Munich: come early. The best finds are often gone before 9am, and by midday it gets crowded between the stalls.
Fireworks, family days and rides at the Munich Spring Festival
Fireworks at the Munich Spring Festival
The fireworks at the Munich Spring Festival are among the most popular events. In 2026 there were two displays, on Friday 24 April and on 8 May, each at 10pm, the second set to music. The best views are from the festival grounds or from the steps below the Bavaria statue. The organisers usually publish the 2027 firework dates shortly before the festival begins.
Family days and children’s day
On family days, which were two Tuesdays in 2026, reduced prices apply at rides and stalls. Many parents call it the children’s day at the Munich Spring Festival. In 2026 there was also a Bummeltag (stroll day) with discounts in the afternoon. We have gathered more ideas for families in our guide to Munich with kids.
Rides, vintage car meet and Bavarian traditions
The Munich Spring Festival rides include a Ferris wheel, dodgems and children’s carousels, plus shooting galleries and sweet stalls. The organisers put together the exact list and a site map anew each year. According to muenchen.de, the programme also includes a vintage car meet below the Bavaria statue and a day of Bavarian customs with traditional costume groups and music.
Where is the Spring Festival in Munich? Getting there from Lehel
The Spring Festival in Munich is held on the Theresienwiese, west of the old town and just a few minutes from the Hauptbahnhof (central station). The easiest way to get there is by public transport:
- U4/U5 to Theresienwiese; the exit is right by the festival grounds
- U3/U6 to Goetheplatz, then about five minutes on foot
- S-Bahn to Hackerbrücke, then about ten minutes on foot
- Tram 18 or 19 to Hermann-Lingg-Straße
From Lehel it is particularly easy: at Lehel U-Bahn station, take the U4 or U5 heading west via Odeonsplatz, Karlsplatz and Hauptbahnhof to Theresienwiese. That is four stops; including the walk to the station, we reckon on around 20 minutes door to door.
Do not come by car. There is no festival car park, and parking around the Theresienwiese is scarce and mostly reserved for residents. If you arrive by car, it is better to leave it at your accommodation.
The little Wiesn: how it differs from the Oktoberfest
The Spring Festival is often called the “little Wiesn”, but it is considerably smaller than the Oktoberfest (see our guide to Oktoberfest 2027). Instead of the many large tents in autumn, there are only two in spring, and the festival occupies only part of the Theresienwiese. The beer is cheaper, the queues are shorter, and on weekdays you can usually still find a seat in the evening.
If you love the Wiesn atmosphere but would rather avoid the crowds, the Spring Festival is a good fit. Traditional dress (Tracht) is popular here too, but not compulsory. If you are in the city as early as March, the beer cellars host the Starkbierfest in Munich.
Tips for your visit to the Munich Spring Festival
The weather in Munich in April is changeable. Bring a jacket, as it quickly gets chilly on the Theresienwiese in the evening. On sunny weekends the grounds are packed from the afternoon onwards; it is quieter on weekdays until about 5pm.
You do not need tickets for the Spring Festival; you pay directly at the rides and stalls. Bring some cash, as not every stall accepts cards. Large bags and rucksacks are often restricted at funfairs, so check the current rules before your visit.
If you are coming with a larger group, it is best to plan accommodation and table reservations together. An aparthotel in Munich with several apartments in the same building is often more practical than hotel rooms spread around the city.
If you would like to combine the festival with two or three days in the city, you will find ideas in our plan for a Munich weekend.
If you are staying longer, for a project or an internship in spring, for example, take a look at our boarding house in Munich. With your own kitchen and a washing machine in the building, even a month in the city is easy to organise.
Conclusion: the Munich Spring Festival is worth an evening in April
The Munich Spring Festival is the relaxed alternative to the Wiesn: two beer tents, free entry, a flea market on the first Saturday and fireworks, in 2027 provisionally from 16 April. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Munich with a direct U-Bahn link to the Theresienwiese, you will find our apartments in Lehel from autumn 2027.
Frequently asked questions about the Munich Spring Festival
When is the Munich Spring Festival 2027?
The Munich Spring Festival 2027 is provisionally scheduled for 16 April to 2 May 2027. The dates have not yet been officially confirmed; 9 to 25 April has been mentioned as an alternative.
How long does the Spring Festival in Munich last?
The Spring Festival usually lasts just over two weeks. For its 60th anniversary in 2026 it exceptionally ran for three weeks, from 17 April to 10 May.
What are the opening times of the Munich Spring Festival?
In 2026 the Spring Festival was open from 11am to 11pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 11pm at weekends. The rides start an hour later, and last orders are at 10.30pm.
Which tents are there at the Munich Spring Festival?
There are two large beer tents at the Spring Festival: the Festhalle Bayernland with Augustiner and the Hippodrom with Spaten. In fine weather there is also a wheat beer garden.
When is the flea market on the Theresienwiese?
The BRK flea market on the Theresienwiese takes place on the first Saturday of the Spring Festival; in 2026 that was 18 April, from 7am to 4pm. Based on the provisional festival dates, in 2027 it would be 17 April.
When are the fireworks at the Munich Spring Festival?
In 2026 there were two firework displays, on 24 April and 8 May, each at 10pm. The 2027 dates will be published shortly before the festival begins.
Is there an entry fee for the Munich Spring Festival?
No, entry to the festival grounds and to both beer tents is free. You only pay for rides, food and drink.
How do I get to the Spring Festival in Munich?
The easiest way is the U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese station; the exit is right by the festival grounds. There is no festival car park.
Daniel Schulz · Managing Director of residir GmbH
He has eight years’ experience in letting and managing serviced apartments and has looked after more than 80,000 guest stays. More about Daniel Schulz