Costumes and Riflemen Parade

Parade Route and Grandstands

Festring München, the organizer of the event, constructs 14 stands alongside the parade’s route. Seats can be purchased starting in April via München Ticket for 36 Euros. As horses are separated from the parade before entering the Theresienwiese, you should not watch it directly at Oktoberfest.

Unique Participants 2026

Every year, there are a few groups that are participating for the first time or stand out because of anniversaries. In 2026, the following special participants were admitted:

Münchner Kindl (No. 2.a)

For the first time, Sina Hochreiter, the new Münchner Kindl, will lead the traditional costume and marksmen’s procession. As a symbol of the state capital, she rides in the ladies’ seat on a heavy draft horse from the Spaten Brewery. Her costume is based on a historical depiction of the Münchner Kindl by Eduard Ege from 1957. She was selected by Festring München e.V., the organizer of the two major Oktoberfest parades.

Fachverein der Schäffler Münchens (No. 14.b)

This year, the Munich Cooper’s Guild held a dance season that takes place only once every seven years, commemorating the period following a plague epidemic over 500 years ago. It is said that the coopers’ dance gave people at that time the courage to return to public life.

Gebirgstrachtenerhaltungsverein D’Mangfalltaler Westerham e.V. (No. 5.b)

Founded in 1899, the D’Mangfalltaler Westerham folk costume association (trachtenverein) preserves the traditional Miesbach mountain folk costume. Women wear festive dirndls with artfully decorated shawls and silk aprons, while men wear short leather pants with the characteristic Stopselhut. Bavaria’s State Parliament President Ilse Aigner, as patron of her hometown association, will personally take part in the traditional costume and marksmen’s parade.

Musikkapelle Fischbachau (No. 9.a)

The Fischbachau Brass Band looks back on 175 years of club history, making it one of Bavaria’s most traditional brass bands. It feels a particularly strong connection to Bavarian-Bohemian brass music. The “Mittenwalder Bergführer-Marsch” was specially rearranged for the anniversary.

Stadtgarde zu Pferd Weingarten e.V. (No. 23.b)

With its cavalry corps, fanfare corps, lance riders, and standard-bearers, the Weingarten Municipal Mounted Guard represents historic equestrian traditions from Württemberg and Hohenzollern. Since 1953, it has accompanied numerous religious and secular festivals and is particularly associated with the Weingarten Blutritt, one of the largest equestrian processions in Europe.

Kölsche Funke rut-wieß von 1823 e.V. (No. 32)

The “Rote Funken” from Cologne are considered the oldest traditional corps of the Cologne Carnival. In their red-and-white uniforms, they pay a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the former city soldiers of the cathedral city. For more than 200 years, they have embodied Rhineland customs, humor, and the unique Cologne way of life. Although they are not the first Cologne carnival corps to participate in the parade, their admission caused quite a stir among poorly informed commentators.

Riesengebirgs-Trachtengruppe München (No. 34.c)

The Riesengebirge Traditional Costume Group Munich will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026. Today, it is primarily the children and grandchildren of those displaced from the Riesengebirge who carry on the tradition. Particularly impressive are the richly embroidered women’s costumes with fine white lace and the typical three-piece bonnet with gold trim.

Schützenviertel Tiroler Unterland und Wörgler Stadtkapelle (No. 35.a+b)

The Schützenviertel Tiroler Unterland preserves the time-honored Tyrolean shooting club culture and unites numerous shooting clubs from the Kufstein region. In addition to customs, the preservation of traditional costumes, and a vibrant sense of community, the group also emphasizes its connection to Tyrolean history. Together with the Wörgl City Band, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, a large delegation will participate in the parade.

Chiemgau-Alpenverband für Tracht und Sitte (No. 46.b+d)

The Chiemgau Alpine Association will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. It brings together 23 local heritage and traditional costume associations from the Chiemgau region. The members will present the characteristic Chiemgau mountain costumes: women in Röckigwand and Priener hats, men in short leather pants, embroidered backpacks, and the typical Aschau hat with a chamois tail or cock’s comb feathers.

All Participants 2026