October in Nashville means one thing for festival-goers: Nashville Oktoberfest is back. For four days, Germantown transforms into a lederhosen-clad celebration of steins, brats, polka bands, and a wiener dog race that somehow gets more competitive every year. Whether you’re a longtime local or planning your first trip into town, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the 2026 festival!
When and Where Is Nashville Oktoberfest 2026?
Nashville Oktoberfest runs Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in the historic Germantown neighborhood. All four days of the festival, including live music, contests, and special events, take place at this single downtown venue, so once you’re in, you’re set for the whole weekend.
Special Events: 5K, Contests & VIP Perks
Beyond the beer and bands, Nashville Oktoberfest is packed with contests and community events all weekend long. Kick things off Saturday morning with the 5K Bier Run through historic Germantown, finishing with a free beer and a race T-shirt.
From there, it’s a full lineup of festival classics: the Brat Eating Contest and Stein Holding Contest run in rounds Friday through Sunday, with the latter serving as an official Tennessee State Steinholding Championship qualifier. Then there’s Saturday’s Pup Parade and Sunday’s Dachshund Derby, a fundraiser for local nonprofit Crossroads Campus, which bring out the four-legged crowd favorites.
Most of these events have a small entry fee that includes a General Admission ticket, and registration closes an hour before each round, so it’s worth signing up early. For those who want to skip the lines altogether, VIP tickets add a private tent, unlimited pours, catered food, and a commemorative stein to keep.
Live Music All Weekend
The festival’s music lineup runs across all four days, with Kraken’s Release and Fly2K headlining the stage this year. Beyond the bands, contest rounds for the festival’s signature events run Friday through Sunday, so something is always happening between sets.
What’s Pouring: Featured Beers
This year’s beer lineup mixes Nashville favorites with the real deal from Germany. Local pours like Yazoo Pilsner and Little Harpeth’s Märzen sit alongside imports such as Weihenstephan Hefeweizen and Erdinger Weissbier, so there’s a solid mix of styles no matter what you’re in the mood for. VIP guests also get access to a curated tap list with a few rarer, limited-release imports thrown in.
Admission and Tickets
A ticket is required for every entry, even on the free days, so don’t skip this step:
- Thursday — Free (online ticket required)
- Friday before 4 PM — Free (online ticket required)
- Friday after 4 PM — General Admission $10 online / $12 at the door; VIP $197
- Saturday — General Admission $10 online / $12 at the door; VIP $197
- Sunday — General Admission $10 online / $12 at the door; VIP $197
- VIP Weekend Pass (Fri–Sun) — $347
- Groups of 10+ — Custom quote available
Getting to the Festival
Bicentennial Mall sits right in downtown Nashville, and parking near a four-day festival is exactly as tricky as you’d expect. A few better options:
- WeGo Transit — Nashville’s public transit system stops directly at Bicentennial Mall, making it the easiest way in and out.
- Bike — Nashville B-cycle stations are located near the venue, and bike racks are available right on the festival grounds.
- Fetii — Keep your group together with on-demand rides for up to 15 passengers. GoodNight Stay guests can get 25% off their first ride with code GOODNIGHT.
More Oktoberfest Celebrations Around Nashville
Nashville Oktoberfest is the big one, but it’s far from the only stein in town this season. If you’re in town longer, here are a few more Oktoberfest-inspired celebrations happening around the city throughout September and October:
When: September 19, 2026
Where: 429B Houston St, Nashville, TN
Entry: Free admission
Picture a full day at the brewery: steins of Jackalope’s seasonal Octobearfest and Black Abbey’s Chronicles in hand, brats fresh off the grill, and a crowd cheering on the stein-holding contest (2:00–3:30 PM) and pretzel speed-eating showdown (4:00–5:00 PM). Live music carries the party into the evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, so plan to stick around and soak it all in.
Oktoberfest at Streetcar Taps & Garden
When: September 24-27, 2026
Where: 1325 3rd Ave N, Nashville, TN
Entry: Free admission
This one’s got the full Bavarian variety show: stein-holding, pretzel-eating, and beer-chugging contests, a Beer Puppeteer, the Nashville Polka Band, and live sets from Whit Murray and Wes Bailey. Spread across four days in Germantown, it’s an easy one to swing by more than once.
When: September 26, 2026
Where: 1620 W End Ave, Nashville, TN
Entry: $50 per person
Grab your passport and commemorative stein and work your way through 20 tasting stations set against traditional blue-and-white decor. Between craft beers, bourbon pours, schnitzel sliders, a sauerkraut bar, and apple strudel, there’s plenty to graze on, and if you show up in your best lederhosen or dirndl, you’re in the running for the costume contest.
When: October 1-4, 2026
Where: 731 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN
Entry: Free admission
A more laid-back way to celebrate the season: think beer garden picnic tables, an extensive lineup of craft beers from around the world, and The Pharmacy’s signature locally sourced burgers. Easy to fold into a weekend of festival-hopping without the crowds of a bigger event.
NBC & Blackstone Brewing Company Oktoberfest
When: October 3, 2026
Where: 2312 Clifton Ave, Nashville, TN
Entry: Free admission
Be there for the official tapping of Nashville Festbier, a malty Oktoberfest-Märzen brewed just for the occasion. At the same time, the Best-Wurst Band keeps the oom-pah music going, and the Blackstone Bus serves up authentic German food and beer-brats. The stein-hoisting contest brings some real stakes, too — winners can qualify for the state championship.
Raise a Stein, Stay a While
Turn your Oktoberfest plans into a Nashville fall getaway with a GoodNight Stay. Save 15% on select stays with code TNFALL15, valid for stays September 1–30, 2026, when booked by September 27, 2026. Bring your crew, settle in, and make the most of the season.
