Every Bayern fan most surely knows that the team’s visit to the Oktoberfest — the largest beer and folklore festival in the world — is a staple of the team’s bonding activities every September, where the players can unwind a bit, and fans have the opportunity to see the star players up close.
In addition, the Oktoberfest kits that the team plays in, and that are made available to the public for a limited period of time, are regularly the most sought-after. Well, this year could be the exception to that long-held
tradition (as captured by Sport1).
The issue arises from a FIFA mandate dating back from 2023, but only coming into effect in 2026, in which the football’s head organization decided to change the customary September and October international breaks, in turn having a single extended break comprising of four international matches. This reformed schedule effectively lands almost perfectly on top of the Oktoberfest dates, making it difficult for Bayern to schedule its traditional Oktoberfest activities, such as the player’s annual visit to the festival and home games wearing special Wiesn kits. The club has reportedly already scheduled the team’s festival visit for Sunday, September 20th, trying to avoid the usual crowding of the opening day on Saturday, although there will not be any home games during the Oktoberfest, as the schedule below shows. Whether the team will don a traditional Wiesn kit during the games before or after the festival remains in doubt:
Sept. 18: Bayern vs. Union Berlin
Sept. 19: Oktoberfest begins
Sept. 20: reported Bayern Wiesn visit
Sept. 21: FIFA international window begins
Oct. 4: Oktoberfest ends
Oct. 6: FIFA international window ends
Oct. 9–11: Bundesliga resumes
Already in 2025, Bayern’s board member for sport Max Eberl had expressed his disappointment on the new schedule and the change of plans (via Sport1): “From a sporting point of view, the reform has advantages, but of course a piece of Bavarian tradition is lost, which many FC Bayern fans rightly regret.”
