New Restaurateur Klaus Bartl to Operate ‘Flößerstadl’ at Oktoberfest 2026
Munich, July 7, 2026 – Following weeks of deliberation, the allocation for a final Oktoberfest tent has been settled. Restaurateur Klaus Bartl has been awarded the contract to operate a new tent, to be named ‘Flößerstadl’, as announced by Munich’s Economic Affairs Officer and Oktoberfest Chief Christian Scharpf (SPD).
Initially, Munich restaurateur Alexander Egger had a contract for the spot, but he let the signing deadline pass. Scharpf stated that there was broad cross-party consensus to give a new restaurateur a chance. ‘I am delighted that we managed to find a successor so quickly in Klaus Bartl, who is confident enough to tackle the tent construction and operational preparations for Oktoberfest in the short period of ten weeks,’ explained the festival director. ‘We will offer him a contract for a chicken rotisserie.’
Rapid Construction Underway
Time is of the essence. Construction of the other tents began in late June. Erecting a completely new tent involves considerable effort. ‘I have noticed a great wave of helpfulness and solidarity within the restaurateur family. Therefore, I am confident and look forward to Bartl’s Flößerstadl,’ said Scharpf.
Bartl previously operates the Almwirtschaft in Haar and the Thalkirchen campsite, a legendary place with a festival atmosphere for Oktoberfest guests from all over the world. He had applied for a spot at Oktoberfest for several years but was initially rejected for this year, as he told the ‘tz’ newspaper.
Coveted Spots and Unanswered Questions
Oktoberfest spots are highly sought after, and why Egger did not seize the opportunity remains unclear. ‘We have no further comment on the matter,’ said a spokesperson for Egger when asked. Egger had applied for a large tent but was not awarded a contract.
Since then, he has caused quite a stir, leading to discontent among other Oktoberfest restaurateurs. He is challenging the city’s traditional allocation process, having initiated legal proceedings to determine whether the city must allocate festival tents, specifically the large traditional tents like Paulaner and the famous Schottenhamel tapping tent, according to European procurement law. This would imply a Europe-wide tender process. The other restaurateurs warned that such a move would cause Oktoberfest to lose its unique character. The festival, they argued, should not be sacrificed to international corporations.
Egger’s initial attempt before the Südbayern procurement chamber was unsuccessful, but he has appealed the decision. The Bavarian Higher Regional Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on September 11, eight days before Oktoberfest begins on September 19. Egger has announced his intention to exhaust all legal avenues ‘to ensure genuine equal opportunities at Oktoberfest.’
However, this will not change anything for this year. The construction of the Paulaner and Schottenhamel tents – which have been in the hands of the Schottenhamel family for over 150 years – is already underway.
