Oktoberfest Tent Allocation Under Legal Scrutiny in Munich
Munich, April 22, 2026 – The allocation process for tents at the Munich Oktoberfest is currently undergoing legal review. The Government of Upper Bavaria is examining the matter following a request from a Munich innkeeper who desires a larger tent. This development could potentially challenge the historically grown method of awarding tent spots at the world-renowned festival.
Innkeeper Challenges Traditional Allocation Methods
Alexander Egger, who operates the smaller “Münchner Stubn” tent with his wife, has applied for pitches currently occupied by two large, established tents: the Paulaner tent, which is brewery-owned and typically considered a permanent fixture, and the Schottenhamel tent, run by the same family for nearly 160 years. While the Schottenhamel family must reapply annually and is evaluated based on a point system, Egger’s lawyers, representing WE Gutshof GmbH, argue that the city should adhere to European procurement law, which would necessitate EU-wide tenders for these pitches.
Last week, the innkeeper’s lawyers submitted an application for a “review of tender-relevant aspects in the allocation of pitches for the large festival tents.” This action has put a temporary halt on the city’s ability to finalize allocation contracts for the Paulaner and Schottenhamel tents.
Legal Review Initiated by Government of Upper Bavaria
The Government of Upper Bavaria, where the Southern Bavaria Procurement Chamber is located, confirmed to BR that the city is currently unable to conclude allocation contracts for the Paulaner and Schottenhamel tents. The city has been given the opportunity to submit a statement. The procurement law review can last up to five weeks, until May 25, and may be extended in cases of “particular factual or legal difficulties.” Decisions made by the Procurement Chamber can also be appealed to the Bavarian Higher Regional Court.
Rumours of potential lawsuits from Alexander Egger and his wife Kathrin Wickenhäuser-Egger had circulated earlier in the year, though the restaurateur couple had previously denied them.
Concerns Among Traditional Innkeepers
The city’s Department of Economic Affairs has declined to comment on the ongoing tender process, citing the possibility of legal disputes. However, they emphasized that the Oktoberfest application procedure has been judicially reviewed and confirmed multiple times in the past. They also stated there is “no indication that the holding of the Oktoberfest is endangered.”
For the traditional Oktoberfest innkeepers, the current and proven allocation practice ensures that the Wiesn remains a place where Bavarian customs are upheld. Christian Schottenhamel, one of the two innkeeper spokespersons, remarked, “The Oktoberfest is a piece of Bavarian home, and we should not sacrifice it and risk it becoming a wishy-washy festival.”
Preserving the “Festival of Munich Beer”
There are recurring fears that allocating tents to external innkeepers could lead to the cessation of serving exclusively Munich beer. Against this backdrop, Schottenhamel and his fellow innkeeper spokesperson, Peter Inselkammer, highlight that 80 percent of Wiesn visitors come from Munich and the surrounding area, and that the Oktoberfest is a “Festival of Munich Beer.”
They argue that in its more than 200-year history, the Munich Oktoberfest has become a unique cultural asset that must be protected. “This should never be sacrificed for personal interests,” the innkeeper spokespersons concluded.
Source: Government of Upper Bavaria, BR, Innkeeper Spokespersons
