Next dates
2027 dates not yet announced — typically around October. We're watching and will update this page when they land.
Germany's national holiday falls on Oktoberfest's closing weekend in 2026 - shops shut, but the Wiesn stays open.
October 3 is Germany's public holiday commemorating 1990 reunification, and in 2026 it lands on a Saturday during Oktoberfest's final weekend, so most stores and offices close. Only small travel-necessity shops (Reisebedarf — press, snacks, travel medicine) at train stations stay open, not full supermarkets; museums and the festival itself run as normal. Restaurants, tourist attractions, and public transport all keep their usual (often Sunday-style) schedule — just don't plan a shopping trip in the city center that day.
The full story
October 3 is Germany's national holiday, marking German reunification — a nationwide public holiday since 1990, established by the Einigungsvertrag (Unification Treaty). In 2026 it falls during Oktoberfest's run at Theresienwiese, so the festival itself keeps its normal schedule — it's the rest of the city that changes rhythm. Shops and offices close, much like a Sunday, while restaurants, museums, public transport, and the festival grounds continue as usual.
If Oktoberfest is the point of your trip, the holiday changes very little for you. If you were planning to shop or run errands in the city center that day, plan around it — and expect the festival itself, along with the rest of central Munich, to be busier than a typical weekday given the extra day off.
See Oktoberfest.
History
Marks the anniversary of German reunification and has been Germany's nationwide public holiday since 1990, established by the Einigungsvertrag (Unification Treaty).
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- Oktoberfest food and Festbier — Unity Day 2026 falls on the Wiesn closing Saturday, so Theresienwiese is the main eating-and-drinking plan.
- Pair it with
- Any open Big Six tent on the final weekend, or city beer gardens if you skip the crowds — shops close but restaurants stay open.
- Itinerary fit
- Public holiday with no shopping — treat it as your last full Wiesn day if you're already in Munich for Oktoberfest.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Oktoberfest close for German Unity Day?
- No — Oktoberfest keeps its normal festival-day schedule; it's shops and offices around the city that close for the public holiday.
- What should I plan around?
- Treat October 3 as a Sunday-style day citywide — shops and offices closed, but restaurants, museums, public transport, and the festival itself run as usual.
- Since when has October 3 been a national holiday?
- Since 1990, established by the Einigungsvertrag (Unification Treaty) that formalized German reunification.
More in Munich
Other festivals and markets in Munich — or see the full Munich guide.