Vail Oktoberfest is a free festival held over two consecutive weekends in September: the first in Lionshead Village, the second in Vail Village. In 2026 the dates were September 11 to 13 in Lionshead and September 18 to 20 in Vail Village. Each year's dates and schedule are posted on the official Oktoberfest Vail site, and dates for 2027 have not been announced.
The two weekends
Both weekends run Friday to Sunday on the same pattern. In 2026 the grounds were open Friday from 12 to 8:45 p.m., Saturday from 12 p.m. (the last listed act was at 7:30 p.m.) and Sunday from 12 to 5:45 p.m.
| 2026 weekend | Where | Extras on the schedule |
|---|---|---|
| September 11 to 13 | Lionshead Village | Lawn stage acts (Blue Ox Boys, Neue Polka); Denver Kickers Schuhplattlers |
| September 18 to 20 | Vail Village | River stage acts (Neue Polka, Austrian Trio Grande); Alpen Auerhahn Schuhplattlers |
Helmut Fricker & The Rhinelanders, Average German Band and The Polkanauts played both weekends, and the Schuhplattlers are Bavarian folk dancers. The two lineups are close enough that choosing between weekends comes down to where you are staying and which day works, and the schedules carry a "Schedule Subject to Change" note. The Vail Concours automotive showcase coincides with the second weekend.
Contests and how to enter
The 2026 contest lineup was identical on both weekends. Sign-ups are at the stein tent: Fridays 4 to 5 p.m., Saturdays 12 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., Sundays 12 to 2 p.m.
| Contest | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stein holding | 6:30 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| Bavarian costume contest | Not scheduled | 1 p.m. | Not scheduled |
| Polidori bratwurst eating | Not scheduled | 3 p.m. | Not scheduled |
| Keg bowling | Not scheduled | 5:30 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
Steins, food and beer
Admission is free and no ticket is needed. The 2026 commemorative steins cost $40 for the 0.5-liter and $55 for the 1-liter, each with one free fill-up. Pre-sale closed before the festival, but steins were still sold at the stein tent and the beer booths while they lasted, and pre-ordered steins were picked up at the stein tent (Friday and Saturday 12 to 6 p.m., Sunday 12 to 2 p.m.). You do not have to own a stein: without one, beer is served in compostable cups, and steins from previous years or other Oktoberfests are welcome. Beer booths were card-only in 2025.
Vendors sell food such as pierogies, pretzels and bratwurst. The Bavarian theme fits the town: founder Pete Seibert drew on the alpine villages of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and Tyrolean-style architecture is part of the village look.
Kids, dogs and the free buses
All ages are welcome, and a kid zone is open daily. Discover Vail also lists Kid-Tober Fest programming with fall activities and special performers. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome at the festival, but pets are not allowed on the free Town of Vail buses; only trained service animals may ride. For dog-friendly plans around town, see the dog-friendly guide.
Parking and getting there
Summer 2026 parking in the Vail Village and Lionshead structures is paid from May 29: the first hour is free, then $2 an hour, up to $10 per transaction. Entry after 3 p.m. is free until 4 a.m., which covers the busiest part of a festival day, and overnight parking in the structures is $45. The Donovan Parking Lot at 1600 S. Frontage Road West has free day parking with vehicle registration and a free bus into both villages, though event days at Donovan Pavilion can restrict it. Rates change by season, so use the town's parking page for the year you visit. More detail is in the Vail parking guide.
Where to stay for Oktoberfest
The festival's 2026 lodging page listed two partner offers. Evergreen Lodge at Vail offered 10 percent off the best available rate through its booking link, and Sitzmark Vail, in the heart of Vail Village, offered two free Oktoberfest steins per room for a three-night stay over the Vail Village weekend. Those were 2026 offers. Discover Vail also names Sonnenalp Vail, Christiania at Vail, Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer, Austria Haus and The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail among the Tyrolean-style places to stay. A free in-town bus links the two villages, so staying in either works for both weekends. For the Village side, see what hotels are in Vail Village; for how the lodging areas differ, the comparison of where to stay.
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Fitting it into a September trip
Vail Mountain's summer operation in 2026 ran daily through September 7, then Friday to Sunday through September 27, so the gondolas run on festival weekends. Fall color begins later in September; see when the leaves change in Vail for the weeks after the festival.
