Oktoberfest Belfast 2026: Live Music, German Beer And A Month Of Nights Out At Custom House Square

There’s still plenty of time to get your friends together for Oktoberfest Belfast, with German beer, traditional oom-pah music and local bands taking over Custom House Square throughout October.

Running every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 24 October, the festival combines Bavarian beer-tent traditions with a Belfast night out. Expect litre-sized steins, bratwurst from the German grill and entertainment that moves from oom-pah singalongs to live bands and DJ sets.

Organised by The Merry Monk Taverns, the event has grown from its earlier outings at the King’s Hall into an established fixture at Custom House Square. Organisers say the 2026 edition brings increased capacity. Oktoberfest Belfast is an annual event, returning to the city every autumn.

Who’s playing at Oktoberfest Belfast?

Traditional oom-pah entertainment features every night, followed by a different band or DJ.

The opening September weekend featured Pete Snodden, Jukebox Jurors and Big Kahuna. Here’s the remaining October line-up:

What’s on the drinks menu?

German beers lead the selection, including Hofbräu Oktoberfest, the seasonal festival beer, alongside Hofbräu Original lager and Hofbräu Dunkel, a darker option with roasted malt flavours.

There’s also Erdinger Weissbier for wheat-beer fans and The Merry Monk Beer Tent’s strawberry beer.

For anyone choosing something different, the menu includes Willowtree apple cider, prosecco and red, white and rosé house wines.

Food comes from the German grill, with bratwurst available when it’s time for something to eat between the music and dancing.

How much does entry cost?

Standard pay-at-the-door admission is £12 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There are also two ways to get free admission:

• Students enter free on Thursdays with a valid student card.
• Guests wearing lederhosen or a dirndl receive free entry.

The free opening Thursday applied to 24 September, which has already passed.

Do you need to book a table?

No table booking is required to attend. You can arrive and pay at the door, with tables kept available for walk-in customers.

For groups who want a reserved table, advance bookings are available for a minimum of eight people, with no stated maximum. Reservations include queue jump and require payment in advance.

The packages are:

The Thursday and Friday package includes a reduced £6 entry charge, compared with £12 at the door. Saturday’s package includes the standard £12 admission.

The drinks element costs £28 per person. Unused drink tokens can be refunded on the night before 10.30pm, while admission charges are non-refundable.

Booking deadlines and arrival times

Table bookings must be made before the Wednesday preceding your chosen date. Organisers take bookings on weekdays between 9am and 6pm, outside event opening hours, and reserved tables are limited.

Groups with reservations must arrive:

• Before 7pm on Thursdays and Fridays
• Before 6.30pm on Saturdays

To book and pay, call 01665 570160. If the line is busy, leave your name and telephone number on the answering machine.

Enquiries can also be sent to oktoberfestbelfast@hotmail.co.uk.

When and where is it happening?

Oktoberfest Belfast takes place at Custom House Square, with the remaining dates running from 1–24 October 2026, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The official website lists opening hours as 5pm–11.30pm.

Whether you’re organising a group outing or heading along for an evening of live music, there are four more weekends to catch the festival. Pick your night, gather your friends and, if you’ve got lederhosen tucked away somewhere, this is their moment.

For more information, visit oktoberfestbelfast.com.

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