At what time does Oktoberfest's official opening ceremony take place?

Oktoberfest’s official opening ceremony takes place at 12:00 p.m. in the Schottenhamel tent. The Mayor of Munich taps the first keg and declares, “O’zapft is!”—“It is tapped.”

That ceremonial tap marks the official beginning of Oktoberfest’s beer service. Twelve gunshots then signal the operators of the other tents that they may begin serving beer. The ritual is closely watched because visitors and journalists count how many hammer blows the mayor needs to open the keg.

A common mix-up is confusing the tent-opening time with the festival’s official opening. On the first day, Oktoberfest tents can open in the morning, but beer is not served until after the noon tapping. The Schottenhamel tent is therefore the key location for the ceremony, even though food, attractions and some non-beer refreshments may be available earlier.

The phrase “O’zapft is!” is Bavarian dialect for “It is tapped,” followed traditionally by a wish for a peaceful festival.