In what year was the first Oktoberfest held?

The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810. It began as a public celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, held in Munich on October 12, 1810.

The centerpiece was a horse race staged outside Munich's city walls. Its success led organizers to repeat the event the following year, and that repetition established the tradition that became Oktoberfest. The festival was not originally centered on beer; horse racing, public festivities, food, and later agricultural displays were important early features.

Oktoberfest was cancelled in 1813 because Bavaria was involved in the Napoleonic Wars, so it has not literally occurred every year since its beginning. Munich's city government took control in 1819 and made the celebration a regular annual event. Over the 19th century, amusement rides, food stalls, large beer halls, and other attractions gradually transformed it into the world-famous folk festival known today.