What is the name of the meadow where Oktoberfest is held?

Oktoberfest is held on Theresienwiese, a large public fairground in Munich. The German name means “Therese's meadow,” honoring Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who married Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria in 1810.

The couple's wedding celebrations included a public horse race on a meadow outside Munich's city walls. The site was later named for Therese and remained the home of Oktoberfest, making it one of the festival's defining historical links. Locals often shorten the name to “die Wiesn,” meaning “the meadow.”

Theresienwiese covers about 42 hectares and is much more than a seasonal beer venue. It also hosts other major events, including Munich's Frühlingsfest and the Tollwood festivals. The grounds are bordered by prominent landmarks such as the Bavaria statue and the Ruhmeshalle. Despite its name, the site is now a largely paved urban event space rather than a grassy meadow.