Which German city hosts the original Oktoberfest?

The original Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany. The festival began there in 1810 as part of celebrations for the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Munich was the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria, and officials invited the public to join the wedding festivities. A horse race on open land outside the city became the event's central attraction. Because the celebration proved popular, the race and accompanying festivities were repeated, creating the foundation for Oktoberfest.

Today, Munich's Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest, a German term for a major public festival combining entertainment, food, and drink. Although many cities around the world hold Oktoberfest-themed events, they are imitations rather than the original. Munich's festival is also commonly called “die Wiesn,” a Bavarian nickname derived from its historic venue, Theresienwiese.