Oktoberfest Music: The Top 18 Songs In The Beer Halls

Along with the beer and the Oktoberfest food that goes with it, music at Munich’s Oktoberfest is one of the pillars* of the world’s biggest beer fest. All the beer tents feature a bandstand, and these big tents are lively venues where people gather to enjoy drinks, socialize, and join in spirited activities. The Oktoberfest tents are the central locations for music and celebration, each hosting a traditional oompah band that will belt out a mix of traditional German and Bavarian folk and beer drinking songs, pop classics, and some more modern fare. The oom pah pah sound is a staple of the traditional music played in the oktoberfest tents, especially during the day. Varying from beer hall to beer hall and increasing in tempo and intensity as the night goes on, this music is designed to get the revellers participating, dancing on benches, singing along, and just generally being drunk and merry in each other’s company—there’s always that one guy leading a chant or a toast. Certain songs, like Ein Prosit, are played repeatedly to encourage more beer consumption among attendees.

*Other pillars include the Oktoberfest outfits, fairground rides, Oktoberfest traditions, the beer halls themselves and of course you making the most of your big Oktoberfest trip!.

🎵 Can’t Read, Won’t Read? Just Gimme the Damn Playlist 👇

1. Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit

2. Angels – Robbie Williams

3. 99 Luftballons – Nena

4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

5. Hey Baby – DJ Otzi

6. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

7. You’re The Voice – John Farnham

8. Living On A Prayer – Bon Jovi

9. Waterloo – ABBA

10. Living Next Door To Alice – Smokie

11. Zombie – The Cranberries

12. All The Small Things – Blink 182

13. Sex On Fire – Kings of Leon

14. Country Roads – John Denver

15. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

16. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

17. Hey Jude – The Beatles

18. Fliegerlied – Donikkl

Oktoberfest Bands

The bands that play in the Oktoberfest beer halls are legendary. These traditional oompah bands consist of more than 10 people, including multiple trumpet, trombone and clarinet players, as well as a drummer, a tuba player, accordion player and of course the singer (in the rowdier beer halls singers plural, especially when they start inviting revellers on stage). The bands are drinking Oktoberfest beers throughout their multiple daily performances, and are dressed in the traditional Oktoberfest outfits.

The general filler music throughout the day and night would be folk tunes, waltzes or polka, but mixed in with a healthy amount of pop hits both current and from yesteryear and German and in English. Many of these are popular Oktoberfest songs that have been heard by festival-goers year after year, becoming crowd favorites. The setlist often includes classics like “Ein Prosit,” “Sweet Caroline,” and modern hits such as Helene Fischer’s “Atemlos Durch die Nacht,” which is a staple that gets everyone singing along.

What makes an oompah band? 

Oompah bands have a long history in Bavaria – the German region of which Munich is the capital – specifically in the military, although once you see how much fun they are that’s a little difficult to imagine. They are also inextricably linked to Oktoberfest and while you can find them around the world they are almost always tied to some beer fest, or celebration of German folklore.

As far as the band’s composition, oompah bands are best defined by their higher than usual proportion of brass instruments which give the bands their distinctive “oompah” sound.

Ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit and Toasting Songs

If there’s one song that truly captures the spirit of Oktoberfest, it’s “Ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit.” This legendary anthem is the heartbeat of every Oktoberfest tent, played by the live band roughly every 15 minutes to keep the celebration rolling. As soon as the first notes ring out, the entire beer hall comes together, steins are raised high, and a thunderous “Prost!” echoes through the crowd. It’s not just a song—it’s a ritual, a toast to good friends, good beer, and the kind of cheerful togetherness that makes Oktoberfest famous across Germany and Europe.

But “Ein Prosit” is just the beginning. The Oktoberfest playlist is a wild mix of traditional German tunes and modern upbeat songs that keep the beer tents buzzing from morning until night. You’ll hear classics like “München steht ein Hofbräuhaus” and the German version of “Roll Out the Barrel,” right alongside international hits that have become Oktoberfest staples. When the band launches into “Hey Baby” by DJ Ötzi, the whole tent erupts into singing and dance moves, hips swinging and voices booming. And when John Denver’s “Country Roads” starts up, you’ll see thousands of people arm in arm, swaying and belting out the chorus as if they were born in Bavaria.

Of course, no Oktoberfest celebration would be complete without the infectious chant of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, or the crowd-pleasing singalong to “Sweet Caroline.” These top songs are guaranteed to get everyone on their feet, dancing on benches, and joining in the fun. The live band’s energy is contagious, mixing traditional German polka with rock anthems, party hits like “Cowboy und Indianer,” Helene Fischer’s “Atemlos durch die Nacht,” and the Cologne classic “Viva Colonia.” Whether you’re a fan of classic rock, German folk, or just want to shout along to the chorus, the Oktoberfest bands have something for everyone.

As the night goes on, the atmosphere in the beer tents becomes electric. The music gets louder, the dance moves get bolder, and the celebration reaches new heights. Songs like “Sierra Madre” and more DJ Ötzi hits keep the party alive, with the crowd chanting, singing, and dancing late into the night. It’s a mix of tradition and modern party spirit that makes Oktoberfest one of the most famous and unforgettable festivals in the world.

So grab your beer, find your spot in the beer hall, and get ready to sing, dance, and toast with thousands of new friends. At Oktoberfest, every song is a celebration, and every night is a memory in the making!

Best Oktoberfest songs (ranked)

1. Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit

Known affectionately as “Ein Prosit”, or “the song they always play that we have to cheers and drink to”, Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit is translated to meaning “a cheers to health and cheerful good times” with Gemütlichkeit being one of those wonderful German words whos translation means warmth and camaraderie felt amongst friends and strangers when drinking beer, or something like that. You’ll hear it throughout the day at Oktoberfest.

Tip: If you want to join in on the fun, you can watch a video to learn the dance moves or lyrics to some of these Oktoberfest songs before you go.

2. Angels – Robbie Williams

One of the great singalong songs for locals and visitors alike, Angels really tears the roof off as everybody raises their pipes to the beer halls’ ceilings and belts this one out. It’s got a good amount of emotion in it and there’s barely an unhugged shoulder in Munich when we’re all together screaming the chorus to this one.

3. 99 Luftballons – Nena

Nena’s 99 Red Balloons, sung in Germany as the original, is a nostalgic hit from the 80s and maybe the only Germany song a lot of foreigners know. It’s upbeat, it’s easily recognised, and modern enough while maintaining traditional ties. A good one to show the halls your dance moves.

4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Another arm in arm classic to belt out, Sweet Caroline gives the audience a great chance to yell back at the oompah band “So good, so good, so good” meaning that even the more festive revellers can join in no matter how many litres of delicious beer they’ve downed. Also gives the ubiquitous American visitors the chance to join in and belt out a tune from home.

5. Hey Baby – DJ Otzi

There isn’t anything in the world quite like clutching your beer and thrusting your hips to the HOO HA part between the HEYYYYYYYY HEY BABY and the I WANNA NO-O-O-O WOHO IF YOU’LL BE MY GIRL.

6. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

A favourite with football fans across Europe (and drunks in general) we’re certain that nobody knows any lyrics to this song except for the very chantable riff. A great time in the beer halls.

7. You’re The Voice – John Farnham

Look, we’re biassed towards Australian songs and had to sneak one into the top 10. John Farnham’s almost-national-anthem is so filled with hope and optimism and goodwill and just so happens to really let you open your pipes and scream the chorus. The locals never knew what they were getting themselves into allowing us Aussies in, and then giving us one of our national classics to belt out.

8. Living On A Prayer – Bon Jovi

Another English language classic that makes it into the beer halls and our Oktoberfest music top 10 because of how it allows you to belt out the chorus along with the oompah band and also how when that guitar comes on at the start we all know that something’s about to go down.

9. Waterloo – ABBA

We can’t get through this top 10 of Oktoberfest songs without mentioning everyone’s favourite Swedes. The bands will kind of play this as an instrumental and it’s up to us to butcher the lyrics, which we do with gusto.

10. Living Next Door To Alice – Smokie

We’re pretty sure that this song is only ever played in the beer halls because the band loves it when 1000s of drunk people respond with “Alice? Who the fuck is Alice?”, which is a good enough reason for us to include it in this rounding out of the top 10 Oktoberfest songs.

11. Zombie – The Cranberries

The Irish get in there with their riff-heavy song that is quite heavy in content too, but not in the beer halls, we just belt this one out.

12. All The Small Things – Blink 182

We wonder if the Californian kings of teenager punk rock even know that they’re played on rotation in the beer halls, but they sure are. Small things, after that much drinking, are usually found congregating around the urinal.

13. Sex On Fire – Kings of Leon

Woooooooooooah, this song is on the Oktoberfest music set list because after a few litres of delicious oktoberfestbier a lot of the people have sex on the mind. Fire less so.

14. Country Roads – John Denver

A cruisy palette cleanser between bangers, this one’s nice to sing with friends old and new, or use the slow down in tempo to duck off to the bathroom.

15. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

Sex on fire is often and unfortunately followed by Ring of Fire, so make sure you play it safe out there gang.

16. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Almost banned from karaoke parlours the world over, we feel like the oompah bands will play this one in Oktoberfest to let the audience do their thing for 10 minutes while they have a drink.

17. Hey Jude – The Beatles

Have you noticed a theme with songs that have choruses with singalong sounds more than complex lyrics are in this list? Well, that’s because we’re all too steaming to string a sentence together, let alone a whole chorus.

18. Fliegerlied – Donikkl

Fliegerlied, also known as “So ein schöner Tag,” is a beloved children’s song at Oktoberfest. With its simple lyrics, playful animal gestures, and fun dance moves, it brings childlike joy to the festival. Both kids and adults join in, making it one of the most popular and inclusive songs during the celebration.

At closing time, the final songs played in the beer halls signal the end of Oktoberfest. These moments are filled with nostalgia and emotion, as the music marks the festival’s conclusion and leaves attendees with lasting memories.