The Best City To Celebrate Oktoberfest In America Isn't In Cincinnati Or Denver

The region that hosts the best Oktoberfest in the United States may surprise you, and it's not in one of the big cities like Denver or Cincinnati. According to USA Today's 10Best Reader's Choice Awards, Tulsa, Oklahoma, beat out other American cities and is ranked as the country's top place to celebrate Oktoberfest in 2026. Tulsa's Zecco Oktoberfest is a four-day annual event. Starting Thursday, the schedule is jam-packed with Munich-style beer tents offering a wide variety of beers, German food, live music, festive games and activities, and carnival rides. The 2026 fest runs from October 22–25.

For the third year in a row, the city was selected after nominees were carefully weighed and chosen by a variety of experts and editors before readers placed the final vote. Held at the River West Festival Park just south of downtown Tulsa, the authentic Bavarian-German tradition has been going strong for nearly 50 years. Festival-goers can visit the themed tents, watch traditional folk dancing and performances, and compete in events like stein hoists and beer barrel races. On Friday, there's a free Family Day that adds crafts, games, carnival rides, and other kid-friendly activities. To upgrade your Oktoberfest celebration, you can also book VIP experiences, where tickets include reserved seating with elevated views, as well as food and drink deals.

To get the party started, fly into Tulsa International Airport. It's located only 11 miles from downtown, so you can reach the festivities in about 15 minutes via rental car or ride-share. Or, take public transportation and hop on a MetroLink bus, which takes about an hour.

Grab a sausage and a pretzel and head to one of the dozen Munich-style zelts, or beer tents. The beer list includes more than 200 types, including local brews and German beers like Spaten, Paulaner, and Weihenstephan. Each tent is hosted by a company or brewery and has its own schedule and entertainment. The largest biergarten is sponsored by Lufthansa Technik and is not to be missed, with over 80 beers on tap. Don't have traditional Oktoberfest clothing? Dress the part by stopping at German Import Haus for lederhosen, Bavarian shorts with suspenders, or a dirndl, a dress usually worn with a blouse.

Tent hop to see the German-inspired entertainment, including polka bands and traditional dancing, cultural activities like whip-cracking performances, and competitive stein hoisting. For bragging rights, head to the FC Tulsa Games and Competitions Arena to join in on beer barrel racing, stein relays, and wiener dog races. On Friday, there's free admission during Family Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which includes entertainment for little ones and an art show contest. Held at the KinderPlatz area, there are arts, crafts, carnival rides, and games, which cost extra. To learn more about the customs and etiquette at the original event, don't miss the Oktoberfest rules American tourists break within the first 10 minutes.

Vendors sell everything from bratwurst to sauerkraut, Bavarian pastries, and schnitzels, alongside other foods you'll find at most festivals, like funnel cakes. The Restaurant am Himmel, or "Restaurant in the Sky," is a more upscale dining experience. The three-course meal includes a cucumber salad, slow-braised beef and a bratwurst, and pear strudel paired with a German wine. Can't make it to Tulsa? For more options, head to Cincinnati, "America's Oktoberfest capital," or Columbus, another Midwestern gem with German breweries and Oktoberfest festivals.