Dust off your lederhosen - a big Oktoberfest is heading to Sunderland this weekend.

There’ll be three days of steins, lederhosen, German tunes and dishes as Sunderland gets set to host a large-scale Oktoberfest.

placeholder image — Oktoberfest is heading to Sunderland | Submitted

Taking place from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, it will see land in High Street West, including the empty site which once housed Argos and Mothercare, transformed with a heated marquee to bring a flavour of the famous German folk and beer festival.

Festival-goers can look forward to a packed programme of traditional Bavarian entertainment.

Highlights will include:

*A live five-piece Oompah band will perform a mix of classic German tunes and well-known party favourites throughout the weekend

*A Bavarian-themed DJ

*A range of Bavarian street food

*Steins of beer

*Themed Oktoberfest decor

People are also encouraged to embrace the occasion by wearing Lederhosen and Dirndls.

Councillor Ciera Hudspith, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Heritage and Tourism at Sunderland City Council said: "Sunderland has a growing reputation for hosting a wide range of events throughout the year, and Oktoberfest is a fantastic addition to our calendar.

“The event will bring a unique atmosphere to the city centre, encouraging people to spend time in Sunderland, enjoy our hospitality and experience everything the city has to offer. We're pleased to support events that help showcase Sunderland as a vibrant destination for leisure and entertainment."

Oktoberfest sessions & tickets

There will be various sessions across the weekend | Submitted

The weekend will be split across a number of sessions to give visitors plenty of opportunities to experience the festivities.

The festival opens on Friday, October 16 from 6pm to 11pm, followed by two sessions on Saturday,October 17, running from 12 noon to 5pm and 6pm to 11pm.

The celebrations conclude on Sunday, October 18 with a family-friendly session from 12 noon until 4.30pm. The Sunday session will include games for children hosted by the event compère, alongside family-friendly competitions and prizes to be won throughout the afternoon.

Tickets for the event are on sale now for every session across the festival. For more information and ticket details, visit Tickets: Oktoberfest | Sunderland | 67 76 High Street West Sunderland Fri 16 October 2026