Overview

• The 2026 pause runs from September 23 to October 8, overlapping the Wiesn from September 19 to October 4 and leaving little club football during the festival.
• Bayern sporting director Max Eberl calls the consolidation beneficial for sporting reasons but says a piece of Bavarian tradition will be lost without Oktoberfest home matchdays.
• Eberl argues the reform should have gone further, noting that November and March release periods remain unchanged despite the longer autumn window.
• The expanded autumn slot is set for 16 days with up to four national-team matches, offering coaches more preparation time and reducing league disruptions.
• This year’s Wiesn still features Bayern fixtures—Hoffenheim on the opening day, Pafos on September 30, Frankfurt on October 4, and a home game against Bremen on September 26—while a 2026 home match on the Anstich weekend remains a scheduling possibility.