Herzkasperl-Festzelt at Oktoberfest: History, Boandlkramerei Replacement, Tent in 2026

Last updated: April 2026

The Herzkasperl-Festzelt was for thirteen years one of the most culturally distinctive tents at any Oktoberfest — a small, intimate cabaret venue in the historic Oide Wiesn that hosted theater performances, literature readings, young folk musicians, political satire, and authentic Munich culture. Founded in 2010 as part of the Oktoberfest 200th anniversary celebration, it was named after Munich actor Jörg Hube's most beloved stage character — a rebellious, witty, anarchic Bavarian everyman. Run by Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier (also operator of the legendary Fraunhofer theater in Glockenbach since 1974), it was the rare Oktoberfest tent that prioritized cultural programming over beer volume. Then in 2024, everything changed. Munich's city council awarded the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent license — by a single point margin — to a competitor: the Schöniger family's brand-new Boandlkramerei. Bachmaier sued, lost, and re-applied for 2025. He lost again. He re-applied for 2026 and lost again. As of Oktoberfest 2026, the Herzkasperl-Festzelt does not operate at the Wiesn. Its slot is occupied by the Boandlkramerei — a different tent with a different concept, different brewery, different music director, and a different cultural philosophy. This guide covers both: the Herzkasperl's 2010-2023 cultural legacy, why and how it was replaced, what the Boandlkramerei is today, and what visitors searching for "Herzkasperl" should actually do at Oktoberfest 2026.

The Herzkasperl-Festzelt operated at Oktoberfest's Oide Wiesn from 2010 through 2023, hosted by Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier. It was named after the most famous stage character of late Munich actor Jörg Hube (1943-2009) and offered an unusual cabaret/theater/literature/music cultural program that distinguished it from every other Oktoberfest tent. The tent had a capacity of approximately 1,748 indoor seats + 1,100 outdoor beer garden, served Hacker-Pschorr Wiesn beer (6.0% ABV) from wooden barrels in stone Keferloher mugs, and employed roughly 100 staff and 60 musical groups annually. In 2024, Munich's city council awarded the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent license to Peter and Petra Schöniger's new Boandlkramerei — by a margin of just one point in the application scoring. Bachmaier appealed unsuccessfully through court, then re-applied for 2025 and 2026; both times Boandlkramerei won by one point again. As of Oktoberfest 2026, the Herzkasperl-Festzelt does NOT operate. The Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot is occupied by the Boandlkramerei — a tent with capacity ~2,844 (~1,750 indoor + ~1,100 outdoor), serving Augustiner Wiesn-Bier from wooden barrels (NOT Hacker-Pschorr), with music director Winfried Frey, 80+ bands per festival including "Da Waitla" as one-man house band, magician "Sparifankerl" performances on weekends/Tuesdays/holidays, Bavarian organic cuisine by chef Petar Folic, and a tavern-style aesthetic designed by Wildsfeuer Architekten. The Boandlkramerei takes its name from "der Boandlkramer" — the Bavarian folk character of death from Franz von Kobell's 1871 story "Die Gschicht von Brandner Kasper" (popularized in Bully Herbig's 2008 film). The motto: "Himmlisch guad und teuflisch zünftig!" (Heavenly good and devilishly hearty!). Visitors searching for the Herzkasperl experience can still find Bachmaier's cultural programming year-round at his Fraunhofer theater in Munich's Glockenbach district.

This guide covers everything visitors need to know — the Herzkasperl-Festzelt's 2010-2023 cultural legacy, the controversial 2024 replacement decision, the current Boandlkramerei tent's concept and offerings, the Boandlkramer folklore that gives the new tent its name, beer and food specifics, music programming, reservation process, and how the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot fits into the broader Oktoberfest landscape. For the complete tent-by-tent overview of all 14 large tents, see our best Oktoberfest beer tents in Munich guide. For the largest Oide Wiesn tent (with brass band focus), see our Festzelt Tradition guide. For broader Oktoberfest context, see our what is Oktoberfest guide and where is Oktoberfest guide.

Herzkasperl vs. Boandlkramerei at a Glance

The Herzkasperl Story (2010-2023)

Origin: 2010 Oktoberfest 200th Anniversary

In 2010, Munich celebrated the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest with the inaugural "Historische Wiesn" — the historical recreation that became the permanent Oide Wiesn from 2011 onward. Two beer tents were established for this anniversary celebration: the larger Festzelt Tradition (still operating) and the smaller, more intimate Herzkasperl-Festzelt. The Herzkasperl was conceived as something fundamentally different from any other Oktoberfest tent — a venue for cultural programming that traditional Oktoberfest tents had increasingly abandoned in favor of party music and beer volume.

Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier — The Cultural Anchor

The Herzkasperl's defining figure was Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier, who has run the legendary Fraunhofer theater in Munich's Glockenbach district since 1974. The Fraunhofer is no ordinary venue — it's an inn with an attached theater where amateurs, semi-professionals, professional musicians, actors, cabaret performers, and other artists perform regularly. This open-stage philosophy defined Bachmaier's cultural sensibility, and it became the foundational concept of the Herzkasperl-Festzelt.

Bachmaier brought to the Herzkasperl what the Fraunhofer had been delivering to Munich audiences for over 35 years: a stage where established artists shared space with emerging ones, where political satire mixed with traditional folk music, where literature readings could happen alongside cabaret, and where the audience was treated as cultural participants rather than just beer customers.

Jörg Hube — The Tent's Namesake

The tent was named after Munich actor Jörg Hube (1943-2009) — specifically after his most famous stage character, "the Herzkasperl." Hube was a beloved Munich performer who embodied what Munich locals call the city's "anarchic, resistant, stubborn" cultural spirit. The Herzkasperl character was rebellious, direct, witty — qualities Hube exemplified in his decades of stage work before his 2009 death.

Naming the tent "Herzkasperl-Festzelt" was Bachmaier's way of honoring Hube's legacy and signaling the tent's cultural commitments: this would be a venue for the kind of authentic, witty, slightly subversive Munich character that mass-tourist Oktoberfest tents had largely lost. The tent's homage extended throughout its programming, with regular acts that honored Hube's legacy emphasizing satire, humor, and political commentary.

The Programming Approach

Unlike traditional Oktoberfest tents that book one or two house bands, the Herzkasperl operated as a "tent of musicians." Each day featured two different headlining bands — many of them part of the new folk music or cabaret scene, some with significant Bavarian and German recognition. Stage, dance floor, and beer garden were open to bands, singers, and other musicians who applied to play.

• Annual scope: Approximately 100 employees and 60 musical groups participated each year
• Daily structure: Two headliner bands + traditional orchestras + live music in the beer garden during afternoons
• Cultural diversity: Literature readings, cabaret performances, theater excerpts, children's theater, satirical commentary
• Audience character: Older Munich locals + cultural enthusiasts + artists themselves frequently visited
• Anti-tourist atmosphere: Visitors with "questionable beer or chicken hats" were notably absent — the tent's character self-selected serious cultural visitors

The Atmosphere

The Herzkasperl-Festzelt's atmosphere was substantively different from any other Oktoberfest tent. The intimate scale (~1,748 indoor seats compared to 8,000+ in main festival tents) created genuine community feeling. The cultural programming meant the audience listened as much as drank. Many performers were familiar Bavarian celebrities visible in the crowd. The food, beer, and beer garden experience were all anchored in regional Bavarian identity rather than international Oktoberfest stereotypes.

Some Oktoberfest commentators noted that the tent's atmosphere "varied greatly" depending on which acts performed — sometimes resembling a music club more than a beer tent. Visitors familiar with the schedule could plan visits around specific cultural performances they wanted to see.

Why Herzkasperl Was Replaced (2024)

💡 Key Insight — The Munich Licensing Fight That Mattered
The replacement of the Herzkasperl-Festzelt by the Boandlkramerei in 2024 became one of the most contentious cultural decisions in modern Oktoberfest history — and it matters even for visitors who never followed the controversy. Munich's city council uses a points-based scoring system to evaluate Oktoberfest tent license applications, with criteria including ownership of the tent, prior festival experience, equipment quality, programming tradition, and "attraction power" (cultural appeal). For 2024, the licensing committee decided in a non-public session to award the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent license to Peter Schöniger's brand-new Boandlkramerei concept rather than Bachmaier's established Herzkasperl. The decisive margin: just one point. Bachmaier sued the city in administrative court, arguing he had been disadvantaged in the awarding process — that Schöniger had misrepresented bands in his application that hadn't actually been requested, and that the Boandlkramerei concept didn't conform to the binding 2016 city council programmatic decision about what the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent should be. The court ruled against Bachmaier in 2024. He re-applied for 2025 with an enhanced cultural program, and the scoring criteria were even modified to weight cultural attraction more heavily. Bachmaier scored higher on cultural attraction. He still lost — by one point — to Boandlkramerei again. He re-applied for 2026. He lost by one point again. The episode is widely seen by Munich's cultural commentators as a defining moment in Oktoberfest's gradual commercialization, with the city council essentially choosing a more conventional concept over the most genuinely cultural tent that had ever operated at the festival. As one prominent Munich publication wrote in 2025, the decision is "kulturpolitisches Armutszeugnis" — a cultural-political testament to poverty.

The Lawsuit That Made History

Bachmaier's 2024 lawsuit was unusual not just because tent license disputes rarely reach court but also because a live broadcast on Bavarian television had never before been used to accompany a Wiesn licensing decision. The dispute attracted Bavaria-wide media attention because the Herzkasperl was widely respected among Munich cultural figures. The administrative court's rejection of Bachmaier's appeal was based on procedural grounds, but the underlying question — whether Schöniger's concept truly belonged in the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot at all — remained unresolved.

The Cultural Argument

The deeper question that Bachmaier's lawsuit raised: was the city council still committed to the Oide Wiesn's original 2010 concept of cultural authenticity and historical preservation, or had it drifted toward favoring more commercially conventional concepts? The 2016 Munich city council programmatic decision about the Musikantenzelt explicitly required cultural programming with diversity and depth. Critics argued the Boandlkramerei was too similar to the existing Schützenlisl Volkssängerzelt (the folk singers' tent on the Oide Wiesn since 2022), creating duplication rather than the diversity the Oide Wiesn was designed for.

The Boandlkramerei Today (2024+)

The Schöniger Family

The Boandlkramerei is hosted by Peter and Petra Schöniger, who bring substantial folk festival experience to Oktoberfest:

• 33+ years running the Festhalle Bayernland at the Munich Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest)
• Since 1992: Operated their Schöniger's Schmankerl Treff sausage stand at Oktoberfest
• Family business since 1971 with broader Schöniger family operating at large and small folk festivals
• 2024: First time as full Wiesnwirte (Oktoberfest tent hosts)

The Schönigers' experience is genuine — they've spent decades running large folk festival venues. The Boandlkramerei represents their elevation from sausage stand operators to full tent hosts.

The Tent Design

The Boandlkramerei was designed by Wildsfeuer Architekt und Innenarchitekten PartG mbB, a renowned architectural firm. Visual elements:

• Aesthetic: Visually reminiscent of an old Bavarian tavern
• Capacity: Approximately 2,844 total guests (~1,750 indoor + 1,100 outdoor; some sources cite 3,000 total)
• Stage: Modern, technically equipped, designed for close audience interaction
• Dance floor: Spacious, central, designed for active participation
• Raised seating boxes: Bring guests closer to the stage and dance floor
• Ceiling design: A "sky" made of wood and fabric reflecting the motto
• Construction: Built in-house by the Schöniger team for the Oide Wiesn
• Location: OW 30 — on the Oide Wiesn fenced area in the southern Theresienwiese

The Boandlkramer Legend (Bavarian Death Folklore)

The tent's name comes from a beloved Bavarian folk character: der Boandlkramer — literally "the bone trader" — a traditional Bavarian personification of death. The character originates from Franz von Kobell's 1871 story "Die Gschicht von Brandner Kasper" (The Tale of Brandner Kasper). In the story:

• The Boandlkramer (death) appears to a 74-year-old man named Kasper from Tegernsee
• The Boandlkramer wants to take Kasper to the afterlife
• Kasper gets the Boandlkramer drunk on Kerschgeist (cherry schnapps)
• While intoxicated, the Boandlkramer agrees to extend Kasper's life until age 90
• The story celebrates Bavarian wit and the cultural belief that even death can be outwitted by Bavarian charm

The story was adapted into the 2008 German film "Die Geschichte vom Brandner Kasper", in which comedian Michael "Bully" Herbig played the Boandlkramer. The film made the character familiar to a new generation of Bavarian audiences.

The Boandlkramerei tent name plays on the linguistic detail: "Boandl" means bones; "Kramer" means trader. So "Boandlkramerei" literally means "the bones-trading place" — a humorous reference to the bones from traditional Oktoberfest dishes (chicken giblets, duck legs, knuckle bones). The name's protected as a registered trademark.

The name's also a sly cultural inside joke: after a Herzkasperl (heart attack) often comes the Boandlkramer (death). The naming choice of the new tent, replacing the Herzkasperl, contains this gallows humor for Munich locals who appreciate the cultural irony.

The Beer: Augustiner Wiesn-Bier from Wooden Barrels

One of the most significant differences between the Herzkasperl and Boandlkramerei: different breweries. The Herzkasperl served Hacker-Pschorr; the Boandlkramerei serves Augustiner.

• Brewery: Augustiner-Bräu (founded 1328 — Munich's oldest brewery)
• Specific brew: Augustiner Wiesn-Edelstoff Oktoberfestbier
• Style: Bottom-fermented Märzen / Festbier lager
• Alcohol content: 6.0% ABV
• Color: Pale golden
• Tasting notes: Mellow, mild, balanced; characteristic Augustiner smoothness
• Service tradition: Served from traditional 200-liter wooden barrels (same tradition as Augustiner-Festhalle and Festzelt Tradition)
• Connoisseur preference: Wooden-barrel Augustiner has lower CO2 and smoother taste than steel-keg versions
• Wines + spirits: Selection of regional Bavarian wines and spirits also available

This brewery alignment puts the Boandlkramerei in the same family as the largest Oide Wiesn tent (Festzelt Tradition), simplifying the Oide Wiesn beer experience — both major tents now serve Augustiner from wooden barrels. Visitors who prefer Hacker-Pschorr will find it at Hacker-Festzelt and Pschorr Bräurosl in the main festival.

The Boandlkramerei Food

Head chef Petar Folic selects the best Bavarian organic produce, with a notable detail: the tent's vegetables grow in beds around Munich specifically for Boandlkramerei guests. This direct sourcing emphasizes seasonal Bavarian produce and a "modern Bavarian cuisine" approach. Menu structure:

• Wiesnhendl (Oktoberfest chicken) — Classic preparation
• Traditional Bavarian dishes — Pork knuckle, duck legs, chicken giblets, sausages
• Modern Bavarian reinterpretations — Chef Folic's signature approach
• Vegetarian dishes — Significant menu portion
• Vegan dishes — Notable selection compared to other tents
• Smaller portions for children and seniors — Family/accessibility focus
• Sweet specialties: Kaiserschmarrn, chocolate mousse, apple strudel
• Bavarian organic seal + "Geprüfte Qualität Bayern" certifications throughout

Folic emphasizes that he wants to serve "Bavaria, but not just roast pork with dumplings" — modern Bavarian cuisine that shows the unexpected diversity of regional cooking.

The Boandlkramerei Music Program

The music program is curated by artistic director Winfried Frey, an actor, director, and radio presenter familiar to Bayern 1 audiences as host of "Volksmusik" programming. The 2025 program included 46 different bands and artists, with 80+ different groups across the broader history of the tent. Key music elements:

• Da Waitla — One-man house band who performs ~17 times across 16 days; some performances as part of the duo "Da Rocka & Da Waitla"
• Sparifankerl — Resident magician performing on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and public holidays
• Mix of established and emerging: Well-known folk music veterans alongside new groups receiving major-stage exposure
• "Young folk music" focus — The same general genre direction as Herzkasperl but executed differently
• "Local sound" character — Munich and Bavarian emphasis
• Modern-traditional blend — Tradition interpreted in modern ways
• Singing and dancing encouraged — Audience participation expected

The program is more conventionally folk-music-focused than the Herzkasperl's diverse cultural programming, which is part of why critics argue Boandlkramerei is too similar to the Schützenlisl Volkssängerzelt (the folk singers' tent on the same Oide Wiesn).

How to Reserve a Table

• Reservation portal: Direct in-person reservations at the tent on Theresienwiese starting September 16 each year
• Online reservations: Were available initially in 2024 but no longer offered for 2025+ — only on-site booking now
• Easier than main festival: Oide Wiesn tents (including Boandlkramerei) generally have easier reservations than the 14 main festival tents
• Public weekend availability: Even Friday and Saturday evening reservation slots are typically offered publicly
• Tent capacity: Smaller tent (~2,844) means less reservation pressure than party giants
• Walk-ins: Munich law requires unreserved sections; Oide Wiesn tents typically have meaningful walk-in availability
• Family-friendly accommodations: Smaller portions for children + seniors mentioned explicitly
• Important: Oide Wiesn admission fee (€4 for adults; children free) is required to enter the area

Visiting the Oide Wiesn Musicians' Tent in 2026

• Location: Boandlkramerei is on the Oide Wiesn at street position OW 30, southern part of Theresienwiese
• Hours: Daily 10:00 AM - 11:30 PM (some sources cite extended hours to 23:30)
• Beer service ends: 22:30 (10:30 PM)
• Music times: 10:00 AM onwards throughout the day
• Oide Wiesn admission: €4 for adults; children free
• Closest U-Bahn: Theresienwiese station (5-10 minute walk)
• Family amenities: Stroller-friendly access; dedicated children's area
• Accessibility: Generally accessible (specific details should be confirmed at entry)
• Free drinking water fountain: Located on Street 6 next to the Boandlkramerei (one of two free fountains on the Oide Wiesn)

🛒 Pro Tip — Bachmaier's Fraunhofer Theater Year-Round
If you specifically want the Herzkasperl-Festzelt experience and you're in Munich either during Oktoberfest 2026 or any time year-round: visit Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier's original Fraunhofer theater in Munich's Glockenbach district. Bachmaier has been running the Fraunhofer since 1974 — over 50 years of cabaret, theater, music, literature readings, and political satire. The Fraunhofer was always the cultural foundation that the Herzkasperl-Festzelt was built on, and it continues operating year-round regardless of Oktoberfest tent licensing decisions. Strategy: (1) During Oktoberfest 2026, go to the Boandlkramerei for the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent experience, but understand it's a different concept from the Herzkasperl. (2) Visit the Fraunhofer theater during your Munich trip for the actual Herzkasperl-style cultural programming — Bachmaier's authentic philosophy in his original venue. (3) Watch the Munich news — Bachmaier has announced he will continue applying for the Oide Wiesn slot. He may eventually win it back if Munich's city council scoring criteria evolve, restoring the original Herzkasperl concept to Oktoberfest. The Fraunhofer is genuinely one of Munich's most important cultural venues, easily reachable from the city center, and offers a much closer match to what made the Herzkasperl-Festzelt unique than any current Oktoberfest tent.

How Boandlkramerei Compares to Other Oide Wiesn Tents

The Oide Wiesn currently has three main beer tents:

• Festzelt Tradition (largest, ~8,040 capacity): Brass band focus + traditional Schuhplattler dancing + Augustiner from wooden barrels in Keferloher steins + family-friendly Limogarten + most authentic traditional atmosphere. The Oide Wiesn's flagship traditional Bavarian tent. For full detail, see our Festzelt Tradition guide.
• Boandlkramerei (musicians' tent, ~2,844 capacity): Folk music focus + modern interpretation + Augustiner from wooden barrels + chef Folic's modern Bavarian cuisine + Da Waitla house band + Sparifankerl magician. The current Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot occupant since 2024.
• Schützenlisl Volkssängerzelt (folk singers' tent, ~1,784 capacity since 2022): Hosted by Christine and Lorenz Stiftl. Focus on traditional Munich folk singers + Bavarian organic cuisine + Augustiner from wooden barrels + Hacker-Pschorr wheat beer. Recognized as Munich Ökoprofit business and climate-neutral festival tent.

Critics of the 2024 Boandlkramerei licensing argue that the Boandlkramerei is too similar to the Schützenlisl — both focus on folk music with modern interpretations, both serve Augustiner from wooden barrels, and the programming overlap reduces the Oide Wiesn's cultural diversity. The Herzkasperl had been distinctly different from Schützenlisl (cabaret/theater/literature versus folk singers). This is part of why Bachmaier's continuing applications matter culturally — he represents a programming distinction the current arrangement lacks.

For a complete comparison with all main festival tents:

• vs. Augustiner-Festhalle: Both serve Augustiner from wooden barrels. Augustiner-Festhalle is the locals' main festival flagship (~8,500 capacity, highly competitive reservations); Boandlkramerei is the smaller Oide Wiesn musicians' tent (~2,844 capacity, accessible reservations). For Augustiner-Festhalle detail, see our Augustiner-Festhalle guide.
• vs. Hacker-Festzelt: Hacker is the main festival "Bavarian Heaven" tent serving Hacker-Pschorr. Herzkasperl historically also served Hacker-Pschorr — but Boandlkramerei now serves Augustiner instead. For Hacker detail, see our Hacker-Festzelt guide.
• vs. Pschorr Bräurosl: Bräurosl serves Hacker-Pschorr in the main festival with maypoles + Rosa Wiesn LGBTQ+ Sunday. Boandlkramerei is the smaller Oide Wiesn musicians' tent. For Bräurosl detail, see our Pschorr Bräurosl guide.
• vs. Hofbräu-Festzelt: Hofbräu is the international party giant in the main festival. Boandlkramerei is the small Oide Wiesn musicians' tent. Polar opposites in atmosphere and audience. For Hofbräu detail, see our Hofbräu-Festzelt guide.

For a comprehensive comparison of all 14 main festival tents, see our Munich beer tents complete guide.

What to Wear at the Oide Wiesn Musicians' Tent

Lederhosen for men, Dirndl for women — and the Oide Wiesn rewards authentic regional Bavarian Trachten more than fashion-forward modern interpretations. Approximately 90%+ of Oide Wiesn attendees wear traditional Bavarian dress, with Munich locals and Bavarian families taking traditional dress particularly seriously here. The Boandlkramerei's tavern aesthetic and folk music programming both reward conservative classic styling rather than tourist-oriented costume Trachten.

The €4 Oide Wiesn admission self-selects more committed cultural visitors, and traditional Trachten is part of how that community identifies itself. Authentic deer-leather Lederhosen rather than synthetic, properly tied Dirndl bow position (left = single, right = married), traditional colors (dark green, blue, beige, deep red), real silver buttons or buckles — all fit the Oide Wiesn aesthetic better than modern tourist costume Trachten.

For complete outfit guidance, see our pillar guides on what is Lederhosen and what to wear to Oktoberfest. For the authentic-vs-costume distinction critical for Oide Wiesn tents, see our authentic vs costume Lederhosen guide. For shirt selection, see our Bavarian shirts guide. For suspenders technique, see our suspenders and accessories guide.

Browse complete authentic regional options at lederhosen men, dirndl, women's Oktoberfest outfits, oktoberfest shirts, and lederhosen suspenders. To configure a complete authentic custom outfit, our custom outfit builder lets you choose every detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Herzkasperl-Festzelt at Oktoberfest 2026?

No — the Herzkasperl-Festzelt is NOT operating at Oktoberfest 2026. It operated from 2010 through 2023 under host Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier as the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent. In 2024, Munich's city council awarded the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent license to Peter and Petra Schöniger's new Boandlkramerei tent — by a margin of just one point in the application scoring. Bachmaier sued unsuccessfully in administrative court and re-applied for both 2025 and 2026; both times the Boandlkramerei won by one point again. Bachmaier has announced he will continue re-applying. As of Oktoberfest 2026, the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot is occupied by Boandlkramerei, not Herzkasperl. Visitors searching for the Herzkasperl-Festzelt experience can still find Bachmaier's cultural programming year-round at his Fraunhofer theater in Munich's Glockenbach district.

What is the Boandlkramerei at Oktoberfest?

The Boandlkramerei is the current Oide Wiesn musicians' tent, hosted by Peter and Petra Schöniger since 2024. It has a capacity of approximately 2,844 (~1,750 indoor + ~1,100 outdoor) and is located at street position OW 30 on the Oide Wiesn (the historical/nostalgic area of Oktoberfest, with €4 admission for adults). The tent serves Augustiner Wiesn-Bier from traditional wooden barrels and offers a music program curated by artistic director Winfried Frey featuring 80+ different bands and artists, including Da Waitla as one-man house band and Sparifankerl as resident magician. The motto: "Himmlisch guad und teuflisch zünftig!" (Heavenly good and devilishly hearty!). The tent is named after the Boandlkramer — the Bavarian folk character of death from Franz von Kobell's 1871 story "Die Gschicht von Brandner Kasper," popularized in Bully Herbig's 2008 film. Designed by Wildsfeuer Architekten with a tavern-style aesthetic.

Why was the Herzkasperl-Festzelt replaced?

The Herzkasperl-Festzelt was replaced because Munich's city council awarded the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent license to a competing application — Peter Schöniger's Boandlkramerei — by a margin of just one point in the city's points-based scoring system. The criteria include tent ownership, festival experience, equipment quality, programming tradition, and cultural attraction power. The decision in 2024 was so contentious that Bavarian television live-broadcast the licensing decision (a first for an Oktoberfest tent license). Host Josef Bachmaier sued unsuccessfully in administrative court, arguing he had been disadvantaged in the awarding process. He has re-applied for 2025 and 2026, and both times the Boandlkramerei won by one point again. The replacement is widely seen by Munich cultural commentators as a defining moment in Oktoberfest's gradual commercialization, with the city favoring a more conventional folk-music concept over the Herzkasperl's distinctive cabaret/theater/literature programming.

Who was Jörg Hube and why was the Herzkasperl-Festzelt named after him?

Jörg Hube (1943-2009) was a beloved Munich actor known for embodying the city's "anarchic, resistant, stubborn" cultural spirit. His most famous stage character was "the Herzkasperl" — a rebellious, witty, anarchic Bavarian everyman. When Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier opened his cultural tent at the 2010 Oide Wiesn, he named it in honor of Hube's most beloved role, signaling the tent's cultural commitments: this would be a venue for the kind of authentic, witty, slightly subversive Munich character that mass-tourist Oktoberfest tents had largely lost. Hube had died just one year earlier in 2009, making the naming both a tribute and a cultural commitment statement. The Herzkasperl-Festzelt's regular programming continued to honor Hube's legacy with acts emphasizing satire, humor, and political commentary throughout its 2010-2023 operation.

What does "Boandlkramer" mean and why did the new tent take that name?

"Boandlkramer" literally means "bone trader" — "Boandl" is bones; "Kramer" is trader. It's the Bavarian folk personification of death, originating from Franz von Kobell's 1871 story "Die Gschicht von Brandner Kasper" (The Tale of Brandner Kasper). In the story, a 74-year-old man named Kasper from Tegernsee gets the Boandlkramer drunk on cherry schnapps to extend his life until age 90 — celebrating the Bavarian belief that even death can be outwitted by Bavarian charm. The 2008 German film "Die Geschichte vom Brandner Kasper," with Michael "Bully" Herbig as the Boandlkramer, made the character familiar to a new generation. The Boandlkramerei tent's name plays on the literal meaning ("trader of bones from traditional Oktoberfest dishes — chicken giblets, duck legs, knuckle bones") and contains a sly inside joke: after a Herzkasperl (heart attack) often comes the Boandlkramer (death) — gallows humor for Munich locals appreciating the cultural irony of the new tent replacing the old one.

What beer does the Boandlkramerei serve?

The Boandlkramerei serves Augustiner Wiesn-Edelstoff Oktoberfestbier from Augustiner-Bräu (Munich's oldest brewery, founded 1328 by Augustinian monks). This is a significant change from the Herzkasperl-Festzelt, which served Hacker-Pschorr beer. The Augustiner Edelstoff is a bottom-fermented Märzen/Festbier with 6.0% ABV, mellow and balanced, served from traditional 200-liter wooden barrels (the same tradition as Augustiner-Festhalle and Festzelt Tradition). Wooden-barrel Augustiner has lower CO2 and smoother taste than steel-keg versions. The Boandlkramerei also offers a selection of regional Bavarian wines and spirits at the bar. The brewery alignment with Festzelt Tradition (the largest Oide Wiesn tent) means both major Oide Wiesn beer tents now serve Augustiner from wooden barrels, simplifying the Oide Wiesn beer experience.

Can I still experience the Herzkasperl-Festzelt's cultural programming somewhere?

Yes — host Josef "Beppi" Bachmaier continues to run his original Fraunhofer theater in Munich's Glockenbach district, which he has operated since 1974. The Fraunhofer is an inn with an attached theater where the same cultural philosophy that animated the Herzkasperl-Festzelt has been continuously available for over 50 years. Cabaret, theater, music, literature readings, political satire, and the open-stage approach to mixing established and emerging artists all happen at the Fraunhofer year-round, regardless of Oktoberfest tent licensing decisions. If you want the actual Herzkasperl-Festzelt experience, the Fraunhofer is where it lives. Located in Glockenbach (easily reachable from Munich city center), open year-round. Bachmaier has stated he will continue applying for the Oide Wiesn slot in subsequent years, so the Herzkasperl-Festzelt may yet return to Oktoberfest if Munich's city council scoring evolves.

How does the Boandlkramerei compare to the other Oide Wiesn tents?

The Oide Wiesn has three main beer tents in 2026: Festzelt Tradition (the largest, ~8,040 capacity, traditional Bavarian brass music + Schuhplattler dancing + Augustiner from wooden barrels in stone Keferloher mugs + family-friendly Limogarten for children); Boandlkramerei (musicians' tent, ~2,844 capacity, modern folk music + Augustiner from wooden barrels + Da Waitla house band + magician Sparifankerl); and Schützenlisl Volkssängerzelt (folk singers' tent, ~1,784 capacity since 2022, Munich folk singers + Bavarian organic cuisine + Augustiner + Hacker-Pschorr wheat beer). All three serve Augustiner. The Festzelt Tradition has the most distinctly traditional Bavarian focus; the Boandlkramerei and Schützenlisl have overlapping folk-music programming, which is part of why critics argue the 2024 licensing decision reduced cultural diversity at the Oide Wiesn (the Herzkasperl had been distinctly different from Schützenlisl with its cabaret/theater/literature programming).

How do I reserve a table at the Boandlkramerei?

Reservations for the Boandlkramerei are made directly in person at the tent on Theresienwiese starting September 16 each year. Online reservations were available initially in 2024 but are no longer offered for subsequent years. Compared to the 14 main festival tents, the Boandlkramerei (and other Oide Wiesn tents) generally have much easier reservation availability — even Friday and Saturday evening slots are typically offered publicly. Walk-in availability is also meaningful, especially during weekday hours and lunch periods. Important: the Oide Wiesn admission fee (€4 for adults; children free) is required to enter the area, separate from any tent reservation. The Boandlkramerei offers smaller portions for children and seniors, accommodating family-friendly visits.

Is Bachmaier going to bring the Herzkasperl back?

Bachmaier has officially stated he will continue applying for the Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot every year. He has lost three consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026) by margins of just one point each time. The Munich licensing system uses points across criteria including ownership, festival experience, equipment, programming, and cultural attraction. After 2024's controversial decision, the scoring criteria were partially modified — cultural attraction was given higher weight (factor 5 instead of factor 4). Despite scoring higher in cultural attraction, Bachmaier has still lost overall by one point each subsequent year. Future scoring revisions, applicant changes, or shifts in city council priorities could potentially restore the Herzkasperl-Festzelt to Oktoberfest. The tent has approximately 100 employees and 60 musical groups depending on its operation, and Bachmaier has expressed sadness for these affected workers and artists during the years of non-operation.

Final Thoughts

The Herzkasperl-Festzelt's story is one of Oktoberfest's most culturally significant — a tent that for 13 years (2010-2023) showed what was possible when an established Munich cultural figure was given a stage at the world's largest beer festival. Bachmaier's Fraunhofer-philosophy approach to programming created a venue genuinely different from any other Oktoberfest tent, with cabaret, theater, literature, political satire, and authentic Munich character coexisting alongside beer service. The 2024 replacement by the Boandlkramerei represented something that critics argue was more than just a tent license decision — it represented a choice about what the Oide Wiesn means and whether Oktoberfest's cultural diversity matters as much as its commercial scale.

For visitors planning Oktoberfest 2026: the Herzkasperl-Festzelt is not at the festival. The Oide Wiesn musicians' tent slot is occupied by the Boandlkramerei, which is a perfectly fine folk music tent with Augustiner beer, traditional Bavarian cuisine, modern folk music programming, and a Bavarian death-folklore theme. Visit the Boandlkramerei for the current Oide Wiesn musicians' tent experience. Visit the Festzelt Tradition for the largest, most traditional Oide Wiesn tent. Visit the Schützenlisl Volkssängerzelt for the folk singers' tradition. Visit the Fraunhofer theater in Glockenbach for the actual Herzkasperl-style cultural programming year-round. And if you're curious about Munich's cultural politics, watch the next Oide Wiesn licensing decision — Bachmaier has announced he will keep applying.

The simple framework: understand that Oktoberfest's tent landscape evolves over time. Some tents have multi-generational continuity (Schottenhamel since 1867, Augustiner-Festhalle since 1898, Bräurosl since 1901). Other tents come and go based on Munich's licensing decisions. The Herzkasperl-Festzelt was one of the most culturally distinctive tents at the modern Oktoberfest, and its absence since 2024 is a real cultural loss. The Boandlkramerei is a competent replacement at the same physical location, but represents a different vision for what an Oide Wiesn musicians' tent should be. Visitors deserve honesty about both — the historical significance of what was lost, and the practical reality of what's currently there.

For broader Oktoberfest planning, see our complete Munich beer tents guide, our what is Oktoberfest guide, our when is Oktoberfest guide, and our where is Oktoberfest guide. For the largest Oide Wiesn tent (Festzelt Tradition with brass band focus), see our Festzelt Tradition guide. For comparison with all main festival tents, see our dedicated guides on Hofbräu-Festzelt, Löwenbräu-Festzelt, Paulaner Festzelt, Hacker-Festzelt, Augustiner-Festhalle, Fischer-Vroni, Marstall Festzelt, Schottenhamel-Festhalle, Schützen-Festzelt, Armbrustschützenzelt, Pschorr Bräurosl, and Ochsenbraterei. Browse outfit options at lederhosen men, dirndl, women's Oktoberfest outfits, and oktoberfest shirts.

External authoritative sources for further research: the official Oktoberfest.de Boandlkramerei page, the official Munich tourism Boandlkramerei page, and the Wikipedia Oktoberfest tents reference.

Herzkasperl-Festzelt (2010-2023): Bachmaier's cabaret/theater Oide Wiesn musicians' tent named after Jörg Hube. Boandlkramerei (2024+): Schöniger family folk music tent named after Bavarian death folklore. Munich licensing decisions matter culturally. The Fraunhofer theater preserves Bachmaier's original philosophy year-round.