Osnabrück Oktoberfest 2026 comes to Derby Market Hall

David and Lizzie in Oktoberfest costumes

Set within a fictionalised version of the German city of Osnabrück, the event invites guests to step into a living Bavarian town and become part of the annual celebrations hosted by the legendary Hans family.

The event runs across three days, opening on Friday 2 October from 4pm to 10pm, Saturday 3 October from 11am to 10pm, and Sunday 4 October from 10am to 3pm.

Leading the festivities once again is the self-proclaimed Mayor of the Osnabrück Oktoberfest party, Von Drin Hans, alongside his eccentric family, friends, employees, and fellow townsfolk. Together, they will bring laughter, mischief, music, and mayhem to ensure no two visits to Osnabrück are ever quite the same.

This year’s festivities carry extra significance as part of Derby's ongoing 50:50 celebrations, which highlight the 50th anniversary of the historic twinning partnership between Derby and Osnabrück.

Throughout the weekend, visitors will encounter colourful characters, local traditions, friendly rivalries, running jokes, and unfolding stories happening all around them rather than just on the stage.

Enjoy the Hans Family Oktoberfest cabaret show, complete with authentic costumes, traditional songs, light-hearted comedy and plenty of audience participation to get everyone involved.

There will be live music from Oompah band Deep Down Brass, creating a classic Bavarian beer hall atmosphere that all ages can enjoy.

Families can get creative in a designated family-friendly area with Oktoberfest-themed craft activities, perfect for children and adults to enjoy together throughout the event. Create paper hats and floral headbands, design pretzel cut-outs and traditional colourful Bavarian-style outfits on paper for the kids to take home.

Whether attending for the first time or returning to catch up with the town's residents, guests can expect a weekend packed with immersive entertainment, audience interaction, German-inspired fun, and plenty of surprises.

Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Culture and Tourism, said:

We are delighted to see this vibrant event bringing the unique spirit of Osnabrück to life right here in our city. As we mark fifty years of our historic twinning partnership with Osnabrück through our city’s 50:50 celebrations, immersive cultural experiences like this offer a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to come together, enjoy fantastic entertainment, and celebrate our long-standing international friendship.

The entertainment programme features a busy schedule across the entire weekend:

Friday 2 October

  • The Hans Family Concert and Show: 5pm – 9:30pm

Saturday 3 October

  • Oktoberfest craft activities (family-friendly area): 11am – 3pm
  • The Hans Family Concert and Show: 12pm – 3pm
  • Oompah Band (Deep Down Brass): 3pm – 3:30pm
  • Oompah Band (Deep Down Brass): 4pm – 4:30pm
  • The Hans Family Concert and Show: 5pm – 9pm

Sunday 4 October

  • The Hans Family Concert and Show: 10am – 3pm
  • Oktoberfest craft activities (family-friendly area): 11am – 3pm

The Hans Family Concert and Show will feature a cast of fabulous performers, including the event’s Creative Director David Kettle as Von Drin Hans, Lizzie Robins as Gretchen Hans and Clare Andress as Frieda Hans.

David said:

I’m very excited to be part of this amazing Oktoberfest weekend at Derby Market Hall. With a cast of seven hugely talented performers and bespoke costumes, it promises to be a weekend of fun and laughter as we celebrate this hugely popular event that’s so well loved in our twin city, Osnabrück.

Don’t forget, if you’re feeling peckish, the Market Hall’s food traders have some delicious treats on offer. Alongside the usual food traders, visitors can sample hotdogs, indulge in Caribbean street food at Potful of Caribbean, all washed down with a special Oktoberfest-inspired Hans Pilsner from the event’s dedicated pop-up bar, run by Caffè Prosecco and Market Porter.

For all the details on Osnabrück Oktoberfest, visit the Derby Market Hall website.