OktoberfestBig crowds expected - crowds storm into the tents
September 26, 2026, 10:21 am
Last year there was a critical crowd at the Oktoberfest on the middle Saturday of the Oktoberfest. How crowded will it be this time? The rush is already big in the morning.
All developments in the live blog
In addition to our own research, we use material from the dpa news agency for this live blog.
Important updates
The SZ reports from Oktoberfest Friday
Groper gets banned from Oktoberfest
Police take drone out of service over Oktoberfest
The city of Munich is distributing 200 influencer licenses for the Oktoberfest
Investigators are evaluating videos of the fatal accident on the “Hangover”.
Police take drone out of service over Oktoberfest
A 50-year-old drone pilot was temporarily arrested for violating the flight restriction zone over Oktoberfest. Special police forces had previously taken control of the drone in order to bring it to the ground. Shortly afterwards, a patrol found the 50-year-old tourist from Greece in an inner courtyard not far from Theresienwiese. The man said he wanted to take photos of the festival grounds.
The tourist was temporarily arrested for violating the Aviation Act and released after posting bail. He received a report. The drone was seized.
The Munich police once again pointed out that during the Oktoberfest there is a flight restriction area within a radius of 5.5 kilometers around the festival grounds and that no drones are allowed to be used. "Any violation constitutes a criminal offense under the Aviation Act and will be prosecuted consistently. In addition to a fine or prison sentence, the seizure of the drone must be expected."
How crowded will the festival grounds be today?
The second weekend of the Oktoberfest is coming up - and summer temperatures prevail on this autumn day in Munich. Crowds are already streaming onto the festival lawn.
How big will the crowd be? This is being closely monitored by the security forces in order to avoid a crowd like last year. At that time, the festival grounds had to be closed on the second Saturday of the Oktoberfest due to overcrowding. Panic broke out among many people standing in the crowd. Miraculously nothing happened. The city then sharpened its security concept.
The Oktoberfest was already very full on Friday. Even more visitors are expected on Saturday. René Hofmann
The Oktoberfest starts its second weekend
A few minutes after 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of Oktoberfest at the Esperantoplatz entrance and one of the stewards has to say a word of authority because the crowd of masses wanting to celebrate at the entrance is too big. As was the case on the first weekend, visitors are admitted in stages, but some apparently don't want to accept this and people keep rushing forward. "What's going on here, do you only have grits in your head?" the speaker complains at some point. But then the music starts - and of course everyone comes onto the premises at the end.
Jacqueline Long
Commemoration of victims of the Oktoberfest attack
On September 26, 1980, a bomb exploded at the entrance to Oktoberfest. 13 people were killed and 221 injured. In the morning, before the masses flock to the Oktoberfest, the city remembers the victims of the right-wing extremist terrorist attack. Wreaths are laid. “We must not forget,” is written on one container.
dpa
The SZ reports from Oktoberfest Friday
Which attractions keep visitors weightless for the longest time? And which one shakes her up the most? And are the new rides worth it? These rides provide the biggest adrenaline kicks at the Oktoberfest.
Josh had the hit that everyone at Oktoberfest wanted to hear and sing along to. But at some point he no longer wanted to go on stage. A conversation about “Cordula Green”, depression and the moment when success no longer brings joy.
At the halfway point of Oktoberfest, this year's trends can already be seen. What's going on in terms of fashion and gastronomy? How crowded is it? And what will be the Oktoberfest hit? An overview.
Groper gets banned from Oktoberfest
For a 32-year-old, the 191st Oktoberfest is over again because of repeated sexual assaults. According to police, the man had repeatedly harassed and groped women. The 32-year-old was last noticed on Thursday evening because women complained about his behavior and alerted the security forces. The man had 1.7 per mille in his blood.
When his personal details were checked, it became apparent that the man was no longer allowed to stay in the hacker tent because he had previously been banned from entering the house. Because he had also ignored an expulsion, the district administration department now issued a general ban on entry to the festival grounds. The Oktoberfest is over for the 32-year-old, at least this year.
First tents close
As announced by the city, the first tents will close when reservations change, the Bräurosl, for example, or the Augustiner festival tent and there is currently no entry into the Hofbräu festival tent. As always, small crowds of people form in front of the entrances, hoping by some miracle to get in, but the majority of them are strolling around the square in once again the beautiful Oktoberfest weather.
Jacqueline Long
Pickpocket arrested in Schottenhamel tent
The Munich police have arrested a 51-year-old after an attempted pickpocketing in the Schottenhamel tent. According to the information, the man caught the eye of investigators because he was moving conspicuously through the tent looking for opportunities to steal. After the 51-year-old tried to steal a handbag, he was temporarily arrested by the police. An investigation is now underway against the caught pickpocket.
Oktoberfest police go sliding
This only happens at the Oktoberfest: Police officers on duty occasionally ride a ride and slide down the “Munich slides”. “Applause for our meadow police, they’re doing a great job,” said the ride’s spokesman when they arrived safely at the bottom.
Jacqueline Long
Drinking fun for the little ones
Did you know? The Tradition marquee at the Oidn Wiesn once again has a lemonade garden this year, especially for small Oktoberfest guests. Spezi, apple spritzer or water can be tapped there for one euro. You only need one cup, which costs another euro. No wonder that you can hear the shouts of “Limogarten, Limogarten” right at the entrance to the beer garden.
First peck, then toast
According to the city, the vaccination service at Oktoberfest exceeded previous expectations. In the first six days, 322 people were vaccinated at the Oktoberfest either against flu, corona or both. “Our low-threshold offer has been overwhelmingly well received,” says Munich health officer Beatrix Zurek about the campaign, which is taking place for the first time this year.
Anyone interested can get vaccinated at the medical station until October 4th. This is possible from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is not necessary to make an appointment, you just need to bring your vaccination certificate and health insurance card with you.
City advises on the “Italian weekend”: It’s better to use the side entrances
The so-called Italian weekend starts today. It's called that because many Italians traditionally celebrate at the Oktoberfest on the second weekend of the Oktoberfest. It is likely to be very crowded. In order to control the flow of visitors as best as possible, the city has published some information for visitors, even in English and, of course, Italian: They should avoid Wirtsbudenstrasse when changing reservations and prefer to go to Schaustellerstrasse, Matthias-Pschorr-Strasse and the various side streets “to stroll”.
It is also recommended to enter the site via the side entrances instead of the main entrance. And the city points out something else: “During the reservation change in the afternoon (around 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.), the main entrances to the large festival tents are usually closed.” Visitors without reservations would have little chance of getting into the tent during this period. “It’s not worth hiring!” It remains to be seen whether a crowd spotter will have to make an announcement to remind people of this again.
Irishman hits security guards in the face
Out of false solidarity, an Oktoberfest visitor from Ireland punched a security guard in the Augustiner tent in the face. As the police said, an Australian was supposed to be escorted out of the tent by security personnel.
Because the measure apparently violated his sense of justice, the Irishman, who had previously been completely uninvolved, intervened and attacked a security guard. The man was slightly injured. There was a complaint of assault against the 20-year-old Irishman.
40-year-old shows Hitler salute
A 40-year-old in the hacker tent raised his right arm in the Hitler salute and said “Heil Hitler!” roared. Witnesses alerted the police, who took the man, who was heavily drunk at just under two per mille, to the Oktoberfest station and reported him for using the license plates of unconstitutional organizations.
35-year-old arrested after consuming coke
A 35-year-old consumed cocaine in the toilet in the beetle tent. He was noticed by police officers who, during the subsequent search, seized white powder from the man.
Because he behaved extremely uncooperatively towards the officers and announced that he wanted to return to the festival grounds despite being expelled, the 35-year-old spent the night in security custody at the police Wiesnwache. He was also charged with violating the Narcotics Act.
