OktoberfestStadt gives figures on influencer licenses at the Oktoberfest
September 25, 2026, 9:19 am
A good 200 people have already paid a fee. Meanwhile, the investigation into the fatal accident at the Oktoberfest continues - videos are now being evaluated.
The city of Munich distributed 200 influencer licenses for the Oktoberfest. The new regulation had caused excitement among influencers. Anyone who directly or indirectly pursues commercial purposes with social media content - for example through sponsorship, collaborations or product placement - will need a permit for the Oktoberfest as of this year. After the first Oktoberfest weekend, the city of Munich had already received around 300 inquiries, as a spokeswoman for the city's economic department told the German Press Agency. According to the current status, these would have led to around 200 license agreements. No statements were made about the cost framework. However, there is a “trivial limit” in the event that an Oktoberfest post does not generate much financial gain.
The license costs are always based on the income generated by the posting. The exact calculation then depends on various parameters, such as the reach or the type of monetization on a platform. Taking care of this at an early stage can be worthwhile for those who earn their money with Instagram and Co. - because: "Content that was not licensed in advance has to be re-licensed and becomes more expensive due to the higher effort," said the spokeswoman.
The city would be happy if impressions of the festival were conveyed to the outside world, "but anyone who earns money with our festival must also take part in it. This of course applies to our innkeepers and showmen as well as to influencers - especially if they earn money directly from a posting." Such a regulation is now also common at other events. Many professional influencers therefore took licensing for granted.
According to the economic department, the city does not earn money from the licenses - but uses them to finance the Oktoberfest. “The Oktoberfest is a fee calculator, which means that money that is collected through the Oktoberfest, for example through demurrage fees, flows directly back into the organization of the Oktoberfest.”
Investigators are evaluating videos of the fatal accident on the “Hangover”.
The cause of the fatal accident at the “Hangover” ride on Monday evening is still being investigated. Upon request, the Munich I public prosecutor's office said on Thursday: "The exact course of events has not yet been determined." However, there are now several video recordings that are now being evaluated. After a call for witnesses, several people also came forward. Numerous eyewitnesses have already been heard, but further witness interviews are still pending, it said.
On Monday evening, a 52-year-old employee of the 85-meter-high “Hangover” tower was hit and trapped by a descending gondola. The man died a short time later in hospital from his serious injuries. According to the police's initial findings, the man probably should not have been where he was when the accident occurred.
Focus control against illegal prostitution
The Spider Murphy Gang's "Scandal in the Restricted Area" is still popular at Oktoberfest. The fact that the hit is still relevant outside the festival grounds was shown during a special Oktoberfest operation to combat illegal prostitution, especially in the escort sector, in that same restricted area.
On Tuesday, six women were caught around the main train station apparently doing sex work in hotels there: two Germans aged 25 and 40, two Romanian women aged 22 and 35, as well as a 46-year-old Bulgarian and a 33-year-old Brazilian. Various crimes and administrative offenses were reported due to the prohibited practice of prostitution and other violations of the Prostitute Protection Act. The Brazilian woman is also being investigated for an offense under the Residence Act.
Pickpocket investigators catch repeat offenders
On Wednesday evening, the pickpocket investigators from Munich, who were on the lookout for the Oktoberfest, arrested two men who had apparently traveled specifically from Romania. They already knew a 38-year-old: Exactly a year ago to the day, he had already been caught pickpocketing. This year he was busy in the beetle tent, where he approached a woman around 11:30 p.m., opened her handbag unnoticed and reached into it, but obviously didn't get any valuables. Nevertheless, the emergency services temporarily arrested him. The man was due to appear before a judge on Thursday.
A 30-year-old compatriot of the alleged repeat offender was released after being processed for identification purposes. He was observed by investigators around 8 p.m. taking cash from the cleaning staff's tip plates in a toilet facility in the Schottenhamel tent. After his arrest, cash amounting to a mid-three-digit amount was seized. Because this money consisted mainly of coins, there is a suspicion that at least some of it was stolen property.
With sunflowers for more visibility
Since this Oktoberfest, you can get green ribbons with sunflowers on them at the city's information stands on the festival grounds. What at first glance looks like merch for the Green Party is actually a sign of greater visibility for people with an invisible disability, such as autism, but also an anxiety disorder or diabetes.
According to an employee at the information stand right at the main entrance, demand is increasing: in the first few days only about four people asked for a wristband every day, this Thursday there were already around eight. But she still has enough ribbons.
Two men want to get into the barrier ring with fake police IDs
Using fake police IDs, two men from North Macedonia tried to get into the outer barrier ring around the Oktoberfest grounds by car on Wednesday afternoon. At the corner of Beethovenstrasse and Beethovenplatz they claimed to be police officers from other European countries, transporting important documents and therefore having to enter the restricted zone. One of the two men showed a badge that was supposed to identify him as a police officer. However, because the men could not produce the appropriate parking or access permit, they were turned away.
They tried again at the next opportunity at the corner of Goethestrasse and Mozartstrasse. This time they were subjected to a personal and traffic check. Among other things, 36 apparently self-made ID cards from the (non-existent) "European Police Academy" with different names were discovered, as well as four-digit amounts of cash.
A more detailed search of the Mercedes, which had an Austrian license plate, revealed no further finds, neither drugs nor explosives. The 54 and 52 year old men were reported for forgery of documents and usurpation of office; Neither of them had yet been reported to the police in this country. The older man was allowed to leave after paying a deposit of just over 1,000 euros; the younger man was supposed to be brought before a judge because he did not have a place of residence in the EU.
52-year-old steals walker from tent
A man over 90 years old from the Freising district had his walker stolen on Wednesday afternoon while visiting the Café Kaiserschmarrn. The senior's 64-year-old son called the police around 4 p.m., who immediately checked video recordings of the festival site. A suspect was found leaving the crime scene with the walker.
His further route was then traced to the beer garden of the Hofbräuzelt. Police officers arrested him there at around 7:10 p.m. The confiscated rollator was returned to the elderly man. The suspect is a 52-year-old tourist from France who was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.7. It is not known whether he took the rollator with him as a joke or for his own use as a walking aid. After reporting the theft and paying a deposit of 200 euros, the Frenchman was allowed to leave.
Pastor Ellinghaus: “There has been a shadow over the Oktoberfest since Monday”
At the traditional Oktoberfest service in the Marstall tent this morning, the employee of the "Hangover" ride, who died on Monday while working, is remembered. Pastor Sascha Ellinghaus says that there has been a “shadow” over this festival since Monday, which is why the sadness about it also has its place in this service. However, with regard to the actual nature of the Oktoberfest, Auxiliary Bishop Matthias König also reminds us that the Bible already says: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn."
Towards the end of the service, the deceased will be remembered in a minute's silence. “Death fills us with deep sadness in the joy of this celebration,” said Pastor Ellinghaus.
In addition to numerous showmen and market people, Oktoberfest hosts such as Peter Inselkammer and Christian Schottenhamel also attend the service in the Marstall festival tent, as well as Wiesn boss Christian Scharpf (SPD), several city councilors and - on behalf of Mayor Dominik Krause - Wiesn city councilor Anja Berger (both Greens).
Showmen's service in the Marstall festival tent - in memory of employees of the "Hangover"
Like every year, there will be a service for the Oktoberfest showmen this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. And it is a special service, in two respects: Firstly, because the circus and showman pastoral care is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. On the other hand, there is also a sad occasion: the service is in memory of the 52-year-old employee of the Freefall Tower "Hangover" who died on Monday evening during his shift.
Auxiliary Bishop Matthias König from Paderborn will be present at the service. Also expected are organizer and pastor Sascha Ellinghaus as well as the two regional pastors Monsignor Manfred Simon (Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland region) and Pastor Martin Fuchs (Franconia and Lower Bavaria region). The head of the EKD's Protestant circus and showman pastoral care, Pastor Torsten Heinrich, speaks a word of welcome for the Protestant churches. The so-called Pontifical Mass is musically accompanied by the Munich Cathedral Brass Band.
By the way: This year, the parish church of St. Paul, located directly on Theresienwiese, opened the 50 meter high viewing platform of its tower with a view of the festival grounds for the first time during the Oktoberfest - on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m. and on the other days until the start of the evening service. The climb is possible until the end of the Oktoberfest every day from 10 a.m. for an entrance fee; there is no elevator.
