The crowds are streaming in, and so is the beer: With perfect weather, the Oktoberfest attracted even more people at halftime than last year. The festival management estimated the number of visitors at around 3.8 million - after 3.5 million in the previous year. Nevertheless, there were no dangerous utilization peaks like in 2025.
“It was a relaxed atmosphere right from the start, it was a peaceful first week,” said Wiesn boss Christian Scharpf (SPD). Munich's third mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) praised the "harmonious and good atmosphere". People took good care of each other. In line with the number of visitors, the police and the Oktoberfest medical station report an increase in the number of operations, but draw a positive conclusion for the festival.
Misfortunes overshadow the celebration
However, the celebration was overshadowed by two accidents. A coach that was on its way to the Oktoberfest from Italy overturned on Autobahn 96 near Buchloe in Ostallgäu. Two people died and numerous others were injured, some seriously. The tour group of Filipino nationals living in Italy wanted to celebrate at Oktoberfest.
On the third day of Wiesn, a 52-year-old ride security employee died after being hit by a gondola. Why he was in the area he wasn't supposed to be is still under investigation. The Oktoberfest community remembered him at the traditional service.
The Oktoberfest, which is considered the largest folk festival in the world, lasts until October 4th.
Too crowded? How the fixed line prevents overcrowding
According to Oktoberfest director Scharpf, a campaign with which the festival management promoted visits during the week in order to equalize the flow of visitors contributed to the relaxed atmosphere. 18.5 percent more guests came during the week, and the numbers on the weekends were slightly below the previous year's level.
The optimized security concept with AI-supported video cameras and a crowd spotter who observes what is happening and can intervene with announcements has proven to be successful. “It’s a quantum leap for safety at the Oktoberfest,” said Scharpf.
On Saturday, entrances were temporarily closed due to heavy crowds. But: “There have never been such crowds as we had last year.” Back then, the festival may have narrowly avoided disaster when many people could no longer go back and forth.
Sour shandy in trend
The guests often chose sour shandy for drinks. Even the Wiesn boss seems surprised: he can't really imagine it, but he'll try the popular drink himself, said Scharpf. The consumption of festival beer fell slightly, but wheat beer was more popular. Otherwise, people liked to order and consume: cheese spaetzle, bratwurst, half chicken and oxen.
Souvenirs: Herzerl versus Hendlhut
When it comes to souvenirs, the chicken hat is becoming a bit out of fashion - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least Scharpf thinks. Foreign visitors also like to buy gingerbread hearts. Sometimes the inscription has to be translated: “Fescher Bua” would be roughly: “bel ragazzo” for Italians who storm the festival in droves on this so-called Italian weekend. Pins are also in demand, an easily transportable souvenir. Beer mugs, which people still like to take with them, are not souvenirs, but stolen goods.
Lost property and secret forces of the Oktoberfest
Whatever the reason: Lost property fell by 40 percent. The curiosities left behind included an illustrated book about Tibet and a walker. “It’s possible that the festival beer developed such powers that the walker was no longer necessary,” mused Scharpf.
The weather
The weather - which is otherwise occasionally complained about - was almost perfect: temperatures around 20 degrees and above, sunshine and mostly cloudless skies.
The celebrities
Many celebrities also celebrated. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt came with his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi. Also there were Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Ballack, Oliver Pocher, Andreas Gabalier, Regine Sixt, Florian Silbereisen, Cathy Hummels and the Geissens.
The Oktoberfest hit
Nothing reported so far. “Gute Mood” is often played by the duo GroßstadtEngel. According to the Society for Musical Performance and Mechanical Reproduction Rights (GEMA), the 2025 Oktoberfest hit was “Brenna Tuats Guat” by Hubert von Goisern.
Safety at the Oktoberfest
Around 600 police officers and a four-digit number of stewards are on duty. The area is illuminated by 56 police video cameras - nothing should remain hidden. This also included an unusual theft that affected a 90-year-old Oktoberfest guest: a 52-year-old stole his walker. Video images led the police to the thief and he was arrested. It remained unclear why the man wanted the walker.
In total, the police have registered around 470 crimes and administrative offenses so far, and there have also been reports of bodily harm, sexual harassment and upskirting, i.e. filming up the skirt. Recorded drug crimes increased by almost 50 percent. Main drug: cocaine.
Drone incidents
Dozens of drones were spotted and some were taken out of the sky - strict flight restrictions apply during the Oktoberfest. Most hobby pilots wanted to take a spectacular aerial photo. “Just leave your drone on the ground during the Oktoberfest,” warns police spokesman Christian Drexler.
Sewing, vaccinating, sobering up: what concerns the Oktoberfest doctors
The majority of guests in the Oktoberfest medical station were too full. The largest group of 4,242 patients, namely 35 percent, were affected by “alcohol-related problems”. 66 victims of the extra-strong beer were allowed to stay overnight at the “Hotel Aicher”: The medical station looks after patients overnight and thus relieves the burden on Munich clinics.
The helpers also dealt with injuries, circulatory collapses and other internal problems. A Berliner, for example, had bad luck in sports when he broke his arm while arm wrestling. For the first time, doctors are giving those willing to be vaccinated a spade against influenza or Covid-19. Hundreds came to the Oktoberfest.
