191st Oktoberfest in Munich ends with visitor record

For comparison: Bavaria's state capital had already registered more guests in the first half of the Wiesn than in the entire run of many folk festivals in other cities. The organizers had anticipated in advance that the crowds would push the capacity of the city center to its limits on several days. The actual figures confirmed these expectations.

Folk festival with global reach

The rush was also accompanied by high occupancy of hotels, guesthouses, and private accommodations in Munich and the surrounding area. According to city figures, many guests traveled from abroad, including from Italy and other neighboring European countries. Local public transport also saw significantly increased demand during the Wiesn.

In addition to the traditional beer tents, in which Munich breweries serve their Oktoberfest beer, numerous rides and booths were once again represented on the festival grounds. The Freefall Tower was one of the most frequently visited attractions. Families also took advantage of the Family Day with discounted prices to walk around the Wiesn with children and young people.

Economically, the Wiesn is considered one of the most important revenue drivers of the year for the city and the regional gastronomy. Showmen and showwomen, innkeepers, wait staff, and musicians earn their annual revenue – or at least a large part of it – during the roughly two weeks. Retail and tourism also typically benefit from the rush on the Bavarian state capital.

Economic factor for the region

The city of Munich had further stepped up its security precautions this year in light of the large crowds. Police, emergency services, and the Wiesn guard coordinated their operations around the clock. The Theresienwiese and adjacent transport hubs were at times only accessible to a limited extent during the evening hours in order to avoid overcrowding.

After the end of the festival, the dismantling of the tents and booths on the Theresienwiese begins. It usually takes several weeks until the grounds are completely cleared and returned to their original state. The city expects the aftermath of the folk festival to remain visible in the cityscape for weeks to come.

Outlook for the next Oktoberfest

With a view to the coming years, this year's outcome is considered the new benchmark. Should the Wiesn be able to build on its success in 2027, the city estimates that any further increase would be difficult to achieve – the capacity of the Theresienwiese is said to be almost exhausted.

This year's official start of the festival traditionally took place with the parade of the Wiesn innkeepers and the tapping of the first beer barrel by the Lord Mayor. Until late on Monday evening, visitors were able to walk across the festival grounds one last time before the 2026 Wiesn became history.

The next Oktoberfest is scheduled for the fall of 2027 as per the regular cycle. Several million guests are once again expected – and the city of Munich hopes to build on this year's record.

Already late on Monday evening, the Theresienwiese gradually emptied. With the end of the music in the beer tents and the closing of the last booths, the 191st edition of Munich's folk festival came to an end – for many guests from all over the world, the highlight of the Bavarian festival calendar.