Record crowds and 6.7 million litres of beer at Bavaria's Oktoberfest
04.10.2026,
This year's Oktoberfest in Munich attracted a record 7.4 million visitors, the city said on Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 7.2 million set in 2023.
"This makes the 2026 Wiesn the most visited in its long history," Oktoberfest director Christian Scharpf said, using the local nickname for the festival.
The crowds surged - and so did beer sales. A total of 6.7 million litres of beer was consumed, according to the city, 2.7% more than the 6.5 million litres recorded in 2025.
Food vendors reported a 2% to 3% increase in sales, with traditional roast chicken proving particularly popular.
Despite the record crowds, authorities said there were no critical overcrowding incidents after security measures were tightened and efforts were made to encourage more visitors to attend on weekdays.
Serious accidents during festival
However, several serious and fatal accidents occurred during the 16-day festival.
On the final day, a 47-year-old Romanian employee was critically injured after being struck by a fairground ride and had to be resuscitated. Police are investigating why he was in a restricted area.
Earlier in the festival, a 52-year-old security worker died after becoming trapped beneath a gondola on a freefall tower.
A woman in her 90s also died in hospital six days after an accident involving a carriage horse. Her wheelchair became caught in the horse's harness as she attempted to pet the animal, causing her to fall.
Separately, two people were killed when a coach carrying a group to Oktoberfest overturned on the A96 motorway.
Crime and medical cases rise
Munich police recorded 845 crimes during the festival, up from 748 last year, while the number of police operations rose to 1,851. Authorities attributed much of the increase to the higher number of visitors.
Police also reported an increase in drug offences, particularly involving cocaine.
A total of 80 sexual offences were reported, eight more than in 2025. They included 52 cases of sexual harassment, while five suspected rapes were under investigation, the same number as last year.
Medical teams treated 8,409 people by midday on Sunday, a record and 23.2% more than last year. Some 40% were treated solely for alcohol poisoning.
The highest measured blood-alcohol level was 0.38%.
As usual, Oktoberfest's lost-property office collected thousands of abandoned belongings, including 1,050 items of clothing, 700 wallets and 400 mobile phones.
Among the more unusual finds were a dental night guard, a set of dentures, a 1.8-metre figure from a food stall and a large illustrated book about Tibet.
No comments:
Post a Comment