The 190th edition of the Oktoberfest in Munich concluded with around 6.5 million visitors, a strong turnout but still well below the record of 7.2 million recorded in 2023 (inside.beer, 4.10.2023). According to Tagesschau, the 16-day festival faced several disruptions, including temporary closures due to overcrowding and a bomb threat that led to heightened security measures..
Although final figures are not yet available, a ZDFheute interim report at mid-festival registered 414 police incidents, up from 317 in 2024. This increase included a sharp rise in drunk-driving offences, particularly those involving E-scooters, which climbed from 164 to 285 cases. ZDFheute also noted a 10 % rise in non-alcoholic beverage consumption (such as water and Spezi), suggesting that guests paced themselves under warm, changeable weather conditions.
Christian Scharpf, Munich’s festival director, described this year’s Wiesn as a “roller-coaster,” acknowledging that crowd management and communication during the shutdowns could have been handled more smoothly. Despite these challenges, the overall mood among visitors remained upbeat, and beer consumption was strong, though slightly below expectations given the high attendance.
Industry observers noted that while the visitor figures underline the Oktoberfest’s continued global appeal, the interruptions likely dampened beer-tent revenues and reduced the potential for record beverage sales. Several tent operators reported slower periods on key weekends, highlighting the growing complexity of balancing safety, logistics, and capacity at major festivals.
The event also reaffirmed the Oktoberfest’s significance as a barometer for the German and international beer markets. With more than 120,000 seats across its tents and an ever-increasing share of international tourists, the Wiesn remains a vital showcase for breweries and hospitality suppliers — even as it adapts to tighter regulations and shifting consumer behaviour.
