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Munich Oktoberfest 2026: Record attendance and safety crises

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2026-10-05 07:55 UTC → 2026-10-05 11:13 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 191st Oktoberfest at Munich’s Theresienwiese has concluded, setting a new attendance record with 7.4 million visitors, surpassing the previous high of 7.2 million in 2023. Festival director Christian Scharpf noted that this makes it the most-visited edition in the event's history. Despite a shorter 16-day duration, beer consumption rose to 6.7 million liters, a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year, while food sales saw a modest rise of two to three percent. Additionally, there was a 10 percent increase in the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages, specifically sour Radler. From a branding perspective, Paulaner brewery manager Florian Schörghuber noted that while the festival accounts for less than 0.5 percent of total revenue, it contributes significantly to the brand's global identity. However, the record-breaking festivities were marred by several serious safety incidents and fatalities. On the final day, a 47-year-old Romanian worker was critically injured and required resuscitation following an accident on a ship swing ride at the Oide Wiesn. This followed a fatal accident earlier in the week where a 52-year-old security worker died after being trapped under a gondola at a free-fall tower. Other tragedies included the death of a woman over 90 years old, who died in the hospital after her wheelchair became entangled in horse harness equipment while she attempted to pet a horse at the Oide Wiesn. Additionally, a bus carrying Filipino nationals traveling from Italy to the festival overturned on the Autobahn 96 near Buchloe, resulting in two deaths and numerous injuries. Beyond physical accidents, Munich Police reported a 15 percent increase in total operations, totaling 1,851 incidents. Reported crimes and offenses rose to 845, driven largely by increases in drug law violations and sexual offenses.

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