Overview
- In late August the Teufelsrad operator had four roughly 80-year-old papier-mâché figures repainted after the city’s Gleichstellungsstelle suggested changes during the 2026 placement review.
- Alterations included adding long undergarments or leggings, shoes, and high-necked white blouses so the figures appear less revealing and one floral‑garlanded figure was given a toplayer under its lei.
- The city’s Wirtschaftsreferat said it consults the Gleichstellungsstelle and the Democracy office and acknowledged the operator’s efforts, while the operator says she complied out of fear of being excluded from the Wiesn.
- Teufelsrad staff had already tightened safety and privacy measures two years ago to fight upskirting by installing signs, cameras and offering bike shorts to riders.
- The change follows similar 2023 overpaintings and has provoked public and political dispute over whether municipal guidance protects visitors or imposes de facto censorship of long‑standing festival motifs.