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2h ago

Oktoberfest Ends With 6.5 Million Visitors as Munich Confronts Crowds and Bomb Threat

After acknowledging mistakes, the new Wiesn chief pledged real‑time headcounts plus crowd‑spotting in 2026.

Wiesn-Besucher drängen durch die Gassen des 190. Münchner Oktoberfest auf der Theresienwiese
Besucher des Oktoberfestes gehen im Regen über das Festgelände
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Overview

  • Festival officials reported about 6.5 million visitors and roughly 6.5 million Maß of beer, both down from 2024’s totals.
  • The grounds were closed multiple times, including a prolonged shutdown on October 1 for a bomb threat that led to hours of searches before reopening.
  • Two full-site closures for overcrowding drew criticism over confusing announcements, prompting on-the-fly fixes and the first use of a crowd‑spotter, with a shorter, better‑managed closure on October 3.
  • Emergency services treated around 6,824 patients, with about 40% over‑intoxicated, and medics cited early‑festival heat as a driver of cases.
  • Munich police logged 784 crimes and regulatory offences, including 72 sexual offences and 148 drug offences, describing the overall deployment as broadly average.