The Oktoberfest closed its 190th edition with a mix of celebration and unprecedented challenges. The festival lasted sixteen days, from September 20 to October 5, 2025, on the Theresienwiese. Despite temporary closures due to overcrowding and a bomb threat, the event delivered authentic Bavarian vibes, music, and millions of visitors.

It kicked off with the traditional barrel tapping by Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter on September 20 at 12 noon in the Schottenhamel Festhalle. Festival director Christian Scharpf described the event as a "rollercoaster Wiesn" during the annual press conference, reflecting the combination of high attendance, extreme weather, and security challenges. We have compiled the most important facts and figures about this historic edition.

Oktoberfest 2025 Dates

Sat, Sep 20, 2025, 12:00 PM – Sun, Oct 5, 2025

Oktoberfest 2025 Highlights at a Glance

How Many Visitors Attended Oktoberfest in 2025?

The number of visitors in 2025 was slightly fewer than the 6.7 million attendees in 2024. The opening weekend drew record crowds exceeding 500,000 visitors on Saturday alone, with multiple tent closures by 3 PM as Festzelte reached maximum capacity. The grounds were temporarily closed on the second Saturday due to overcrowding, marking the first such closure in Oktoberfest history. A bomb threat on October 1 led to another full closure until the evening. Oktoberfest crowds were as below:

Based on the above details, you can figure out the best time to visit Oktoberfest. 

The traditional Bavarian costume including Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women continued to unite everyone at the festival, with notably higher authenticity in traditional dress compared to previous years.

How Much Beer and Food Were Consumed at Oktoberfest?

Visitors consumed an estimated 6.5 million liters of beer in 2025, down from 7 million liters in 2024 and 7.4 million liters in 2023. This equated to roughly one Maß per attendee, reflecting more moderate drinking patterns. However, food sales rose significantly, with large festival tents reporting increases of 5-6% (excluding chicken), while smaller establishments saw increases of 3-4%.

The classic Bavarian Hendl (half chicken) remained the top choice, alongside vegetarian favorites like Kässpatzen (cheese noodles) and Rahmschwammerl (cream mushrooms) with dumplings. Sales of non-alcoholic beer increased between 6 and 10 percent, continuing a multi-year trend. Overall demand for non-alcoholic beverages, including soft drinks and water, rose approximately 3-10 percent, signaling changing consumer preferences.

What Were the Best-Selling Street Treats and Souvenirs?

The street vendors saw strong sales of classic Oktoberfest treats. Ice cream was particularly in demand on the first, very hot weekend with temperatures reaching 31°C. With cooler temperatures on following days, roasted almonds returned to lead sales. Security staff confiscated approximately 116,000 beer mugs during exit checks, up from 98,000 in 2024, preventing the annual tradition of souvenir theft.

How Many Lost and Found Items Were Recorded?

The lost property office saw a significant increase in lost items this year, with 4,500 belongings registered—approximately 10% more than in 2024. Traditional dirndl aprons topped the clothing recovery list with 120 items left behind in tents. Lederhosen suspenders, hats, and shoes filled the lost item storage. Organizers successfully reunited approximately 900 items with their owners on site.

What Was the Cost of Beer and Utilities in 2025?

The price for a liter of beer at Oktoberfest 2025 ranged between €14.50 and €15.80, reflecting an average increase of approximately 3.5% compared to 2024. Only six Munich breweries are allowed to serve beer at the festival: Augustiner-Bräu, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, Löwenbräu, and Hofbräu. Each brewery operates its own beer tent and follows strict purity laws, ensuring high-quality beer.

The drinking water fountains were used a total of 112,000 times, consuming around 130 m³—significantly higher than last year's 84 m³. The festival generated 764 tons of waste, about 12% less than the previous year due to improved waste sorting measures and reduced attendance. Overall, Oktoberfest 2025 generated over €1 billion for Munich's economy through direct festival spending, hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, retail purchases, and transportation.

What New Attractions Were Introduced at Oktoberfest 2025?

The event introduced several new features for its visitors this year to add to the fun and excitement. Here is what was new at the Wiesn in 2025:

New Attractions and Rides

• Sky Lift Observation Tower: The festival's centerpiece addition, featuring four glass gondolas that transport guests 71 meters above Theresienwiese. Special floor windows provide aerial views of festival grounds below. Barrier-free access accommodates wheelchair users and families with strollers.

• Happy Sailor: A classic roundabout from 1979, currently the only remaining seaside funfair in Germany. With its octagonal design and 20 boat-shaped gondolas, it accommodates up to 40 people with rapid up-and-down motion. Children as young as eight can ride alone.

• Montgolfiere: A children's high-rise carousel that spreads nostalgic flair with its hot-air balloon design. The gondolas move gently up and down on a mast to a flight height of 8.5 meters.

• Ghost Cave (Geisterhöhle): A classic ghost train from 1965 returned to the Oide Wiesn, marking the historic section's first ghost train. The attraction offers family-friendly horror with elaborately designed spooky scenery and traditional special effects.

Digital and Payment Innovations

• Cashless Payment Expansion: The number of businesses accepting card payments grew to approximately 160 in 2025. The Armbrustschützenzelt tested new mobile payment terminals, and for the first time, cashless payment was possible in the crossbow shooting tent.

• Münchner Stubn (First Cashless Tent): Revolutionized festival payment systems as Munich's first fully cashless beer tent, accepting only card payments including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and traditional credit cards.

• Web2Wallet System: Munich's public transport authority launched this system allowing festival-goers to buy and store transit tickets digitally, with no app downloads or account registration required.

Sustainability and Accessibility Enhancements

• Drinking Fountains: Building on previous successes, the number of drinking fountains was maintained at ten, with installations at the Oide Wiesn. New fountains were also opened at St.-Pauls-Platz and at the Theresienwiese subway station toilet facilities.

• Accessibility Maps: Following the introduction of individual maps of the large festival tents in 2024, maps of small festival tents followed in 2025, showing barrier-free entrances, wheelchair-accessible seating, and accessible toilets using the what3words location system.

Cultural Programming

• Museum Exhibition: "Every Picture a Hit! Photography at the Fair" in the Museumszelt at Oide Wiesn showcased the development of fairground photography from its beginnings in the 19th century to the digital present.

• Music Competition: "A Liad für'd Wiesn" music competition introduced new festival music. "Wackelkontakt" by Oimara and "Bella Napoli" by Roy Bianco and the Abbrunzati Boys were popular favorites.

• Isarschänke Weißbiergarten: A new traditional beer garden run by the Dräger-Kübler family, featuring a fountain and a monk who pedals back and forth on a rope stretched over the beer garden.

Oktoberfest 2025 Safety and Incidents

Generally, Oktoberfest is safe by the 2025 edition faced unprecedented security challenges. On October 1, a bomb threat led to the temporary closure of the Theresienwiese grounds until the evening—one of the rare instances in the festival's history where operations were halted. The grounds were also temporarily closed on the second Saturday due to overcrowding, marking the first such closure in Oktoberfest history.

First aid stations treated 28% more cases compared to 2024, primarily alcohol-related injuries, dehydration, and minor accidents—largely due to the opening weekend's 31°C heat. The Sichere Wiesn (Safe Wiesn) campaign continued to operate dedicated safe spaces for women and girls facing harassment or danger. Security measures included bag checks at all entrances enforcing the 3-liter capacity limit, prohibiting backpacks, large purses, and dangerous items.

Final Words

Oktoberfest 2025 proved to be a historic "rollercoaster" edition that tested the festival's resilience while showcasing its enduring appeal. Despite unprecedented challenges including extreme weather, overcrowding, closures, and security threats, the 190th Wiesn successfully balanced traditional Bavarian heritage with modern innovations. The blend of ceremonial traditions, authentic Tracht, Munich brewery excellence, and inclusive celebrations honored 215 years of continuous festival history while adapting to contemporary expectations.

As the tents come down and the streets are quiet, Munich now looks ahead to Oktoberfest 2026, scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2026, where new memories and records await. Official themes and schedules will be released by the officials in the months leading up to the event.