Oktoberfest 2026 Ended With a Record 7.4 Million Visitors, Beating the Previous High by 200,000

Munich has declared Oktoberfest 2026 the most visited in its history. As the festival entered its final evening on Sunday 4 October, the city's official balance gave a total of 7.4 million visitors over 16 days, against 6.5 million in 2025, according to the city's Oktoberfest summary. Swiss broadcaster SRF notes that the previous record was 7.2 million in 2023.

More guests, more beer

Visitors drank 6.7 million litre mugs of beer, called Maß, up 2.7 percent from 6.5 million in 2025. The growth was uneven. Wheat beer sales rose 12.6 percent and alcohol-free beer rose 10.7 percent, while alcohol-free drinks overall rose 10 percent. Large tent operators reported food sales 2 to 3 percent higher, with poultry recovering.

The Oidn Wiesn, the traditional heritage section of the grounds, drew 447,000 visitors, up 24.2 percent from 360,000 last year. Weekday attendance was strikingly stronger, up 18.5 percent in the first week and 28.9 percent in the second.

Lost and found

The festival's lost property office recorded about 4,000 items, down 12 percent from last year. Among them were 1,050 pieces of clothing, 700 wallets, 450 identity documents and 400 smartphones, and about 850 items were returned to their owners. Staff also collected 105,000 beer mugs, compared with 112,000 in 2025.

Security and the official verdict

The city said the further developed security concept had proved itself, with about 1,400 security staff deployed across shifts and a maximum of 730 on duty at once, and safety zones in eight large tents. Mayor Dominik Krause called it "a picture-perfect Wiesn," peaceful, relaxed and in high spirits. Festival director Christian Scharpf said the Wiesn 2026 was the most visited in its long history, according to SRF.