Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Oktoberfest - statistics & facts
The Oktoberfest – colloquially known as "d’Wiesn" – is the largest folk festival in Germany. Despite its name hinting at the tenth month of the year, the Oktoberfest starts on the Saturday after September 15th. Originally, the event did take place in October. However, it was eventually moved to September due to the better weather conditions. The Oktoberfest's venue is Munich’s Theresienwiese. Since its inception in 1810, the occasion has grown in popularity to attract not only German nationals but also visitors from around the world. In 2023, around 7.2 million people took part in the 189th iteration of the Oktoberfest, which was the highest attendance recorded since 1980. However, an online survey conducted in September 2024 discovered that nearly half of German respondents had never been to the Wiesn and were not interested in doing so.
What do visitors expect at the Oktoberfest?
The Oktoberfest is mostly a beer festival and serves as a showcase for Munich's six traditional breweries. In 2024, the price of a beer stein – corresponding to one liter of beer - varied from 14.1 to 17.4 euros. But beyond beer, the event also promotes a large assortment of entertainment and activities, such as games and ball tossing. The event celebrates the traditions of the region through its beer, food, and even outfits. Oktoberfest visitors usually wear the traditional costumes: Dirndl for women and Lederhosen for men. However, some traditions have evolved to keep up with current demand. One example of this is the vegan variant of the Munich specialty Weißwurst – white sausage – which was offered for the first time at the Oktoberfest in 2022.Is the Oktoberfest safe?
Large-scale celebrations such as the Oktoberfest can sometimes involve behavior which requires police intervention. In 2023, there were a total of 1,854 criminal offenses at the Wiesn, with drunk driving constituting the largest share of them. When it came to medical emergencies, there were more than 8,000 people who required special attention at the Oktoberfest in the same year. Since 1999, there have been an average of 1,835 police deployments during those days in Munich, ensuring the authorities can handle the situation speedily when necessary.
