Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest came to a sudden halt on Saturday evening when police closed access to the Theresienwiese due to dangerous overcrowding. At 5:56 p.m., the Munich police announced on X (formerly Twitter): “The Oktoberfest grounds are now closed due to overcrowding. Do not come to the Oktoberfest.”
Announcements were also made in English and Italian to warn international tourists heading toward the site.
Sunshine draws record crowds
The closure followed an unusually warm late-summer day that attracted tens of thousands of people to the world’s largest folk festival. The surge left beer tents filled to capacity and walkways between rides, food stalls, and beer halls dangerously congested. Many visitors were unable to find seats, and crowds thickened rapidly across the festival area.
Visitors report panic in the crowd
According to eyewitnesses, some attendees panicked in the dense crowd, shouting for help and trying to push their way out of the throng. Police and organizers convened quickly and made the decision to block further entry in order to prevent dangerous crushes.
Controlled exit from the Wiesn
Loudspeaker announcements instructed visitors not to queue in front of the beer tents and guided them to leave the grounds calmly. Exits were managed to avoid bottlenecks, with officials directing people toward the main gate in the direction of Munich Central Station.
Authorities emphasized that the measure was necessary to protect public safety and that access would only reopen once conditions allowed.
