New record as 7.4 million people visit Bavaria's Oktoberfest

This year's Oktoberfest in Munich attracted a record 7.4 million visitors, the city said, passing the previous record of 7.2 million set in 2023. 

"This makes the 2026 Wiesn the most visited in its long history," Oktoberfest director Christian Scharpf said on Sunday, using the local nickname for the event.

The crowds surged - and so did beer sales: A total of 6.7 million litres of beer was consumed, according to the city, 2.7% more than in 2025, when visitors glugged down 6.5 million litres.

Food vendors reported an increase in sales of 2-3%, saying that this was partly driven by sales of roast chicken.

Of the 7.4 million visitors, 447,000 also attended the Oide Wiesn, a part of the festival that recreates the Oktoberfest as it was a century ago.