On September 27, it was once again time for the annual Oktoberfest mid-festival review. The first seven days at the Theresienwiese are over, and festival director Christian Scharpf’s initial assessment is extremely positive. Thanks to sunny late-summer weather , approximately 3.8 million visitors have been drawn to the grounds so far. That’s a noticeable increase compared to the 3.5 million guests from the previous year. Because the crowds were spread out mainly over the weekdays , the situation on the festival streets remained relatively relaxed and offered ideal conditions for strolling. Overall, an astonishing increase of 18.5 percent was recorded between Monday and Thursday. We’ll show you what developments and surprises shaped the first week of the festival !
These are the trends at the 2026 Oktoberfest
According to the Munich Brewers’ Association, there has been an interesting shift in beer orders this year. While sales of classic festival beer fell by 1.4 percent, the non-alcoholic version saw a 4.5 percent increase. Sour Radler—a mixed drink made from beer and mineral water—also emerged as a surprising trend. Wheat beer also enjoyed great popularity, with demand up 15 percent compared to last year. On the plates, fried chicken and bratwurst continue to dominate as undisputed classics, while vegetarian and vegan options are also seeing a slight increase.
At the souvenir stands , gingerbread hearts are drawing attention: International visitors, in particular, are having the Bavarian sayings translated . Edelweiss and pretzel pins—which indicate the relationship status of Oktoberfest visitors—are also in high demand. Surprisingly, there has been a decline in lost and found items compared to 2025: This year, 40 percent feweritems were turned in to the lost and found office. In addition to clothing, IDs, and wallets, a photo book about Tibet stands out as the craziest find so far.
Musically, no clear-cut long-running hit has emerged yet, but the duo GroßstadtEngel currently has the best chance of claiming the title of “Wiesn Hit 2026” with their song “Gute Laune.” There was also a true first : The organizer “Gostosinho” is bringing a Brazilian Oktoberfest party to the Munich Oktoberfest for the very first time.
The 2026 Oktoberfest Mid-Festival Report in Numbers
👥 Oktoberfest visitors: 3.8 million guests at the Theresienwiese
🍺 Beer consumption: Festival beer -1.4%, non-alcoholic beer +4.5%, wheat beer +15%
🔎 Lost and Found: 800 lost items, including 335 ID cards, 300 pieces of clothing, 210 wallets, 160 bank cards, 135 cell phones, and much more
🍻 Stolen beer mugs: So far, security staff have confiscated around 52,000 beer mugs.
