It seemed likely, but now it’s official: Munich announced on Tuesday morning that Oktoberfest will not take place in 2020. 

Risk of coronavirus too great for Oktoberfest to take place

With the government’s announcement last week that all large events in Germany would remain prohibited until August 31, the status of the world’s largest beer festival (which famously, despite its name, begins in mid-September) was thrown into doubt. 

At 9 am on Tuesday, April 21, the Mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter and the Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder emerged together from the state chancellery with a solemn announcement. In a joint statement, they called off Oktoberfest, saying that the danger of causing a new wave of coronavirus infections was simply too great. 

Oktoberfest was due to start on September 19

Oktoberfest was due to take place between September 19 and October 4 on the Theresienwiese festival grounds in Munich. Last year, it was attended by more than 6,3 million visitors from all over the world.