The world’s most famous beer festival kicks off this Sunday, September 21. Here’s what the six million visitors expected at Oktoberfest 2024 should know about security measures at the festival this year.

Munich prepares for 189th Oktoberfest

Following the recent knife attack in Solingen and attempted attack on the Israeli Consulate General in Munich, German police are planning widespread security measures at this year’s Oktoberfest.

Local authorities and police in Munich have announced they are well prepared for a “state of high abstract risk” on the Wiesn. Police director Christian Huber assured that “Oktoberfest is the safest Volksfest that there is” and that the police were aiming to reach “near 100 percent security”. 

Anyone visiting Germany for the festival need not be overly worried. Germany is an extremely safe country in general, including by comparison to European neighbours such as France, the UK and Italy, according to 2022 crime figures.

Of the crimes that are committed in Germany, pickpocketing and burglary are among the most common. But it is white-collar crime, including evading tax, fraud and money laundering, which is increasing at an alarming rate in the federal republic, up by 80 percent from 2019 to 2022.

Which security measures will there be on the Wiesn?

So if you are heading to the Wiesn this season, which kind of security measures should you be prepared for?

Firstly, the rule which will be relevant to perhaps the most visitors - bags brought into Oktoberfest cannot be larger than three litres and glass bottles are forbidden.

Alongside a knife ban, there will be a “dangerous belongings” ban at the festival, this includes anything that could injure someone, from a bread knife to a hammer or screwdriver. 

Since visitors will be checked when entering the festival, entrance may take a few minutes, according to Huber. For the first time, the 1.500 stewards at the festival entrance will also be equipped with hand-held metal detectors.

The Wiesn will be patrolled by around 600 police officers and an additional 200 officers at S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations in the surrounding area. 

Since a large number of Italians are expected to visit the festival this year, 200 Italian police officers will also aid patrols during the second and third weekends of the festival.

The Wiesn will be surveilled by 54 security cameras and patrolled with detection dogs daily, within 5,5 kilometres of the grounds there will be an air traffic ban in place and drones are also banned.

Oktoberfest visitors encouraged to report sexual harassment

Recent years have seen a rise in the number of sexual assault and harassment cases at Oktoberfest. While 55 cases of sexual harassment and three cases of rape were reported to the police at the 2022 festival, authorities suspect many further cases go unreported.

As such, Oktoberfest organisers are encouraging visitors to report sexual harassment and assault incidents “even at a low threshold” to the festival stewards, the same goes for racist abuse.

If you feel uncomfortable or at risk during the festival you can visit the Safe Space, where stewards can provide support, offer medical assistance if you think you have been spiked or help you get home safely with a voucher for a taxi. The Safe Space tent is located beside the Bavaria Statue and behind the Schottenhamel tent.

Cannabis will be banned at Oktoberfest 2024

Although Germany legalised cannabis for personal use on April 1, the drug will be banned at the 2024 festival.

Anyone found in possession of cannabis on the festival grounds faces a fine of between 500 and 1.500 euros, police have said.

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