Oktoberfest is reaching its halfway point in Munich as organisers prepare for a major influx of visitors from Italy. The traditionally busy “Italian weekend” falls on 26 and 27 September, raising questions about whether the festival grounds could again face temporary closure after severe overcrowding forced access restrictions in 2025.
Munich authorities and Oktoberfest organisers are monitoring visitor numbers closely this year. Their focus is not only on how many people arrive, but also on how long they remain inside the Theresienwiese festival grounds and how quickly crowds build in key areas.
Why the Italian weekend matters
The final weekend of September has become known as the “Italian weekend” because large numbers of visitors travel from northern Italy to Munich. The term has developed over several decades and does not refer to a single historical event or officially defined starting date.
Munich’s proximity to northern Italy helps drive the annual surge. Visitors can reach the Bavarian capital by car, coach or motorhome via the Brenner Pass, while regional holidays and long weekends in Italy make the timing attractive for short trips.
The cross-border character of the weekend is also visible at the festival itself:
- Munich newspapers may publish bilingual front pages.
- Italian Carabinieri help support communication and patrols.
- Fire crews from Bolzano assist Munich emergency services.
- Large groups of Italian visitors add to pressure on transport routes and festival entrances.
Oktoberfest crowd management after the 2025 closure
The main concern this year is whether Oktoberfest could again reach its capacity limits. During the middle Wiesn Saturday in 2025, overcrowding led to the temporary closure of access to the Theresienwiese.
Conditions became particularly difficult in parts of Wirtsbudenstraße, where the density of people reportedly left visitors unable to move freely in either direction. The incident highlighted the risks that can arise when large crowds converge in narrow spaces around popular beer tents and attractions.
A temporary closure is a crowd-safety measure rather than a cancellation of the festival. If entrances are restricted, the objective is to prevent additional people from entering until visitor numbers fall to a manageable level. The timing and extent of any such decision depend on conditions on the ground.
Munich increases use of cameras and AI-based monitoring
To identify dangerous crowd build-ups earlier, Munich is relying increasingly on surveillance cameras and software designed to track crowd movements with artificial intelligence. The technology is intended to help authorities assess visitor flows and recognise pressure points before they become critical.
Such systems can provide an overview of how people are moving through the grounds, but they do not remove the need for police officers, emergency crews and organisers to make decisions in real time. Physical barriers, entry controls and communication with visitors remain important parts of managing a major public event.
Oktoberfest organisers must balance several competing demands:
- Allowing visitors to enter and move around safely.
- Protecting access routes for emergency services.
- Preventing excessive pressure at entrances and busy streets.
- Keeping visitors informed if parts of the grounds become restricted.
Visitors are staying longer inside the festival grounds
Visitor behaviour is another factor complicating crowd management. An analysis of mobile phone data found that people who entered the festival grounds stayed for an average of 15 minutes longer than they did in 2025.
The longer dwell time means that visitor numbers can build even when arrivals remain steady. If people stay inside for longer, fewer spaces become available for new arrivals, increasing the likelihood of congestion at entrances and around the most popular areas.
The busiest period during the first week was recorded between 17:00 and 18:00 each day. That evening peak is particularly important because it coincides with the time when many visitors arrive after work or after spending the day elsewhere in Munich.
Could Oktoberfest close again?
The possibility of another temporary closure cannot be ruled out, particularly during the Italian weekend when visitor numbers are expected to rise. However, the available information does not confirm that the festival grounds will close.
Any restriction would depend on the level and distribution of crowds, the ability of people to move safely, and the capacity of police and emergency services to maintain access routes. Visitors planning to attend should be prepared for possible delays or temporary entry controls.
For those travelling from Italy or elsewhere in Europe, checking official announcements before heading to the Theresienwiese may help avoid unnecessary journeys. Public transport, roads and parking areas can also experience additional pressure during the busiest days.
What happens next
The Italian weekend will provide an important test of Munich’s crowd-management arrangements after last year’s disruption. Authorities will continue to watch visitor flows, with camera networks, crowd-tracking tools and on-site staff contributing to the assessment.
The key issue is whether arrivals and departures remain sufficiently balanced to keep the festival grounds safe. If crowd density becomes too high, temporary restrictions may be used again. If movement remains manageable, Oktoberfest can continue without a repeat of the 2025 access closure.
Oktoberfest enters its busiest period with no confirmed closure, but the experience of 2025 means crowd safety will remain the central concern. The combination of heavy Italian weekend travel, longer visitor stays and evening peaks makes real-time monitoring essential as Munich prepares for the latest test of its festival infrastructure.
