Unfortunately, the largest beer festival in the world cannot take place in 2020 due to the spread of Covid-19: Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder and Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter cancelled the Wiesn on April 21, 2020 in a joint press conference.

The risks are too high: why Oktoberfest 2020 had to be cancelled

In a joint declaration, Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder and Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter decided: The risk for the people is too high to let the Wiesn 2020 take place.

"It is about the biggest and most beautiful festival in the world", said Söder at the press conference in the Bavarian State Chancellery, but: "We are living in different times. And living with Corona means living carefully. The greatest sensitivity applies to celebrations."

The Oktoberfest lives from the atmosphere in the full tents, from many people celebrating together - but one has to take care of the Bavarian population and of course of the visitors from all over the world. In all likelihood, 2021 will see a particularly beautiful and intensive celebration together again: at the Oktoberfest from 18 September 2021.

Lord Mayor Reiter: “It's a sad day for me!"

"It's a quite sad day for me today," said Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter, "several hearts are beating in my chest." The fact that the Wiesn 2020 cannot take place is "a bitter pill to swallow", not only because of the many Munich residents and Bavarians who love their Oktoberfest so much, but of course also because of its economic significance for the city of Munich. The decision had not been taken lightly, but they no longer wanted to give the population hope.

"We hope that next year we can make it up together!"