Wiesen 2021 or Oktoberfest, the largest folk festival in the world, will not be held in Munich, Germany this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was announced yesterdayin a joint press conference with Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder and Munich’s Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter.

In the statement, Söder said there are three reasons they decided to cancel again this year: “First, the situation is too uncertain. We have an economic obligation here – a later cancellation of the Oktoberfest would be an economic loss.” The second reason is the potential damage to the Oktoberfest brand, which is recognized globally. The third reason is “an Oktoberfest with requirements such as mandatory masks and distances in the large tents would not be feasible and could lead to chaotic conditions.”

“It wasn’t an easy decision, but I have to make it now and I have done so,” Reiter said. He said that their responsibility for people’s health must take priority over an interest in celebrating.

Read the statement and watch the videos of Söder and Reiter’s comments at oktoberfest.de. The statement is in English, and the videos are in German.