City responds to councillors over journalist disinvited from Oktoberfest press conference

Munich's Department of Labour and Economic Affairs has explained why a journalist's confirmed place at the opening press conference for Oktoberfest 2026 on 31 July was withdrawn. The explanation came in response to a question from city councillors Dirk Höpner, Tobias Ruff, Kathrin Schäfer and Johann Sauerer of the ÖDP/BK/ML group, submitted on 30 July 2026.

The councillors said they had received a letter from the journalist. The press office's written reason stated that the event was open only to journalists "who are committed to neutral and objective reporting". The councillors said this vague accusation discredited the journalist's work and that it is not a public authority's job to judge whether journalism is neutral or objective. They also objected that selected guests of honour from among the Oktoberfest landlords, showmen and market traders, as well as the entire Committee for Labour and Economic Affairs, were entitled to attend. According to the councillors, the journalist has since complained to the Bavarian Journalists' Association.

In the reply from department head Dr Christian Scharpf, the department said the press conference at the Das Bad restaurant could only accommodate a limited number of guests, so a binding online registration process was used. The key criterion was that attendees work on editorial assignment for a journalistic outlet. Journalists register with their name, email address and the outlet or organisation they represent, and receive an automatic confirmation. The Oktoberfest press office then checks registrations and sends an automated rejection to those who registered without an editorial assignment or without naming an outlet.

According to the department, the person concerned had not stated any connection to an editorial team or any work as a freelance journalist when registering. After the person sent a photo of their press card and said they would attend as a freelance journalist, they were admitted.

The department said the wording about neutral and objective reporting was based on the preamble of the German Press Code and was used only descriptively, to distinguish the press from other media platforms not protected by press law. It said the city administration does not assess journalists' work. The city's Press and Information Office added that while the press has no general right of access to every public event, an authority that opens an event to journalists must treat media equally, may differentiate only on objectively justified grounds such as limited space, and may not exclude individual outlets simply because of critical reporting or their political leanings.