The operator of the Teufelsrad, a traditional spinning ride at Munich’s Oktoberfest, has been distributing free cycling shorts to female passengers to prevent voyeuristic filming. Elisabeth Polaczy, the 80-year-old operator of the attraction, stated she has provided more than 100 pairs of shorts during the 16-day beer festival, which concludes on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2026. Polaczy said she has been handing out the shorts for the past three years. The move follows reports of thousands of videos of women on the ride being circulated on social media platforms.
The Teufelsrad, or "Devil’s Wheel," is a rotating circular platform that spins at increasing speeds until riders are thrown off. Because the motion often causes skirts and traditional dirndl dresses to fly up, the ride has become a target for upskirting—the act of taking sexually intrusive photos or videos under a person's clothing without consent. Local broadcaster BR reported that some videos have been digitally altered to make women appear naked. Investigations by BR identified professional YouTubers from Ukraine and individuals from Bavaria as being behind several of these recordings.
According to the Munich-based daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, at least 32,000 such videos are currently in circulation, with some reaching millions of views. One specific clip reportedly generated €9,000 (£7,650) in revenue for its uploader. Filming under skirts was criminalized in Germany in 2020 and carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Bavarian police reported that they have conducted a poster campaign since 2025 to warn visitors that upskirting is a crime. Police arrested a 45-year-old Swiss man this year for allegedly filming under a woman’s dress; 10 arrests were made for the same offense last year and seven in 2024.
Waitresses at the event have also reported wearing cycling shorts under their uniforms for protection. The city of Munich has banned live streaming from the festival grounds and now requires influencers and content creators to obtain paid permits to film. Hundreds of these licenses were issued this year to those who earn money through product placement or sponsorships.
Josephine Ballon, who heads the non-profit Hate Aid, stated that while new legislation is being planned, current laws only apply when filming occurs "under the skirt," which may leave a legal gap when a skirt flies up naturally and is photographed. The 191st Oktoberfest concludes on Oct. 5, 2026.