Schwarzenegger directs a band at Munich's Oktoberfest
Former California governor leads a Bavarian band in a beer tent, flanked by Heather Milligan and son Christopher
Arnold Schwarzenegger spontaneously directed a live music band in a Munich beer tent at Oktoberfest on Friday night, waving a baton as he led the musicians and the singing crowd.
The Austrian-born actor, famed for roles in The Terminator, Total Recall and True Lies, wore a traditional Bavarian-style leather jacket, a buttoned-down shirt and jeans. He was accompanied by his partner Heather Milligan and his son Christopher. Afterward, he posed for selfies with the musicians, according to the German news agency dpa.
Schwarzenegger has visited Oktoberfest and Bavaria on multiple occasions, including in past years, and has been welcomed in the Marstall and other tents during previous trips. His appearance at this year’s festival adds to a long-running pattern of high-profile visits to the world’s largest folk festival.
In 2024, he was stopped for hours by customs at Munich Airport after entering Germany with a luxury watch that authorities said could be auctioned at a charity event. The incident underscored his ongoing ties to Germany and to philanthropic efforts backed by celebrities.
Oktoberfest began Sept. 20 and runs through Oct. 5. The world’s largest beer festival typically attracts up to 6 million visitors, drawing a mix of locals and international guests who pack tents across Munich’s Theresienwiese.
The moment of spontaneous baton-waving by a former governor and action star underscores Schwarzenegger’s enduring public profile in entertainment and across German-speaking audiences.