Germany's Oktoberfest beer festival will be cancelled this year for the second year running due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder said Monday. 

"In the classic beer tents at the big festivals, social distancing, masks and other measures are practically impossible to implement," he said after talks with Munich mayor Dieter Reiter.

The Oktoberfest attracts around six million visitors to Munich every year, with many travelling from abroad. This year's Oktoberfest was scheduled to take place from September 18 to October 3.

(With input from Reuters and AFP)