Munich's Oktoberfest started on Saturday with the mayor tapping the first keg and declaring it open. Over 6 million visitors are expected over the 16-day festival ending October 4th. Prices for a liter of beer range from €14.80 to €15.90, reflecting a slight increase compared to last year. This year, authorities have installed AI-powered cameras and enhanced security measures including knife bans and entry checks to manage crowds and ensure safety.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, the 191st edition of Munich’s Oktoberfest began with Mayor Dominik Krause tapping the first keg of beer using only two strokes and declaring "O'zapft is" — meaning “It's been tapped.” The festival, which runs until October 4th, expects around 6 million visitors from all over Germany and the world. Revelers in traditional Bavarian attire filled the beer tents early morning to secure prime seating spots.
Alongside beer, popular delicacies include pretzels, pork roast, and sausages. To mitigate overcrowding issues from last year, authorities have implemented stricter security measures, such as deploying 600 police officers, installing AI-powered cameras to detect large crowds early on, and banning knives and drones.
Written for “Oktoberfest Munich Opens” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.
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Munich's Oktoberfest kicked off Saturday with the city's mayor tapping the first keg of beer and opening the 191st edition of the world's largest folk festival.
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mayor → see → festival
Mayor Dominik Krause put the first keg on tap with only two strokes and the traditional cry of 'O'zapft is' - or 'It's been tapped.'
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It → put → strokes
Thousands of revellers - the women dressed in Bavarian dirndls, the men in lederhosen - stormed the beer tents on Munich's Theresienwiese fairground in the morning to get a good spot on the benches.
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Thousands → dress → benches
To the sounds of brass music and the taste of freshly tapped beer, they soon started singing, dancing and swaying.
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they → tap → beer
Besides beer, pretzels, pork roast and sausages were also sought-after delicacies.
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pretzels → seek → beer
Over the course of 16 days, through October 4, some 6 million visitors are expected at the Oktoberfest.
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visitors → expect → Oktoberfest
Visitors will be charged between €14.80 and €15.90, or £12.50 and £13.65 for a 1-litre beer.
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Visitors → charge → beer
The average price of beers has risen by 2.38% compared with last year to €15.61, according to German news outlet DW.
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price → rise → DW
The majority of revellers come from Munich and southern Germany.
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majority → come → Munich
However, millions of guests also travel from other parts of Germany and from around the world.
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millions → travel → world
German authorities tightened security measures after the festival last year had to close temporarily due to overcrowding.
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festival → tighten → overcrowding
AI-powered cameras were installed for this year's festival to detect large crowds early on, the German news agency dpa reported.
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agency → power → crowds
A ban on knives and flying objects - especially drones - was also in effect.
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ban → fly → effect
There are entry checks, large bags are prohibited, and smoking marijuana is not allowed.
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smoking → be → marijuana
About 600 police officers are on duty around the festival in addition to Bavarian riot police, specialised pickpocket investigators, and international task forces from eight countries, dpa reported.
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dpa → report → countries
A waitress carries beer mugs at the Paulaner brewery tent during the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, 19 September 2026
The traditional beer and amusement festival runs from 19 September to 04 October 2026 at the Theresienwiese
Waitress carry beer mugs after the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept.19, 2026
Young people cheer after the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Sept.19, 2026
Thousands of revellers today stormed the beer tents on Munich's Theresienwiese fairground to get a good spot on the benches
Women react amid a crowd of attendees drinking beer during the official opening day of the 191st Oktoberfest
Visitors drink beer during Oktoberfest
Over the course of 16 days, through October 4, some 6 million visitors are expected at the Oktoberfest
A visitor receives one of the first mugs of beer served today
Visitors will be charged between €14.80 and €15.90, or £12.50 and £13.65
The majority of revellers come from Munich and southern Germany.
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majority → carry → Munich
However, millions of guests also travel from other parts of Germany and from around the world
German authorities tightened security measures this year to avoid overcrowding.
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authorities → travel → overcrowding
Pictured: Visitors gather on the day of the official opening of the 191st Oktoberfest
Parade participants riding in the carriage and raising their beer mugs during the opening parade of the 191st Oktoberfest
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Visitors → picture → Oktoberfest
Parade participants wearing traditional clothes wave from the carriage to the crowds around them during the opening parade for Oktoberfest
AI-powered cameras have been installed for this year's festival to detect large crowds early on
Visitors of the Oktoberfest 2026 rush from the entrances to the beer tents in the early hours of the morning after admission at 9 am
Visitors gather to get one of the first mugs of beer served during the official opening day of the 191st Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival in Munich, Germany, September 19, 2026
A waitress carries a tray with food on the day of the official opening of the 191st Oktoberfest
A visitor waits for the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich
People wear traditional costumes in the Oktoberfest parade at the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich
Gingerbread hearts with the lettering 'Du bist mein Superschatz' ('You are my greatest treasure') are being put on display for sale during the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich
Waitresses and waiters in traditional Bavarian dresses wait for the official opening of the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, southern Germany on September 19, 2026
Vsitors in traditional costumes run as the gates open for the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich
A crowd of attendees sits behind tables drinking beer
Musicians wear traditional costumes in the Oktoberfest parade at the 191st Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday
Visitors gather as the first beer is served at the Paulaner brewery tent during the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich
A selection of meals is displayed at the Paulaner brewery tent during the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich
A waiter carries mugs of beer
Bavaria's State Premier Markus Soeder (L) and the mayor of Munich Dominik Krause clink their beer mugs after the first barrel of beer was tapped with the traditional "O´zapft is!" (It's tapped!) to start Munich's annual beer festival
Attendees drinking beer enjoy the official opening day
About 600 police officers are on duty around the festival in addition to Bavarian riot police, specialised pickpocket investigators, and international task forces from eight countries, dpa reported
Tourists take pictures of the Oktoberfest parade
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Tourists → wear → parade
The Aporia
