Oktoberfest Kicks Off in Munich — Green Mayor Dominik Krause Taps Keg Twice

The 191st Oktoberfest opened in Munich on Saturday as organisers expect more than 6 million visitors at the world’s largest beer festival. New Munich mayor Dominik Krause of the Greens successfully tapped the first keg with two hammer blows and declared the traditional Bavarian phrase, "O'zapft is" — "It is tapped."

Opening Ceremony
Krause, 36, had said earlier that his goal was "two to three" strikes; after the successful tap he handed the first litre of beer to Bavarian Premier Markus Söder of the conservative CSU — the first time Söder received the opening beer from a Green mayor. Cannon shots signalled the official start of the festival, and Krause and Söder toasted a peaceful Oktoberfest as tens of thousands of visitors who had camped out since morning began ordering their first beers.

Crowd, Weather and Atmosphere
Organisers described a calm, well-attended opening with mild, sunny weather. Oktoberfest director Christian Scharpf called it a "perfect start" as stars from sports and culture — including Bayern player Joshua Kimmich, Munich Philharmonic conductor Lahav Shani and pop star DJ Ötzi — joined the celebrations. The festival runs for 16 days until 4 October 2026 at Munich's Theresienwiese.

Prices and Practical Info
This year’s standard one-litre Maß ranges from €14.80 to €15.90 (about $17–$18.27), with an average price of €15.61 — a 2.38% rise from last year. Organisers point out that, by international standards, prices remain reasonable; free drinking-water fountains are available across the grounds.

A waitress brings beer to guests in the Hofbräuzelt after the keg is tapped. The 191st Oktoberfest will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, at Munich's Theresienwiese. (is associated with: «Perfect start to Oktoberfest as Munich's Green mayor taps keg twice») Felix Hörhager/dpa

Heightened Security Measures
Security has been tightened following dangerous overcrowding at last year’s festival. A new coordination centre will monitor visitor flows and enable intervention when needed. More than 50 AI-assisted cameras aim to detect potentially risky crowding early, and a dedicated crowdspotter will monitor flows on particularly busy days. Around 600 police officers and hundreds of private security staff are on duty, with support from a new drone expertise and defence centre.

Visitors face entry checks; knives and other dangerous objects are prohibited and a knife-ban zone surrounds the festival. Large bags and cannabis are banned, and authorities pledged tough action against upskirting — the secret filming or photographing under women's skirts.

Incidents and Medical Response
Opening-day reports recorded no major security incidents. The festival paramedics treated the first case of alcohol poisoning at about 3:45 pm, when a 19-year-old had to be carried off on a stretcher — organisers note that early alcohol-related admissions are not uncommon at large events.

Commemoration
For the first time, the mayor’s ceremonial carriage paused briefly at the festival’s main entrance to commemorate the victims of the far-right bombing at the Wiesn in 1980, when twelve visitors were killed and around 200 injured; the perpetrator, Gundolf Köhler, also died at the scene.

The Wiesn is expected to welcome visitors from around the world for traditional beer tents, fairground rides, Bavarian food and live music, with many attendees wearing dirndls and lederhosen.