Munich's Oktoberfest Opens with Mayor Tapping First Keg

Munich's Oktoberfest opened on Saturday with the city's mayor tapping the first keg of beer, launching the 191st edition of the world's largest folk festival.

Mayor Dominik Krause needed just two strokes to put the first keg on tap, accompanied by the traditional cry of "O'zapft is" — Bavarian for "It's been tapped."

Thousands of revelers descended on the Theresienwiese fairground in the morning, women in dirndls and men in lederhosen, rushing into the beer tents to claim good spots on the benches. Brass music played as visitors sang, danced and swayed while sampling freshly tapped beer. Pretzels, pork roast and sausages were among the most sought-after foods.

The festival runs for 16 days through October 4, with some 6 million visitors expected. Most come from Munich and southern Germany, though millions more travel from elsewhere in the country and abroad.

Authorities have tightened security after last year's festival had to be briefly closed because of overcrowding. AI-powered cameras have been installed to detect large crowds early, and a ban on knives and flying objects — particularly drones — is in force.

Entry checks are in place, large bags are prohibited, and marijuana smoking is not allowed. Around 600 police officers are deployed around the festival, alongside Bavarian riot police, specialized pickpocket investigators and international task forces from eight countries.