Oktoberfest gets underway in Munich as authorities turn to AI-powered cameras to help handle the 6million visitors

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.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.'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. To the sounds of brass music and the taste of freshly tapped beer, they soon started singing, dancing and swaying.Besides beer, pretzels, pork roast and sausages were also sought-after delicacies.Over the course of 16 days, through October 4, some 6 million visitors are expected at the Oktoberfest.Visitors will be charged between €14.80 and €15.90, or £12.50 and £13.65 for a 1-litre beer. The average price of beers has risen by 2.38% compared with last year to €15.61, according to German news outlet DW. The majority of revellers come from Munich and southern Germany. However, millions of guests also travel from other parts of Germany and from around the world.German authorities tightened security measures after the festival last year had to close temporarily due to overcrowding. AI-powered cameras were installed for this year's festival to detect large crowds early on, the German news agency dpa reported.A ban on knives and flying objects - especially drones - was also in effect. There are entry checks, large bags are prohibited, and smoking marijuana is not allowed. 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. A waitress carries beer mugs at the Paulaner brewery tent during the opening of the 191st Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, 19 September 2026The 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. 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. 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 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 MunichA 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 festivalAttendees 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