Munich Celebrates Oktoberfest 2026 With Festivities and Cheers
WHO:
DW.com - Bavarian Premier Markus Söder received the first liter of beer from Mayor Dominik Krause.
ABC News - International task forces from eight countries are deployed at the festival.
ABC News - Mayor Dominik Krause tapped the first keg at Oktoberfest 2026.
ABC News - Thousands of revelers attended the festival, dressed in Bavarian dirndls and lederhosen.
WHAT:
DW.com - A 1-liter beer costs between €14.80 and €15.90 ($17–$18.27) this year, with an average price of €15.61, reflecting a 2.38% increase from the previous year.
DW.com - The average price of a liter of beer has nearly quintupled since 1985, when it cost about 6.25 deutschmarks, equivalent to €3.20.
ABC News - The majority of the expected 6 million visitors come from Munich and southern Germany, with millions traveling from other parts of Germany and around the world.
ABC News - Oktoberfest 2026 is the 191st edition of the world's largest folk festival.
ABC News - The festival is expected to attract around 6 million visitors over the course of 16 days.
ABC News - The traditional cry “O’zapft is” was used to announce the tapping of the first keg.
ABC News - Popular delicacies at the festival include beer, pretzels, pork roast, and sausages.
WHERE:
ABC News - The festival is held at the Theresienwiese fairground in Munich, Germany.
WHEN:
DW.com - Oktoberfest 2026 officially opened at noon on Saturday.
ABC News - Oktoberfest runs through Oct. 4, 2026.
WHY:
ABC News - German authorities tightened security measures due to overcrowding issues from the previous year.
HOW:
DW.com - Mayor Dominik Krause practiced for the keg tapping with a personal tapping coach.
ABC News - In addition to 600 police officers, Bavarian riot police, and specialized pickpocket investigators, international task forces from eight countries are present at the festival.
ABC News - AI-powered cameras were installed to detect large crowds early.
ABC News - A ban on knives and flying objects, including drones, was implemented.
ABC News - Entry checks were conducted, large bags were prohibited, and smoking marijuana was not allowed.
ABC News - Approximately 600 police officers, along with Bavarian riot police and specialized pickpocket investigators, were deployed around the festival.
(UPDATED September 20, 2026 01:22 UTC)
Oktoberfest 2026 officially opened at noon on Saturday, with Bavarian Premier Markus Söder receiving the first liter of beer from Mayor Dominik Krause. This year, a 1-liter beer costs between €14.80 and €15.90, averaging €15.61, which marks a 2.38% increase from last year and nearly five times the price since 1985. Mayor Krause prepared for the ceremonial keg tapping with the help of a personal tapping coach to ensure a smooth start to the festivities.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 16:57 UTC)
International task forces from eight countries are deployed at the festival, ensuring a heightened level of security for the expected crowd. With around 6 million visitors anticipated, the majority will come from Munich and southern Germany, while many others will travel from various parts of Germany and across the globe. Alongside 600 police officers, Bavarian riot police and specialized pickpocket investigators are also on hand to maintain safety during the event.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 16:01 UTC)
Oktoberfest 2026 kicked off with Mayor Dominik Krause tapping the first keg at the Theresienwiese fairground in Munich, marking the 191st edition of the world's largest folk festival. Thousands of revelers, dressed in traditional Bavarian dirndls and lederhosen, are expected to enjoy popular delicacies like beer, pretzels, pork roast, and sausages over the next 16 days, with an anticipated attendance of around 6 million visitors. In response to overcrowding issues from the previous year, German authorities have tightened security measures, deploying approximately 600 police officers and implementing a ban on knives and flying objects, while also using AI-powered cameras to monitor crowd sizes.