The 191st Oktoberfest officially began in Munich on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with Mayor Dominik Krause tapping the first barrel of beer during the opening ceremony, as crowds gathered for the world's largest beer festival.
Opening ceremony highlights
Photographs from the event show Mayor Krause performing the traditional first tap at the Paulaner brewery tent, where staff members had prepared the barrel beforehand. Visitors were seen queuing to sample beer from the first barrel immediately after the ceremony.
Attendees in traditional dress cheered with their beers, and young people were captured celebrating the official opening. The festival also featured a parade that included the Löwenbräu horse-drawn carriage, people in traditional attire, and musicians wearing traditional costumes.
Festival atmosphere and traditions
Images show crowds at the Löwenbräu festival tent, with people running to claim seats in the beer tents. A waitress was photographed skating to work prior to the opening, and another waitress was seen carrying beer mugs. Gingerbread hearts with the lettering 'Du bist mein Superschatz' ('You are my greatest treasure') were put on display for sale.
The Paulaner brewery tent displayed a selection of meals, and a waiter was photographed carrying beer mugs during the opening. Attendees also took selfies as they enjoyed the official opening day.
Photographic coverage
The photographs were taken by Anna Szilágyi (EPA), Fariha Farooqui (Reuters), Angelika Warmuth (Reuters), Matthias Schräder (AP), and Johannes Simon (Getty Images). The coverage was published by the Guardian on 19 September 2026.
The 191st Oktoberfest continues in Munich, with the festival expected to draw millions of visitors over its duration, maintaining its status as the world's largest beer festival.
