Munich to Deploy AI‑Powered Cameras for Safer Oktoberfest

Munich authorities announced a new safety system for the 191st Oktoberfest after last year's crowd crush that forced a temporary closure when about 300,000 visitors gathered on the second Saturday. A dedicated coordination unit will be created to improve communication between police, city officials and festival organizers. The unit will use AI‑enabled cameras to monitor crowd density in real time, automatically flagging areas where the crowd becomes too dense and triggering alerts to prevent dangerous overcrowding.

Festival chief Christian Scharpf said the measure is essential for visitor safety. In addition, traditional Bavarian brass music will start an hour earlier in beer tents to encourage foreign tourists to attend on weekdays rather than peak weekend days. The event, opened by new mayor Dominik Krause of the Green Party, will begin on 19 September with the customary tapping of the first keg and the cry “O’zapft is!”.