Munich opens 191st Oktoberfest with traditional barrel tapping

The 191st Oktoberfest has officially commenced in Munich, Germany. The festival began with the traditional ritual at the Theresienwiese, where the Mayor of Munich tapped a beer barrel with a wooden hammer to signal the start of the event.

Upon successfully inserting the brass tap, the Mayor declared “O’zapft is!” (It is tapped!) and called for a peaceful festival. The opening was marked by 12 cannon shots from the Bavaria statue. The celebration, which originated in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, is expected to attract over 6 million visitors.

Over the course of 16 to 18 days, the site features amusement rides and large tents serving millions of beer mugs and Bavarian pretzels. The festival remains a major cultural symbol of Bavarian identity and tradition.