Munich's Oktoberfest Opens 191st Edition With Traditional Barrel Tapping
The world's largest beer festival began in Germany with crowds gathering in traditional dress as the mayor tapped the first keg.
The 191st edition of Oktoberfest opened in Munich, Germany, according to a photo gallery published by The Guardian's culture desk on September 19, 2026.
The festival, widely described as the world's biggest beer festival, drew large crowds on its opening day, the report said.
Images from the event showed attendees dressed in traditional Bavarian clothing, including lederhosen, alongside festival staples such as sauerkraut, The Guardian reported.
A central tradition of the opening was the tapping of the first barrel, a ceremonial moment that officially marks the start of the multi-week celebration each year, according to the gallery.
Oktoberfest, held annually in Munich, is known for drawing millions of visitors from around the world over its multi-week run, though specific attendance figures for this year's opening day were not detailed in the source material.
Sources
- Lederhosen, sauerkraut and tapping the first barrel: Oktoberfest 2026 opens – in pictures — The Guardian — Culture
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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