Overview
- Münich’s new mayor Dominik Krause performed the ceremonial Fassanstich with two strikes and handed the first Maß to Bavaria’s Markus Söder, a moment broadcast live on public TV.
- Organizers expect about six million visitors over the 16‑day festival and have set up a coordination and observation centre plus more than 50 AI‑supported cameras to detect dangerous crowding.
- Opening‑day crowds quickly filled walkways and led to temporary closures at several large tents as staff used entry controls and crowdspotters to manage flows.
- Medical teams treated more than 300 people by late afternoon for issues such as dizziness, a 19‑year‑old alcohol intoxication and a 25‑year‑old who broke his arm while arm‑wrestling.
- A ride malfunction briefly left riders hanging upside down for minutes before they were freed, and authorities say security and medical operations remain active as the festival continues.