STORY: At 10:00 am (08:00 GMT) on Saturday (September 20) faithful Oktoberfest guests started running – as per tradition, guests stormed onto the ground of the biggest beer festival worldwide, to assure a spot in one of the festival tents where music is played and food and beer is served. The fairground covers 34.5 hectares and hosts a total of 468 service providers, according to the organiser.

Last year the organisers estimated 6.7 million guests (compared to 7.2 million in 2023). This year Munich is celebrating edition number 190 of the famous festival.

The Oktoberfest has its origins in a horse race that took place in 1810 to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

The public festivities on the Theresienwiese open ground - named after the bride - became more elaborate as time went on, with stalls and amusement rides which gradually turned into a folk festival. Now the event, starting middle to late September until the first Sunday in October, sees millions of visitors every year who consume a million litres of beers during their time at the festival.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MUNICH, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS, VISITORS RUNNING ONTO OKTOBERFEST GROUND IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHES TO SECURE GOOD SPOT IN FESTIVE TENTS

2. VARIOUS OF VISITORS BEING GUIDED BY GUARDS HOLDING METAL DETECTORS

3. OKTOBERFEST ENTRANCE

4. PEOPLE RUNNING THROUGH GATE

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS ONLOOKING

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING

7. PEOPLE RUNNING

8. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS STANDING AND PATROLLING THE GROUND

9. VARIOUS OF INSIDE FESTIVE TENT

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE BEFORE GROUNDS ARE OPENED

11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR ROMANA ROEDER FROM MUNICH, SAYING:

"We've been here since five in the morning, we're really looking forward to it. We want to go to the "Schotten." (NAME OF TENT) and watch the opening of the first barrel."

12. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR OLIVER ZOLLNER FROM DINGOLFING, SAYING:

"I think it's going to be amazing. Just nice and cosy, just like we are in Bavaria."

13. (SOUNDBITE) (German) VISITOR STEPHANIE SUAREZ-HERBST FROM MUNICH, SAYING:

"We're really looking forward to it, but the first thing we'll probably do is go to the loo, play cards and then wait until there's beer."

14. MEN WITH TRADITIONAL LEATHER TROUSERS STANDING IN LINE