Munich deploys AI to manage Oktoberfest 2026 crowds as 6M visitors expected

Each autumn, Munich opens its ancient meadow to millions of pilgrims drawn by beer, brass bands, and the particular comfort of collective ritual — and for the 191st time, Theresienwiese will host that gathering beginning September 19. But last year's crowd crush, which stopped movement entirely and forced gate closures, reminded the city that tradition without foresight can become danger. In 2026, Munich answers with artificial intelligence watching over what six centuries of custom built, threading surveillance cameras and real-time density alerts through the same grounds where lederhosen and