Cologne Carnival

Name: Cologne Carnival
Start: 2025-02-26
End: 2025-03-04
Location: Cologne

A joyous festival where the entire city becomes a stage

2026/02/11 - 2026/02/17

Every winter, the city of Cologne is transformed as over a million people gather for the legendary Cologne Carnival (Kölner Karneval), filling the streets with color, music, and laughter. For six days leading up to Ash Wednesday, locals and visitors alike don creative costumes, shout “Kölle Alaaf!” and join one of Europe’s largest street parties. Whether you’re a first-timer or a local “Jeck” (carnival lover), it’s impossible not to get swept up in the infectious energy. Here, on the banks of the Rhine, everyone is free to experience pure joy and let loose.
From the Thursday kickoff to the spectacular Rose Monday Parade, Cologne Carnival is a celebration of freedom, creativity, and community spirit. For a few days, the city’s usual rules are joyfully suspended and anyone can become the star of the show.

Main Attractions

Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival Day) & Street Carnival

The festivities begin at 11:11 a.m. on Thursday, when the “crazy women” of Cologne are handed the keys to the city. Offices close early, men’s ties are snipped, and the Old Town erupts in music, dancing, and confetti. From this moment, the whole city becomes a non-stop party, with open-air concerts, spontaneous dancing, and pop-up bars filling every square and street. Wearing a tie? Expect it to be cut off-it’s a beloved tradition.

Rose Monday Parade (Rosenmontagszug)

The highlight is the Rose Monday Parade, when over 12,000 costumed participants and more than 70 floats march along an 8km route, cheered on by more than a million spectators. The crowd shouts “Kamelle!” (candy!) and “Strüßjer!” (bouquet!) as sweets and flowers rain down from the floats. The parade is famous for its satirical floats poking fun at politics and society, and for the “Dreigestirn” (Prince, Peasant, and Maiden) who lead the festivities. The air is filled with the sweet scent of candy, brass bands, drumlines, and the constant chorus of “Kölle Alaaf!” (“Cologne above all!”).

Costumes, Decorations & Nightlife

Costumes are essential at Cologne Carnival. From simple red noses to elaborate group outfits months in the making, creativity is everywhere. Expect to see clowns, pirates, giant bananas, and flocks of flamingos in a riot of color. Bars and pubs are packed with people singing carnival songs, and the city is decked out in red and white-Cologne’s colors. At night, concerts, balls, and satirical cabaret shows like “Stunksitzung” keep the party going until dawn.

Traditional Food & Drink

Fueling the festivities are Cologne’s beloved street foods: currywurst, kale with smoked sausage, and “halve Hahn” (rye roll with cheese). During the parades, an estimated 300 tons of candy and 700,000 chocolate bars are thrown to the crowds. Kölsch beer is served in tall, slender glasses, and schnapps is never far away. Everything is designed to be eaten on the go, so you can keep dancing and singing all day and night.

Cultural and Historical Background

The roots of Cologne Carnival go back to the Middle Ages, when people would chase away the harsh winter and celebrate before Lent with feasting, singing, and dancing-a tradition meant to welcome spring and new life. In Catholic regions, Carnival was a period of “release before restraint,” where masks and costumes allowed everyone to break free from social roles and unite as equals. In 1823, the Festordnende Komitee (“Festival Committee”) was founded, laying the foundation for the modern Carnival and organizing the first Rose Monday Parade. Since then, Carnival has become a symbol of Cologne’s pride and identity, a celebration of unity and freedom that has endured through turbulent times.

What makes the festival truly unique is its spirit of freedom, satire, and community. The “Dreigestirn” (Prince, Peasant, Maiden) preside over the festivities, while satirical floats lampoon politics and society, and Cologne’s distinctive dialect and humor are everywhere. The Carnival season officially begins at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, but the real climax is the “Crazy Days” of February. During this time, the city is filled with music, costumes, and laughter, with locals and visitors of all ages coming together as one community. Traditions like “Bützje” (cheek kisses) and the burning of the “Nubbel” effigy to absolve the sins of Carnival reflect Cologne’s spirit of tolerance, warmth, and the belief that “life is to be enjoyed.” Cologne Carnival is not just a costume party-it is a living cultural heritage that celebrates freedom, diversity, and solidarity.

Participant Voices

Arriving at Cologne Central Station at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, the official opening day of Carnival, I could feel the city’s energy was different. The platforms were already full of adults and children dressed as clowns, witches, superheroes, and animals. As I left the station, confetti swirled in the air and shouts of “Kölle Alaaf!” rang out-it felt like stepping into another world.

In the Old Town squares, live bands played carnival songs from early morning, and people linked arms and danced together. The smell of grilled sausages and currywurst drifted from food stalls, and even strangers toasted each other with tall glasses of Kölsch beer. By midday, the plaza in front of the cathedral was packed, with children collecting sweets and adults singing joyfully-the whole city had become one giant party.

As evening fell, the city lit up, and pubs and bars overflowed with costumed revelers. Everywhere, you could hear cries of “Kamelle!” (candy!) and spontaneous singalongs of carnival songs. Even in the crowds, I felt surprisingly safe and welcomed, with staff and security always smiling and helpful. I realized that Cologne Carnival isn’t just a costume party-it’s a living festival that unites the entire city.

Festival Dates

The Cologne Carnival officially opens every year at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, but the real “Crazy Days” run from the Thursday before Ash Wednesday to Violet Tuesday. The main event is the Rose Monday Parade, held in the city center.

The event schedule is subject to change. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.