Carnival 2026 in Cologne: ALAAF” - opening with 30,000 jesters on November 11th!

Carnival 2026 in Cologne: ALAAF” - opening with 30,000 jesters on November 11th!

The countdown is running! The new carnival session in Cologne starts on November 11, 2025 and promises to be a real highlight in the festival calendar. With the motto “ALAAF – Mer dun et för Kölle!” The 2026 session will usher in the anniversary years of the Cologne Carnival. The opening will take place at the Heumarkt, where around 30,000 happy people are expected. Loud 24rhine WDR will broadcast the session opening live on television, so that fans who stayed at home can also experience the spiritual start to the Cologne festivities.

There will be numerous events on the opening day to start the celebrations. In addition to the session start at Heumarkt, there is a big Cologne countdown at the Tanzbrunnen, where tickets are available from just 39.50 euros. The Lanxess Arena will also become a party zone, with entry prices starting at 53.50 euros. But be careful: Due to the high number of visitors on November 11th, there will be restrictions and diversions on the KVB buses and trains. So good planning skills are required here!

Important dates and highlights

The anticipation for the next few months increases with important dates such as January 9th, 2026, Women's Carnival on February 12th, 2026 and Rose Monday on February 16th, 2026. These two days are the absolute highlights of the carnival and promise countless unforgettable moments. Events such as the opening of the street carnival, which is already sold out, and the costume session in the Lachende Kölnarena, where tickets are available from 55.90 euros, are particularly popular.

Another highlight on Weiberfastnacht is the “Bock op Jeck” in the waiting room at the cathedral, which is available for 49 euros, and the “Ball Raderdoll” in the Hotel Pullman from 59 euros. In addition, the “AHOI carnival party” is celebrated on the event ship RheinMagie, where tickets start at 39.90 euros. The Rose Monday processions, which will parade through the city center on February 16th at 10 a.m., offer the best seats in spectator stands from 89 euros.

Cologne's carnival and the triumvirate

Another important aspect of Cologne Carnival is the traditional sweets known as camels. These range from caramel candies to chocolate to gummy bears, and the whole thing is enriched by Strüßjer - small bouquets of flowers that are distributed on the float or by foot groups. The exchange of Strüßjer for a Bützje, a kiss on the cheek, is a loving gesture that is firmly anchored in Cologne's carnival culture and underlines the joy and community among the Jecken Cologne.de emphasized.

The designated Cologne triumvirate for 2026 has also been determined: Prince Niklas I (Niklas Jüngling), Farmer Clemens (Clemens von Blanckart) and Virgin Aenne (Stefan Blatt) will be the faithful companions of the carnival. Your goal will be to fill the city and its citizens with cheer and joy as the streets transform into a colorful sea of ​​costumes and good cheer.

The Cologne Carnival remains a lively festival of tradition and togetherness, which will be celebrated again next year and is deeply rooted in people's hearts. The fun and good mood that this colorful custom brings with it should not be underestimated. In anticipation of the upcoming celebrations, there is a lot for everyone to plan and experience!