Cologne Lights 2025: Return of the spectacular fireworks on the Rhine!

Cologne Lights 2025: Return of the spectacular fireworks on the Rhine!

The anticipation in Cologne is increasing because after a six-year break, the Cologne lights are finally back on Saturday, August 30, 2025. The popular event will take place on the banks of the Rhine and promises an unforgettable experience with music, fireworks and numerous ships. The event starts at 3:00 p.m. and the food stalls open on both sides of the Rhine so that visitors can fortify themselves in the afternoon. For everyone who would like to enjoy the atmosphere in advance, there will be many passenger ships leaving from the city center towards Porz until 7 p.m.

As verliebtinkoeln.com reports, the renowned Cologne Tanzbrunnen will not be part of the program this year, as the “City without Sea” festival is taking place there at the same time. Instead, the core event focuses on the music-synchronized fireworks display, which has the motto “The Phoenix Project” – a fitting symbol of the return of the event. The big fireworks display will be set off in the Cologne night sky at 10:30 p.m., which starts a little earlier for families than in the past.

Event details and access

Of course, some important information is available to the numerous visitors. The best places for the fireworks are on the Rhine Boulevard and the meadows between the Bastei and the Tanzbrunnen, where the view of the spectacle is unsurpassed. Parts of the Cologne Rhine bridges will be closed on the day of the event. The Deutzer Bridge will only remain open to pedestrians, while access to the main station will be divided into S-Bahn, regional and long-distance traffic. Auenweg, Opladener Straße and Mindener Straße are also no longer passable from 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The organizers recommend arriving by 7:00 p.m. at the latest to avoid unpleasant overcrowding. At Deutz train station in particular, full trains and long queues are expected after the end of the event. There are special parking options for cyclists: On the right bank of the Rhine, the meadow in front of the LVR building and the large parking lot below the Zoo Bridge are available, while on the left bank of the Rhine there is a space at Theodor-Heuss-Ring.

Tickets and sponsors

Special attention is also paid to tickets. Access to the banks of the Rhine is free of charge, but bleacher and boat seats must be reserved in advance. Depending on the equipment, ship tickets can cost between 130 and 220 euros, which is remarkable considering the number of ships taking part, because in 2025 only 24 ships will take part in the parade - significantly fewer than the 54 ships at the last event in 2019. This year the fireworks will be lit between the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Zoo Bridge, a great location for anyone who wants to be part of the Cologne lights.

The entire event is supported by major sponsors. The main sponsors are RheinEnergie AG, and other partners include Gaffel, Reissdorf and NetCologne. In addition, Mayor Henriette Reker has taken over the patronage of the 20th edition of the Cologne Lights, which gives the event additional weight.

Cologne awaits a return of the celebratory splendor on the banks of the Rhine, and the excitement is palpable. The Cologne Lights on August 30th - an event that is truly impressive and is waiting to be celebrated by young and old. So be there and make the most of a special evening! Further details can also be found on the official Cologne Lights website koelner-lichter.de.