Cologne triumvirate 2026: Volunteering in focus – This is how the prince, the farmer and the maiden rule!

Cologne triumvirate 2026: Volunteering in focus – This is how the prince, the farmer and the maiden rule!

An exciting year is coming for the Cologne Carnival: The designated triumvirate for the 2026 carnival session has now been officially presented. In the cozy rooms of the Cologne-Brück Volunteer Fire Department, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, Prince Niklas I (Niklas Jüngling), Farmer Clemens (Clemens von Blanckart) and Virgo Aenne (Stefan Blatt) came into the spotlight. The trio belongs to the traditional Prinzen-Garde Köln 1906 e.V., one of the oldest carnival companies in the city, and brings a lot of experience with them.

Niklas, the 32-year-old insurance expert from Lindenthal, is not a newcomer to the carnival scene. He has already made a name for himself as the moderator of the “Prinzenschwof” event series and has been a member of the Prinzen-Garde since 2016. Farmer Clemens, 41, a self-employed property manager from Junkersdorf, is also firmly rooted in Carnival. As a family man and standard bearer for the Corps à la Suite, he is also involved in the club magazine “Depesche”. Jungfrau Aenne, 40 years old and coordinator at Ford, has been part of the foot corps since 2012 and has headed the Guard's finances since 2022.

The motto of the session: Volunteering in focus

The 2026 session in Cologne starts with a new motto: “ALAAF – Mer dun et för Kölle”. The focus is on the many volunteers who form the backbone of the carnival. Christoph Kuckelkorn, President of the Cologne Carnival Festival Committee, emphasizes that the focus is not only on the around 30,000 carnivalists on the festival committee, but also on all Cologne residents who volunteer. This message was revealed last year during the Rose Monday procession by parade leader Marc Michelske.

Kuckelkorn emphasizes that volunteering is a special feature of the Cologne Carnival, in contrast to other commercial festivals such as in Rio or Venice. All over the city people are involved in sports clubs, churches and charitable organizations. The current triumvirate also made a plea for voluntary support in order to recognize the important role that these people play in the Cologne Carnival.

An unforgettable year ahead

The 2026 session will not only be filled with lots of joy and hustle and bustle, but also with numerous activities to honor volunteers. The official proclamation of the triumvirate will take place on January 9, 2026, and by Ash Wednesday Niklas, Clemens and Aenne will lead the city into carnival. With their committed performances and clear focus on volunteerism, this session will certainly be an unforgettable experience for all Cologne residents.

Overall, the anticipation is now great and the city is preparing for a year that will once again shine a light on the importance of community and commitment for Cologne.

For more information about the new faces of the Cologne Carnival and the planned activities, you can read here: 24rhine, Erftkreis News, and Review online.