Music · Carnival and Parade · Community

Cologne Carnival

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany The week before Ash Wednesday (February or early March)

Next edition 4–10 February 2027 Line-up, tickets and details
Website

At a glance

Size
Large (40k+)
Entry
Free with ticketed areas

About

Cologne Carnival is one of Germany's biggest street festivals. The season starts in November, but the main celebrations run from Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday before Lent, to the Rose Monday parade.

Costumes are everywhere, bars and streets fill with people singing carnival songs, and the Rose Monday parade throws sweets and flowers to huge crowds. Kölsch flows, the city's carnival societies hold sessions of music and comedy, and the cry of 'Kölle Alaaf!' rings out across the city.

Good to know

Camping and stays

  • Day only (no camping)

Editions

  1. 4Feb 27 Cologne Carnival 2027 4–10 February 2027

Organisers

Run this festival? Claim the listing to keep it up to date and add each year’s dates. Know the next dates? Send them to us.

Claim this festivalSuggest dates

Festival details can change from year to year. Check the festival's own site before you book.