Next: 4 to 9 Feb 2027
Cologne Carnival
Fasteleer: women cut ties on Weiberfastnacht, Rose Monday parades, costumes and Kölsch beer in the streets.
When is Cologne Carnival in 2027?
Cologne Carnival 2027 runs from 4 to 9 February 2027. Other years: 2026, 12 to 17 February 2026; 2028, 24 to 29 February 2028.
About Cologne Carnival
The Cologne Carnival, which locals call the fifth season, begins at 11:11 a.m. on 11 November and builds in the six days before Ash Wednesday. Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday, is when women take over the town hall and cut off the neckties of men. Streets and pubs fill with people dressed as clowns, pirates, animals and politicians, with a Kölsch beer in hand, singing local songs in the Cologne dialect. The three main figures, the Prince, the Farmer and the Maiden, known as the Dreigestirn, rule the festivities. On Rose Monday, Rosenmontag, a parade of three hours with floats and marching bands sees participants throw sweets, called Kamelle, and bouquets into the crowd. The cry is "Kölle Alaaf!". On Ash Wednesday, a ritual fish dinner closes the season.
Cologne Carnival dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Cologne Carnival date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 to 17 February 2026 |
| 2027 | 4 to 9 February 2027 |
| 2028 | 24 to 29 February 2028 |
What is eaten
- Berliner
- Kolsch
- Mutzen
- Fischessen
Traditions of Cologne Carnival
Also part of it, and being written: Kamelle (The sweets thrown.), Dreigestirn (The ruling trio of Cologne Carnival.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Cologne Carnival" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Rosenmontag: Aymx, Public domain, source