Cologne Carnival 2027: Dates and Highlights of the Fifth Season

Welcome to Cologne Carnival 2027

Cologne Carnival, fondly known along the Rhine as the fifth season, turns the entire city into one big celebration from February 4 to February 10, 2027. Over several days, parades, sessions and spontaneous street parties spread across the whole city center, from the old town through Neumarkt to the bar districts around Zülpicher Strasse.

Highlights and Attractions at Cologne Carnival

• Weiberfastnacht on February 4 marks the official start of street carnival, traditionally at 11:11 in the morning
• Lively celebrations in bars and squares across the entire city center
• Schull und Veedelszöch on Carnival Sunday, a family friendly parade of schools and neighborhoods
• The great Rosenmontag parade on February 8, the peak of the season, watched by hundreds of thousands along the route
• Colorful costumes, sweets and flowers thrown from the parade floats into the crowd
• The traditional Cologne carnival cheer "Kölle Alaaf" echoes through every street
• The traditional burning of the Nubbel figure on Shrove Tuesday as a symbolic farewell to carnival

Program and Schedule: What to Expect in 2027

The carnival session formally begins on November 11, but the main street festivities are packed into the six days before Ash Wednesday. Weiberfastnacht is followed by Carnival Friday and Saturday, filled with sessions and smaller parades, before the Schull und Veedelszöch move through the neighborhoods on Sunday. The season closes on Wednesday, February 10, with Ash Wednesday, when the season of Lent begins.

Tickets and Admission for Cologne Carnival

Street carnival in Cologne is entirely free, there is no admission fee and no ticket needed for the parades or the festivities on the streets and squares. Visitors who want a reserved seat on a grandstand along the Rosenmontag parade route can book a paid seat through individual providers, though this is not required to take part in the celebrations.

Visitor Tips: Travel and Accommodation in Cologne

• Because of road closures and crowded parking garages, arriving by train or public transport is strongly recommended
• Early February weather in Cologne is often cold and wet, so warm and weatherproof clothing under a costume is a good idea
• Hotels in Cologne fill up quickly during carnival, so booking well ahead is advisable
• Anyone wanting a close view of the Rosenmontag parade should claim a spot along the route early, since it gets crowded fast