Cologne Carnival (Kölner Karneval)

The Rosenmontagszug is the high point of the Cologne carnival: for about three and a half hours, floats, costumed corps and bands wind through the old town and past the cathedral, as the Dreigestirn – Prince, Farmer and Virgin – comes to the end of its reign. The parade sets off on Monday 8 February 2027 at 10 am on Severinstraße and finishes on Gregorius-Maurus-Straße. The day before, thousands of pupils and neighbourhood groups march along almost the same route in the Schull- un Veedelszöch. On Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday, a historic play about Jan and Griet is performed on Chlodwigplatz before the women's day parade. The 2027 session motto is 'Morje es, wat do drus mähs!'. Good to know: glass is banned in several central zones on the street-carnival days, and roads on the route close to traffic from around 5 am on the Monday – use trams and buses.