Cologne Carnival — Session Opening 11.11.

11.11.2026 — Cologne Opens the Fifth Season

On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, it's that time again: Cologne celebrates one of Germany's oldest and most colourful city festivals — the Opening of the Cologne Carnival Session. From 9 AM onwards, revellers in colourful costumes gather on Heumarkt and Alter Markt in Cologne's Old Town to kick off the 2026/27 carnival session precisely at 11:11 AM with confetti rain, pyrotechnics, and the traditional festive cry.

2026 Programme — The Whole Day

9 AM — Warm-up with Greetings

Kick-off with welcomes from the President of the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval (Organising Committee of Cologne Carnival), the Lord Mayor, and city representatives. Carnival bands warm up the audience, and artists perform short sets.

11:11 AM — The Countdown

The most important moment: a joint countdown on stage, followed by the festive cry "Kölle Alaaf!", confetti cannons, pyrotechnics, and firework effects. From this moment on, the fifth season is officially open.

All Day — Stars of Carnival Music

On the main stage at Heumarkt and the second stage at Alter Markt, the greats of Cologne Carnival music perform:

• Bläck Fööss — the carnival institution since 1970
• Brings — Rock meets Carnival
• Höhner — the voice of Cologne's city spirit
• Kasalla — the young generation
• Cat Ballou, Klüngelköpp, Räuber, Paveier, and many more

The Dreigestirn 2026/27

The designated Dreigestirn (trio of rulers) for the 2026/27 carnival session — Prince, Farmer, and Maiden, who will be the official face of Cologne for the upcoming carnival period — makes its first appearance. The presentation of the Dreigestirn is one of the emotional highlights of the day.

Until 8 PM

The stage programme concludes around 8 PM with Cologne folk singing — the final notes of the traditional anthem "Mer losse d'r Dom in Kölle" by Bläck Fööss close the day.

Logistics

Two Large Screens

Two large screens are set up on Heumarkt, with a third on Alter Markt. This ensures that thousands of people in the back rows can also see the stage performances.

Safety and Rules

• Glass bottles prohibited — anyone bringing glass will be turned away
• No picnic wagons, no chairs, no large bags
• Awareness teams in purple vests are available to assist
• Guardy Alert app recommended for emergencies

Tickets

• Admission is generally free
• Reserved ticket seats: from €39
• Time slot tickets: €11.11 (for special stage areas)

WDR Broadcast

The WDR live broadcast begins at 10:30 AM and runs until approximately 4 PM — you can experience the countdown from home too.

Cologne Carnival — Germany's Greatest Volksfest Tradition

The Cologne Carnival is one of the largest and oldest city festivals in Europe. Its organised form dates back to 1823, when the Festkomitee Kölner Karneval was founded — the institutional foundation of modern carnival. The annual session begins on November 11th at 11:11 AM and ends six weeks before Easter on Ash Wednesday. Highlights include Weiberfastnacht (Women's Carnival Day), city parades, and the Rosenmontagszug (Rose Monday Parade), which is considered the largest carnival parade in the world with over 1 million spectators.

Heumarkt and Alter Markt — The Historic Stage

With approximately 16,000 m², the Heumarkt is one of the largest squares in Cologne's Old Town — right on the Rhine, with a view of Cologne Cathedral. During the Session Opening, it transforms into Cologne's largest open-air concert hall. The adjacent Alter Markt, with the traditional Rathaus (City Hall), has been the historic heart of the city since the Middle Ages — an ideal backdrop for the year's biggest Volksfest.