Deepejasser Kirmes

Deepejasser Kirmes — Cologne Neighbourhood Festival with Cult Status

The Deepejasser Kirmes is one of the most distinctive neighbourhood festivals in Cologne's city centre. Deepejasser — a local dialect corruption — refers to the Mauritius quarter between Mauritiussteinweg and Pantaleonstraße. The Kirmes takes place every year on the weekend after Corpus Christi on Mauritiuskirchplatz in the Altstadt-Süd (South Old Town). In 2026, the 59th edition runs from June 5th to 7th.

Three Days, Three Moods

Like other neighbourhood festivals, the Deepejasser Kirmes has a clearly structured three-day programme with different target groups each day:

• Friday, June 5th, 2026 from 5:30 PM — Jazz and Blues Evening: musical opening with live bands
• Saturday, June 6th, 2026 from 2:00 PM — Senior Citizens' Honour and Main Stage Day: ceremonial honouring of deserving residents of the Mauritius quarter, with dance music in the evening
• Sunday, June 7th, 2026 from 2:00 PM — Family Day: children's programme with face painting, games, and young artists

Mauritiuskirchplatz — A Picturesque Setting with Character

Mauritiuskirchplatz is located in the south of Cologne's city centre, next to the Romanesque church of St. Mauritius (12th century) of the same name. The neighbourhood, with its narrow alleys, small corner pubs, and residential character, is perfectly suited for a neighbourhood festival — not a large tourist event like Carnival on the Ring roads, but an authentic neighbourhood celebration where locals gather. It is precisely this atmosphere that has made the Kirmes a regular meeting place for many city centre residents for almost six decades.

Cologne — Neighbourhood Culture as a Hallmark

The Veedel (local dialect for city districts) form the backbone of Cologne's identity. Each larger Veedel maintains its own festivals, its own Carnival societies, its own pubs — the Deepejasser Kirmes is one of the most traditional examples. The city of Cologne (an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, approx. 1.1 million inhabitants) sees this neighbourhood culture as a central component of its self-image, and the Kirmes, with its history dating back to 1968, is one of the older neighbourhood events in the city.