Große Rheydter Frühkirmes

Rheydt and its Frühkirmes

Rheydt is a district of Mönchengladbach on the Lower Rhine (North Rhine-Westphalia) – formerly an independent town, merged with Mönchengladbach in 1975. With around 80,000 inhabitants, Rheydt forms a significant district that has preserved its identity to this day – its own city center, its own marketplaces, its own traditions. The Große Rheydter Frühkirmes is one of the most important pillars of this identity – a spring Volksfest with a long history, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from across the Lower Rhine and beyond.

118 Showmen over 1.5 Kilometers

The scale of the Rheydter Frühkirmes is impressive: 118 showmen and catering businesses along a 1.5-kilometer-long festival promenade – the Gracht and Rheydt marketplace become the axis of one of the largest spring Kirmes (funfairs) in North Rhine-Westphalia. The lineup surpasses most spring Volksfeste in the region – comparable only to the Westfalenfest season in Hamm and the large Nibelungenstadt-Kirmes in Worms.

Rides 2026 – International Showmen

The 2026 showmen list brings together established names and new attractions:

• Amazona-Bahn (Showman Hoster) – roller coaster classic
• Heroes City XXL (Zuidema, Netherlands) – latest highlight, one of Europe's largest walk-through attractions
• Jetlag (Weber) – swing ride action
• Sound Machine (Lupp) – music and dance ride
• XXL-Autoscooter (Grass) – the traditional classic in an extra-large version
• In addition, bumper cars, dance rides, themed experiences, children's carousels

Opening and Fireworks

The official opening takes place on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5 PM – the mayor or a representative of the city leadership opens the Kirmes. The highlight of Friday evening follows at 10 PM with grand opening fireworks – a pyrotechnic display visible from large parts of Rheydt and Mönchengladbach. This distinguishes the Rheydter Frühkirmes from the typical Volksfest choreography, which usually places fireworks at the end – here, they mark the beginning.

Monday as Family Day

A special feature of the Rheydter Frühkirmes: Monday, May 11, 2026, is Family Day with significantly reduced prices on most rides. Thus, the Frühkirmes extends the traditional 'Friday to Sunday' schedule by a fourth day with family-friendly fares – a valuable offer that attracts families with children from the greater Lower Rhine and Cologne area to the Frühkirmes.

Safety and Family Attractions

The city of Mönchengladbach is implementing an enhanced safety concept in 2026 – as in previous years: access restrictions, bollard systems, and the presence of police and public order officers. Family attractions include Family Day, dedicated children's carousel areas, and reduced prices. The tradition of the Rheydter Frühkirmes as a family-friendly Volksfest is thus actively maintained.

Location and Travel

Mönchengladbach-Rheydt is located in the western Lower Rhine region, about 35 kilometers west of Düsseldorf. By train: Rheydt Hbf is served by S 8 (Düsseldorf-Mönchengladbach) and regional trains RB 33 / RB 35 – direct stop, within walking distance of the marketplace. By car: A 61 exit Mönchengladbach-Rheydt. During the Kirmes, the city center is partially closed – public transport or park-and-ride is recommended.