Hagen Carnival Fair

Hagen Carnival Fair 2026 — Five Days of Fairing for the Carnival Season

From 12 to 16 February 2026, the Hagener Schaustellerverein (Hagen Showmen's Association) will host the annual Carnival Fair in Hagen's city centre. On Friedrich-Ebert-Platz and in the adjacent Volkspark, Hagen's showmen will set up three large rides and numerous smaller attractions for the carnival revellers — from Weiberfastnacht to Rosenmontag.

2026 Programme — Day by Day

Thursday, 12 February 2026 — Weiberfastnacht Kick-off

• Fair opening in the morning
• Opening hours 12 PM–9 PM
• Weiberfastnacht atmosphere — women's rule in carnival

Friday, 13 February – Saturday, 14 February 2026 — Main Operation

• Opening hours 12 PM–9 PM both days
• Extended evening opening with carnival music
• Peak weekend visitor numbers

Sunday, 15 February 2026 — Carnival Sunday

• Opening hours 12 PM–8 PM
• Family day with child-friendly activities

Monday, 16 February 2026 — Rosenmontag with Parade

• Opening hours 12 PM–8 PM
• 1:30 PM — Key handover at Hagen City Hall
• 2:00 PM — Hagen Rosenmontagszug starts from Marktplatz, proceeds through the city centre
• Fair with a special carnival atmosphere
• Festival concludes in the late evening

The Three Main Attractions 2026

New Musik Skooter

Classic bumper cars in a modernised form — with up-to-date sound systems, new LED lighting, and a larger ride platform. One of the most popular rides for teenagers and young adults at folk festivals.

Rock & Roll

A high-flying swing carousel with modern sound. One of the "big rides" on German showmen's tours — combining speed, height, and acrobatics.

1001 Nacht

An oriental-themed carousel with elaborate decoration — a gentler ride than the Rock & Roll, ideal for families and children aged approximately 6 and up.

Other Attractions

• Children's Carousels: Pony carousel, fairy tale ride, children's roller coaster
• Shooting Galleries: classic pre-show houses with plush toys as the main prize
• Sweet Stalls: candied almonds, cotton candy, chocolate-covered fruit, Mutzen, Mutzenmandeln, Berliner doughnuts
• Bratwurst, Currywurst, French fries, Crêpes
• Mulled wine and schnapps bars for adults

Hagen Carnival and Rosenmontagszug

Compared to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn, or Mainz, Hagen Carnival is smaller and more locally focused. Several carnival societies — including the KG Hagener Funken, the KG Eilper Jecken, and the KG Helfer Karneval — form the backbone of Hagen's carnival tradition. The Rosenmontagszug is the highlight of the season: key handover at 1:30 PM by the Mayor of Hagen to the Prince and Princess, followed by a procession through the city centre with floats, walking groups, and marching bands.

Hagen — City at the Gateway to the Sauerland

The independent city of Hagen, with around 188,000 inhabitants, is located in the southeastern Ruhr area, at the transition to the Sauerland. Long shaped by the steel and hardware industry (mechanical engineering, strip steel, universal rolling mill), Hagen has repositioned itself in recent decades as an educational hub (FernUniversität, Karl-Ernst-Osthaus-Museum). The FernUniversität in Hagen is Germany's largest public university with around 70,000 students.

Friedrich-Ebert-Platz and Volkspark

Friedrich-Ebert-Platz is located in the heart of Hagen's city centre, directly next to Hagen's Volkspark and the main train station. During the fair days, both areas are connected — Friedrich-Ebert-Platz hosts the large rides, and Volkspark hosts the sweet stalls and children's carousels. Ideally connected to Hagen Main Station (10-minute walk).