Karneval Bergisch Gladbach — Main Parade City Centre

Karneval Stronghold in the Bergisches Land

Bergisch Gladbach is one of the major Karneval strongholds in the Bergisches Land region. The city boasts not just one, but five independent Karneval parades in various districts — a diversity rarely found in the Rhineland, reflecting the federal structure of the formerly independent Bergisch Gladbach municipalities. The most significant parade is the Gladbacher Hauptzug on Karneval Sunday through the city centre.

Main Parade on February 15, 2026, 1:11 PM

The Bergisch Gladbach-Stadtmitte main Karneval parade starts on Karneval Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 1:11 PM (the symbolic Karneval time). Around 2,500 participants in 111 floats, walking groups, and music bands march from the starting point in Richard-Zanders-Straße via Hauptstraße — pedestrian zone — Konrad-Adenauer-Platz — Laurentiusstraße to Odenthaler Straße. A reserved area for people with disabilities is available on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz — an inclusive tradition of Bergisch Gladbach Karneval.

Five Parades in Four Days

The city's five Karneval parades are spread over four days: Weiberfastnacht (Thursday, February 12), the school parade of GGS Paffrath (9:00 AM, ~310 participants, school–Pannenberg–Flachsberg). Karneval Saturday (February 14), two parades: Bensberg parade at 1:11 PM with ~1,600 participants in 80 floats/groups (Frankenforster Str.–Kaule–Steinstraße–Schloßstraße) and Refrath parade at 2:30 PM with ~1,500 participants in 30 vehicles and 35 groups (In der Auen–Hüttenfeld–Vürfels–Wilhelm-Klein-Str.–Dolmanstraße). Karneval Sunday (February 15), Gladbach main parade at 1:11 PM and Sand parade at 10:11 AM (Herkenrather Str./Ommerbornstr.–Lichtenweg–Schulstr., ~200 participants). Rosenmontag (Monday, February 16), Herkenrath parade at 11:11 AM (~500 participants in ~20 floats).

Inclusive: Reserved Area at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz

A special feature of the Bergisch Gladbach main parade is the specially reserved access for people with disabilities at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz. This area is barrier-free, equipped with ramps for wheelchairs, and offers a clear view of the parade. Companions receive free admission — an inclusive tradition that the festival committee is proud of.

Bergisch Gladbach — District Capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis

Bergisch Gladbach is the district capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis in NRW, with around 113,000 inhabitants. The city was formed in 1975 from the merger of several independent municipalities (Bergisch Gladbach, Bensberg, Refrath, Sand, Herkenrath) — which explains the five Karneval parades that preserve the identity of these districts to this day. Karneval here is a Bergisch-Rhenish cultural heritage, organized with great volunteer commitment by the Festkomitee Bergisch Gladbacher Karneval.