Karnevalsumzug Dessau-Roßlau
Grand Rose Sunday Parade through Dessau City Centre with over 1,000 participants
About Karneval Dessau
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Anhalt's Largest Carnival Parade
The Karnevalsumzug Dessau-Roßlau is an event that transforms the city every year. On Rose Sunday – the Sunday before Rose Monday – Dessau's city centre between Friedhofstraße and the market square becomes a three-kilometre-long carnival route. Over 1,000 participants from clubs, schools, kindergartens, companies, and citizens' initiatives march with 84 lovingly designed floats, accompanied by four festival bands, walking groups, dance groups, and guards.
The event is organised by two traditional carnival clubs: the 1. Große Dessauer Karnevalsgesellschaft Gelb/Rot 1954 e.V. and the Waldeser Carneval Club. Both have decades of experience in the Anhalt carnival – a region that, while located further east than the Rhineland's stronghold, cultivates its own strong carnival culture. The floats are often politically and satirically designed: local issues, state politics, federal politics – everything is fair game.
Highlight of the day: When the parade arrives at the market square around 2 PM, the stage programme begins with performances by the carnival clubs, music bands, and show bands. Food, mulled wine, Berliner doughnuts, and of course "Helau" – Dessau's version of the carnival cheer – set the mood into the evening.
Dessau-Roßlau is a district-free city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, primarily known as the Bauhaus city – a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. However, carnival is just as much a part of the city's identity as the Bauhaus, the Junkers heritage, or the nearby Wörlitz Garden Realm.
Karneval Dessau — edition 2026
The parade in 2026 winds its way over three kilometres from the starting point at Franzstraße/Friedhofstraße through the heart of Dessau's city centre. Participating are local carnival clubs from all over Anhalt, schools, kindergartens, companies with their own floats, as well as music and show bands. The highlight at 2 PM: entry onto the market square, followed by a stage programme until the evening.
Programme Karneval Dessau 2026
Day — Rose Sunday, February 15, 2026
- 11:11 AM — Start of the Parade (Franzstraße / Friedhofstraße)
- Route: approx. 3 km through Dessau's city centre
- 84 floats, 4 festival bands, over 1,000 participants (clubs, schools, kindergartens, companies)
- From approx. 2:00 PM — Arrival at Market Square, Stage Programme
- Performances by carnival societies, dance guards, show bands
- Catering (mulled wine, Berliner doughnuts, snacks), Carnival Market
- Stage programme until the evening
Organisers
- 1. Große Dessauer Karnevalsgesellschaft Gelb/Rot 1954 e.V.
- Waldeser Carneval Club
- Supported by Stadtwerke Dessau and Stadtsparkasse Dessau
Highlights Karneval Dessau 2026
Prices Karneval Dessau 2026
Practical information — Karneval Dessau
Getting There
By train: Dessau (ICE train station). From there, a 5-minute walk to the city centre. Special trains run from Magdeburg, Halle, and Leipzig on Rose Sunday.
By car: A9 exit Dessau-Süd or Dessau-Ost. Large parts of the city centre are closed during the parade – use the car parks at the main station and the Rathaus-Center.
Admission
Parade and stage programme: free of charge. Consumption costs at the market square: mulled wine, snacks, Berliner doughnuts.
Notes
In case of snowfall or heavy rain, the parade may be shortened – organisers will provide information on the day. Secure the best spots along the route (Franzstraße, Wilhelm-Müller-Straße, Marktplatz) two hours before the start. Bring warm clothing and a bag for children to collect sweets.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Karneval Dessau al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Karneval Dessau
Innenstadt Dessau
Franzstraße / Marktplatz, 06844 Dessau-Roßlau