Pfingstkirmes Bergisch Gladbach

Since 1842 without interruption — one of the oldest fairs in the Rhineland

The Pfingstkirmes Bergisch Gladbach is one of the most traditional folk festivals in the Bergisches Land region: It has been celebrated every Pentecost weekend without interruption since 1842 — making it one of the oldest continuously existing fairs in North Rhine-Westphalia. 2026 marks the 184th edition.

Four days of program at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz

Konrad-Adenauer-Platz, with the adjacent Bergisches Löwen-Monument, forms the classic festival area. Over four days (Whit Saturday to Whit Tuesday), rides and stalls are lined up in a manageable, family-friendly format. The official opening takes place on Whit Saturday, May 23 at 12:00 PM — with a beer tapping by Mayor Marcel Kreutz, ringing of bells, and cutting of the traditional first sausage. Afterwards, free ride tickets for children will be distributed.

Highlights and Rides

The program includes numerous fairground classics: a Frisbee ride, the "Route 66" bumper cars with new paintwork, the Musikexpress as a spinning carousel, a nostalgic 15-meter Ferris wheel, the three-story obstacle course "Chaosfabrik", a Fairy Tale Express for children, and several classic carousels. Food stalls offer bratwurst, crêpes, candied almonds, and the Rhenish specialty Rievkooche, along with game and lottery stands.

Fireworks on Whit Tuesday

The traditional conclusion is the grand fireworks display on Whit Tuesday, May 26 in the evening — one of the most beautiful free fireworks displays in the right-Rhenish Bergisches Land. Visitors come from Bergisch Gladbach, Cologne, Leverkusen, and the entire Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis.

Bergisch Gladbach — Capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis

The city of Bergisch Gladbach is the district capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis and is one of the largest medium-sized centers in the right-Rhenish greater Cologne area (North Rhine-Westphalia). With almost 112,000 inhabitants, the city is the largest medium-sized city in the Bergisches Land. The Pentecost Fair has shaped the Bergisch Gladbach Pentecost weekend for almost two centuries and is part of the city's identity.