About Pirmasens Carnival Parade

The Pirmasens Carnival Parade is the annual highlight of the street carnival (Fasching) in the shoe city. On February 1, 2026, 33 groups with floats, walking groups, and music bands will parade through the pedestrian zone — thousands of visitors are expected for the colorful spectacle. After the organizational restructuring in 2026, which will include a fanfare band for the first time, the parade will present itself in a new guise. Afterwards, the city will continue celebrating on the Exerzierplatz with the traditional Halli-Galli-Party.

The largest Carnival Parade in the West Palatinate

The Pirmasens Carnival Parade has been an integral part of the cultural life in the shoe city for decades. With its route through the pedestrian zone and its conclusion on the Exerzierplatz, the parade shapes the cityscape on the first day of February and brings together the population from all city districts, as well as visitors from the entire Südwestpfalz region and from neighboring Lorraine and Saarland.

New in 2026 — New Organizational Structure

In 2026, the parade will start with a new organizational structure. This reorganization became necessary after the future of the parade was discussed. With the establishment of a new support concept and the inclusion of a fanfare band, the tradition is secured for the coming years. The city of Pirmasens and its clubs have jointly taken responsibility.

33 Groups — Floats, Walking Groups, and Music

33 groups from Pirmasens and the surrounding area are participating in the parade. Floats, walking groups, music bands, and costumed clubs create a colorful overall picture. The themes range from classic carnival motifs to caricatures of current events — the political and satirical character of Fasching also finds its place in Pirmasens.

Route and Closing Party

The assembly point is at Hauptstraße/corner Bergstraße. From there, the procession moves through the pedestrian zone towards Ecksteinsau, Ringstraße, and finally Exerzierplatz. The closing party takes place on the Exe — as the Exerzierplatz is colloquially known in Pirmasens: the Halli-Galli-Party, the traditional dance festival that extends the parade day into the evening hours.

Pirmasens Carnival Parade — edition 2026

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Pirmasens Carnival Parade will once again march through the shoe city. The start is at 1:11 PM at Hauptstraße/corner Bergstraße. 33 groups with floats, walking groups, and music bands will parade through the pedestrian zone towards Ecksteinsau, Ringstraße, and Exerzierplatz. For the first time in the new organizational structure with its own fanfare band, the parade will present itself in a fresh form. Afterwards, the traditional Halli-Galli-Party will take place on the Exe.

The 2026 edition marks a new beginning: after discussions about the future of the parade, a new consortium of organizers has formed, which, with the support of the city of Pirmasens and the participation of a fanfare band, continues the tradition. In terms of content, the parade remains true to the proven format — 33 groups, classic route, festival conclusion on the Exe.

Programme Pirmasens Carnival Parade 2026

Schedule on Carnival Sunday

Morning: Assembly of groups at Hauptstraße/corner Bergstraße.
1:11 PM: Start of the parade — symbolic time of Fasching.
Afternoon: Parade through the pedestrian zone towards Ecksteinsau, Ringstraße, Exerzierplatz with loud accompaniment from the spectators.
After the parade ends: Halli-Galli-Party on the Exe with music, dancing, and catering until the evening hours.

The list of participating groups, exact road closures, and the musical program for the closing party will be communicated via the city of Pirmasens.

Highlights Pirmasens Carnival Parade 2026

33 groups — floats, walking groups, music bands
New organizational structure with fanfare band from 2026
Classic parade route from Hauptstraße to Exerzierplatz
Halli-Galli-Party as the conclusion on the Exe

Prices Pirmasens Carnival Parade 2026

Free admission. Food and drinks on the festival grounds are paid for on-site.

Practical information — Pirmasens Carnival Parade

Date & Location

Sunday, February 1, 2026. Assembly Hauptstraße corner Bergstraße. Start at 1:11 PM. Route through the pedestrian zone towards Ecksteinsau, Ringstraße, Exerzierplatz. Halli-Galli-Party on the Exe from the end of the parade.

Getting There

Pirmasens is accessible via the A 8 (Pirmasens exit) and the B 10. Pirmasens Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is centrally located. Parking is available in the multi-storey car parks in the city center.

Admission

Watching along the route is free. Food and drinks on the festival grounds are paid for on-site.

Festival-goer photos

No photos yet. Share yours!

Share your photos

Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)

Spotted an error or missing information?

Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.

Festival-goer reviews

No rating yet — be the first!

No comments yet. Be the first!

Were you there?

Share your experience with the community.

Your rating (optional)

Pirmasens Carnival Parade (Street Carnival)