Rosenmontagszug Rheda-Wiedenbrück

Carnival in Ostwestfalen-Lippe

Ostwestfalen is not the core region of Carnival — that lies in the Rhineland around Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Aachen. However, in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in the Gütersloh district, Carnival has been celebrated with considerable dedication for decades — and the Rosenmontagszug is the annual highlight. On Rose Monday, February 16, 2026, approx. 40 walking groups and floats with around 2000 participants will march through the twin city starting at 12:45 PM. The 2026 motto is a humorous self-reflection: “Construction site here, construction site there, we’ll celebrate even more for it“ — an allusion to the ongoing renovation work on Rheda's main street.

Route Change Due to Construction Site

Due to extensive renovation of the main street, the 2026 parade will follow an adjusted route: Starting on Fürst-Bentheim-Straße (between Ringstraße and Nonenstraße, near the Protestant cemetery), then through the inner streets of Rheda to the traditional route to Wiedenbrück via Mühlenstraße. Even in this special situation, the parade connects the two districts of Rheda and Wiedenbrück — an important gesture of city identity.

Doktorplatz and Hohenfelder Brauhaus — The Presentation Stations

The parade will be presented at two central stations: at Doktorplatz in Rheda and at the Hohenfelder Brauhaus in Wiedenbrück. Here, professional presenters will comment on the individual groups — a tradition that informs and entertains the audience along the route. The Brauhaus station is also an important refreshment point with mulled wine, Kölsch, and small snacks.

40 Walking Groups and Floats, 2000 Participants

With around 40 walking groups and floats and about 2000 participants, the Rosenmontagszug Rheda-Wiedenbrück is one of the largest carnival parades in Ostwestfalen. Carnival societies of the city, sports clubs, schools, parish communities, social organizations, and political parties are represented. The floats typically comment humorously and satirically on current events — from local politics to national and world politics, and district topics.

Five-Day Carnival Week

The Rosenmontagszug is just the highlight of an entire Carnival Week from February 12 to 16, 2026: Parties in the Schanze-Zelt (the festival tent specially erected for Carnival), market stalls in Wiedenbrück's market square, children's carnival, ladies' and gentlemen's sessions, and the ceremonial handover of the city keys to the Carnival society. After the parade, the carnival season concludes in the local pubs and the festival tent — with Ash Wednesday as the strict end of the “fifth season“.

Rosenmontagskomitee as Organizer

The organizer is the Rosenmontagskomitee Rheda-Wiedenbrück — an association of local Carnival societies that has been coordinating the Rosenmontagszug for decades. The organization is complex: registration of groups, permits, police and medical services, seating, cleaning — all this is prepared on a voluntary basis and implemented in a 5-hour operation on Rose Monday.

Rheda-Wiedenbrück in the Gütersloh District

Rheda-Wiedenbrück is a town in the Gütersloh district with around 49,000 inhabitants. The twin city was formed in 1970 from the merger of the formerly independent towns of Rheda and Wiedenbrück. With the Rheda Castle complex, the historic old town of Wiedenbrück, and its location on the A 2 motorway, the city is one of the most important locations in Ostwestfalen. The Rosenmontagszug is by far the largest event of the year and the most important identity-forming event for the twin city.