Rosenmontagszug Solingen

Carnival in the 'Klingenstadt'

Solingen may not be one of the five Rhenish carnival strongholds — but the Rose Monday parade of the 'Klingenstadt' is one of the fixed carnival dates in the Bergisches Land region. Over 40 carnival societies, dance groups, and floats with around 1,200 participants march through the city center on Rose Monday, February 16, 2026. The organizer is the Festausschuss Solinger Karneval (Solingen Carnival Committee).

Motto and Prince/Princess Couple 2025/26

The 2025/26 carnival session runs under the motto 'Move Solingen with Heart, Dance in the Confetti Rain'. The Prince and Princess Couple for the session are Nadine I. and Rexy I. — they represent Solingen Carnival at all events throughout the session and lead the Rose Monday parade. Solingen Magazin and Solinger Nachrichten will cover the session's preparation in detail.

Route

The start is at 2:00 PM at Birkenweiher. The route leads via Goerdelerstraße, Mummstraße, Kölner Straße — one of the central arteries of Solingen's city center — continuing to Graf-Wilhelm-Platz and ending at Ufergarten. The route covers the central squares and streets of the city center and offers spectators along the axis numerous viewing spots.

After-Parade Party at the Theater

A Solingen specialty: Following the parade — starting at 3:00 PM — the After-Zoch-Party (After-Parade Party) begins in the Theater und Konzerthaus Solingen. Entry is free, but there is a minimum consumption requirement of €7. DJ sets, live acts, and a carnival atmosphere in the largest theater hall in the city complement the parade day.

Festausschuss Solinger Karneval

The Festausschuss Solinger Karneval coordinates carnival events in the city — the Rose Monday parade, 'Kappensitzungen' (carnival sessions), Prince/Princess proclamation, children's carnival. The Solingen carnival societies — over 40 in number — are united in the Festausschuss and jointly provide groups and floats for the parade.

Solingen — Bergisches Carnival History

Solingen, with around 160,000 inhabitants, is one of the larger cities in the Bergisches Land region and maintains its own distinct carnival tradition. The Bergisches Land region lies between the major Rhenish carnival strongholds (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz, Bonn) and the more carnival-skeptical Westphalian surrounding areas — Solingen Carnival is therefore less massively staged than Cologne's, but more vibrant than most Westphalian cities.