Name: Wiesbaden Carnival Parade 2026
Start: 2026-02-15T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-15T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Innenstadt Wiesbaden – Route Friedrich-Ebert-Allee bis Wilhelmstraße

Carnival Parade Wiesbaden

About Carnival Parade Wiesbaden

With 179 parade units, a 4.5 km route, and around 400,000 spectators, the Wiesbaden Carnival Parade is the largest carnival procession in Hesse. In 2026, it will take place on Carnival Sunday, February 15th, starting at 12:11 PM under the motto "Seven times eleven years of Carnival Parade" – a 7x11 year anniversary for the umbrella organization Wiesbadener Karneval (DACHO) and its parade since 1949.

Dates 15 Feb — 15 Feb 2026

Venue Wiesbaden (06414)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Carnival Parade Wiesbaden — edition 2026

Anniversary edition "Seven times eleven years": 179 parade units on a 4.5 km route through Wiesbaden's city center, starting at 12:11 PM at the RheinMain CongressCenter. Four to five hours parade duration, around 400,000 expected spectators.

The 2026 anniversary Carnival Parade marks 77 years of the Dacho parade. With 179 parade units – including guards, walking groups, music ensembles, and themed floats – it is one of the largest carnival processions in Germany. It is part of a three-day program with a children's parade the day before and a Carnival Monday parade in Frauenstein.

Highlights Carnival Parade Wiesbaden 2026

Anniversary parade "Seven times eleven years" — 77 years of Dacho tradition
179 parade units on a 4.5 km route
Around 400,000 spectators along the route
Children's parade the day before, Carnival Monday parade in Frauenstein

Programme Carnival Parade Wiesbaden 2026

Saturday, February 14, 2026 — Children's Carnival

11:11 AM — Dacho Children's Festival at Marktbrunnen (stage program)
3:33 PM — Children's parade from Luisenplatz through the city center

Sunday, February 15, 2026 — Grand Carnival Sunday Parade

12:11 PM — Parade start at RheinMain CongressCenter (Friedrich-Ebert-Allee)
Route: Friedrich-Ebert-Allee → Wilhelmstraße → Taunusstraße → Georg-August-Zinn-Straße → Kranzplatz → City Center → return to start
179 Parade Units: Carnival societies, guards, walking groups, music and marching bands, themed floats
4.5 km route, 4–5 hours parade duration
Parade end approx. 4:30 PM

Monday, February 16, 2026 — Carnival Monday

1:11 PM — Molsberger Narr'n parade in Wiesbaden-Frauenstein

Sessions and Balls starting January 2026

Grand, costume, and guest sessions in ESWE-Halle, Hilde-Müller-Haus, Kurhaus
District events in Kostheim, Schierstein, Bierstadt, Naurod
Full session calendar on dacho.de

Prices Carnival Parade Wiesbaden 2026

The parade is free to attend. Grandstand seats along the route are partially available for pre-sale (providers via Dacho).

Practical information

Practical information — Carnival Parade Wiesbaden

Getting There

Due to the complete closure of the city center on parade Sunday, arrival by public transport is strongly recommended. Wiesbaden Central Station is a 10-minute walk from the RheinMain CongressCenter. ESWE Verkehr operates additional bus and tram services.

Admission

The parade itself is free to attend. Grandstand seats along the route are partially available for purchase.

Tips

Look for a spot along the route early (from 10 AM). Wear warm clothing, as it is often cold in early February (2–4 °C). Bring a bag of sweets for children – candy and small gifts are thrown from the parade.

Organizer

Dachorganisation Wiesbadener Karneval (DACHO). Program at www.dacho.de.

The Fifth Season in the State Capital

In Wiesbaden, Carnival (Fastnacht) has been a firmly established tradition since 1859 – officially known throughout the city as "the fifth season." The highlight of every campaign is the Carnival Sunday Parade, organized by the Dachorganisation Wiesbadener Karneval (DACHO). With 179 parade units, a 4.5 km route through the city center, and around 400,000 spectators along the route, it is the largest carnival procession in Hesse.

Anniversary 2026 — Seven Times Eleven Years

The 2025/2026 campaign runs under the motto "Seven times eleven years of Carnival Parade" – that is, 77 years of the Dacho parade since its revival in 1949. The number 7x11 is deliberately chosen in Rhenish and Hessian carnival: 11 is the jesters' number, 7 is the lucky number, and their product represents a double anniversary.

Route Through the City Center

The parade starts at 12:11 PM at the RheinMain CongressCenter, then proceeds along Friedrich-Ebert-Allee, Wilhelmstraße, Taunusstraße, Georg-August-Zinn-Straße, Kranzplatz, and back through the city center – a total of 4.5 km, with a duration of four to five hours. Participating are: traditional carnival societies, guards, walking groups, several music and marching bands, as well as themed floats satirizing local politics and national issues.

Other Highlights of the Campaign

A packed program unfolds around the Sunday parade: on Carnival Saturday (February 14th), the children's parade starts at 3:33 PM from Luisenplatz, preceded by the Dacho Children's Festival starting at 11:11 AM at Marktbrunnen with a stage program. On Carnival Monday (February 16th), the Molsberger Narr'n parade takes place in the Frauenstein district starting at 1:11 PM.

Sessions and Balls

Starting in January, the grand, costume, and guest sessions of the numerous Wiesbaden carnival clubs take place: in the ESWE-Halle, the Hilde-Müller-Haus, the Kurhaus, and in the districts of Kostheim, Schierstein, Bierstadt, and Naurod. The Dacho coordinates the dates and publishes the overall campaign program at dacho.de.