Düsseldorf Carnival: Fantastic gala for the 200th anniversary!

Düsseldorf Carnival: Fantastic gala for the 200th anniversary!

On October 27, 2025, a very special chapter of history was celebrated in Düsseldorf: The local carnival celebrated its 200th birthday with a spectacular festival. The anniversary session began on November 11th, 2024 and culminated in a magnificent gala in the impressive Tonhalle, which took place on October 26th. Ddorf Aktuell reports that the prince couple of the anniversary session, Andreas Mauska and Evelyn Werner, presented the numerous guests in a festive, sometimes creatively interpreted way Clothing welcomed.

There was great anticipation for the gala - the program was kept secret, which only fueled the curiosity of those in attendance. However, the event began with a slight delay due to intensive discussions in the rotunda. The official program ended around 9:30 p.m., but the celebrations continued beyond that.

A look at the program

Michael Kuhl's orchestra provided musical entertainment and the finale of the gala was celebrated with the festive Radetzky March. The guests could look forward to a variety of performances: Evelyn Werner as Ex-Venetia, the rhythm sports group, the bands Alt Schuss, Jollies and many more brought momentum to the evening. A show dance by the KakaJu dance guard contributed significantly to the atmosphere.

Particular attention was also paid to the young groups: the Pänz en de Bütt and the children's choir of the Rheinische Guard can be proud of having entertained the gala guests. Furthermore, the group Sinfoglesia presented modern pop elements in combination with classical sounds. Short speeches by Lothar Hörning and Mayor Keller rounded off the program, while CC President Hörning presented the newly launched Jürgen Rieck plaque, which is awarded to particularly committed people.

Honors and surprises

Surprisingly, Stefan Kleinehr was recognized as the first winner of the Jürgen Rieck plaque. The well-known Marc Metzger provided humorous interludes and was happy about a warm encore from the audience. A special highlight was the start of sales of the book “200 Years of Carnival”, which contains portraits of 200 carnival personalities and is available for 69 euros, both in the online shop of the home port and in the carnival house.

The gala reflected the fascination and unwavering enthusiasm that characterizes the Düsseldorf Carnival - a popular spectacle especially for the residents and carnivalists who are already eagerly awaiting the next session. The musical accompaniment for the 2025/2026 carnival session is exclusively available digitally, which puts the tradition of carnival in a modern light.

The Düsseldorf Carnival itself has a long history, dating back to 1360. Wikipedia describes that it is celebrated as the “fifth season” not only in Düsseldorf's old town, but also in the region. With best-known highlights such as the Rose Monday procession and the magnificent women's carnival, where women storm the town hall at 11:11 a.m., the carnival not only attracts locals, but also numerous tourists.

Another notable aspect of the carnival is the Rose Monday parade, the third largest in Germany, which attracted around 5,500 participants and 600,000 spectators in 2023. Traditionally, sweets, affectionately known as “camels”, are distributed to the spectators. The enthusiasm and the convivial atmosphere make this event a celebration of joy and solidarity.

The anniversary celebrations are now over, but the memories and the anticipation of the next events remain alive. And we can't wait to see what Düsseldorf will offer us in the 2025/2026 carnival season.