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Carnival in Cologne: Safety measures for an unforgettable celebration!
The 2026 carnival session starts in Cologne on November 11, 2025 with comprehensive safety measures and rules for revelers.
Carnival in Cologne: Safety measures for an unforgettable celebration!
On November 11th, 2025 the time has come: the 2026 carnival session will open in Cologne with a great celebration. Thousands of Jecken gather in the city to celebrate together and celebrate the beginning of the foolish time. In order to cope with this large crowd, the city and police have put together a comprehensive security concept to make the event safe and pleasant.
A coordination team consisting of representatives from the city administration, the state and federal police, the Cologne transport company (KVB) as well as the waste management companies and the organizers will monitor the measures. The numbers are impressive: around 450 public order office employees and around 1,200 private security guards will be on duty. These security guards are clearly marked with numbered vests, making them easily identifiable to revelers.
Clarity and security for everyone
In order to ensure that the carnival runs smoothly, the public order office, led by Ralf Mayer, has made an appeal to all celebrants: they are asked to celebrate respectfully and to use the toilets and waste containers provided. The Zülpich district in particular will be cordoned off on November 11th. Access is only possible via two controlled entrances - the Unimensa and Roonstrasse/corner of Beethovenstrasse. However, Heinsbergstrasse remains passable for pedestrians.
On the night of November 11th to 12th, there will also be a ban on glass from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. the following day. Celebrants can have their bottle contents poured into plastic containers at the checkpoints. Large music boxes and bulky items such as folding chairs are also not allowed on this day. Residents receive access to their living area with their ID document, while businesses receive special access wristbands.
Cleanliness and child protection in focus
The city has taken additional precautions and is setting up around 750 mobile toilets as well as 770 event bins and 33 glass containers. This is to ensure a clean environment. Furthermore, in the old town and the southern part of the city, people are asked to voluntarily refrain from using glass from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., while protective areas have been expanded in popular places such as the Aachener Weiher and in the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Park.
Another important point is the protection of minors: here too, there is increased control. The youth welfare office will have 40 additional employees and will offer a central contact point for underage revelers in the Latäng district. In recent years there has been a high rate of violations in preventive test purchases, so that targeted action is now being taken against traders who sell alcohol to minors. These must expect fines of between 200 and 350 euros.
The celebrants receive additional support in the form of the EDELGARD teams, which are available in the event of sexual violence and guarantee the safety of visitors with contact points and telephone availability.
The anticipation for the carnival on November 11th is already huge in Cologne. Despite the strict rules designed to make celebrating safer, the focus remains on having fun - and that's the most important thing! For further details on the security measures, we refer to the reporting by 24rhine.