Carnival begins: Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz celebrate the crazy hustle and bustle!

Carnival begins: Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz celebrate the crazy hustle and bustle!

On November 11, 2025, things will get busy again in Cologne, because the fifth season officially begins at 11:11 a.m. - the carnival. The start promises a colorful hustle and bustle with tens of thousands of revelers in the city. The crowds are particularly large in the area around Zülpicher Straße, which is known for its numerous bars and pubs. Many Cologne residents and visitors will come there to celebrate. To ensure everything runs smoothly, over 1,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure security. Access to the most popular celebration locations will be cordoned off and controlled to direct the flow of visitors and avoid inconvenience.

Have you ever been to Düsseldorf when the Hoppeditz comes to life? At exactly 11:11 a.m., the people of Düsseldorf hold a special highlight - the arch prankster's mocking speech in front of the town hall. Meanwhile, in Mainz, around 9,000 foolish participants are expected to read out the foolish Basic Law at the central event. Things are also going on in many Franconian cities: On November 11th, the town halls are stormed and the mayors ceremoniously hand over the city keys to the fools.

Carnival customs and regional differences

It is exciting to observe how differently Carnival is celebrated in the different regions of Germany. In Freiburg and other cities in Baden-Württemberg, however, Fasnet doesn't really get going until Epiphany in January. The big highlight, which is already attracting many people to Cologne, will not take place for most people until mid-February, when Women's Carnival and Rose Monday are coming up. On Ash Wednesday the foolish goings-on will be over again and a return to normality is imminent.

The introduction of the new prince couples on this day is an important part of the carnival. They bring new momentum and a breath of fresh air into the celebrations. To ensure that everything goes like clockwork on November 11th, the anticipation is already palpable and the people of Cologne are preparing to celebrate their royal couple and the typical carnival mottos.

This year the carnival will once again be given a lot of space and space to conquer people's hearts. Carnival fever is set to take hold across the city and preparations for the festive days are already underway. Remember to make the fun days in Cologne unforgettable – as the saying goes? “Et would still have joot jejange!”