Cologne carnival season kicks off with thousands taking to the streets
Cologne welcomes the 2026 carnival season as thousands gather for music, costumes and celebrations despite wet weather.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Cologne on Wednesday, November 11, as the city’s traditional carnival season officially got underway.
Celebrations began at 11:11 am, with crowds in colourful costumes gathering at Heumarkt to sing, dance and welcome the 2026-27 carnival season.
Long queues formed outside designated party areas, while more than 1,000 police officers and emergency personnel were deployed to manage the crowds and ensure public safety.
The festivities continued despite persistent rain and grey skies, with Cologne Cathedral partly obscured by mist.
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