The year in Cologne
The big moments of the year in Cologne: Carnival season opens on 11/11, Christmas markets, Cologne Museum Night and more, with their dates.
Carnival season opens on 11/11
On the eleventh of the eleventh the new carnival season begins: people celebrate in costume on the Heumarkt, in the Old Town and in the student quarter.
Christmas markets
Christmas markets in the Stadtgarten and at the harbour, at the cathedral on the Roncalliplatz, on the Neumarkt and as Heinzels Wintermärchen on the Alter Markt and the Heumarkt. The Heumarkt one stays open into January.
Cologne Museum Night
For one night the museums stay open until 1 am, with concerts, tours and more, all on one ticket.
Street carnival
Street carnival from Weiberfastnacht to Shrove Tuesday, with the Rose Monday parade, which sets off from the Chlodwigplatz and winds through the city centre.
lit.COLOGNE
The big literature festival: just over two weeks of readings and talks with authors in halls and theatres around the city.
c/o pop
A pop music festival and convention: five days of concerts in clubs all over the city.
Cologne Pride
Cologne Pride: a street festival in the Old Town and on Sunday the big parade, which starts at the Deutz Bridge.
Kölner Lichter
Fireworks over the Rhine in the city centre, watched from the banks or from one of the boats.
gamescom
The big trade fair for computer and video games at the Koelnmesse, and in the evenings the whole city is full of visitors.
ART COLOGNE
The fair for modern and contemporary art, with galleries from many countries.
