Your guide to New Year's Eve 2026

What you may set off

Category F2 fireworks, that is rockets, batteries and firecrackers, may only be set off in Germany on 31 December and 1 January. They are only sold from 29 to 31 December, and you must be at least 18.

Category F1 fireworks, such as sparklers, cracker snaps and table fireworks, are sold all year from the age of 12. Setting off F2 fireworks is banned right next to churches, hospitals, children's and old people's homes and thatched or half-timbered houses.

We know of no nationwide ban on fireworks for private people this New Year's Eve, though the debate is on. Check what applies in your city before you buy.

Source: 1. Sprengstoffverordnung, ZDFheute, Stadt München

Where fireworks are banned

Cities can set up zones for New Year's Eve in which you may neither carry nor set off fireworks, mostly in the old town, on busy squares and along the river. Where exactly is in your city's decree (Allgemeinverfügung), which it publishes before New Year's Eve.

At the last turn of the year, for example, Munich banned fireworks in the pedestrian zone around Marienplatz, Stachus and Viktualienmarkt from 21:00 to 02:00, and firecrackers inside the Mittlerer Ring. Cologne set up a firecracker ban zone in the city centre, and fireworks may not be brought to the area around the cathedral. Münster had a ban zone at the Domplatz and Prinzipalmarkt, and in Berlin the police set the areas anew every year. New decrees apply for 2026/27.

Source: Stadt München, Stadt Köln, Stadt Münster, Polizei Berlin

Where to watch

The safest way to see fireworks is at a public show: fireworks, drone and light shows and countdowns on big squares. Our list and map have every show we know of, with confirmed shows first.

Arrive early, stay behind the barriers and check the official page again on the night itself: wind and storms can cancel a show at short notice. At big celebrations such as the one at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, your own fireworks are usually not allowed in the event area.

Source: Polizei Berlin

Safety

Light sparklers outdoors, one at a time, at arm's length, and drop the burnt-out wire in a bucket of water: it stays hot for a while. Keep children's sparklers away from faces, hair and loose clothing.

Set off rockets and firecrackers outdoors only, away from people and buildings. Do not touch a dud or light it again: pour water over it. In an emergency call 112, and for crimes the police on 110.

Trains and buses on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Many transport associations run a special timetable on New Year's Eve. You will find the timetable for 31 December and 1 January in the app of your local transport association or on bahn.de.

Plan your way home beforehand: trains and buses are full at night, and if you celebrate in another town an overnight stay is worth it.

Source: Deutsche Bahn

Concerts, cabaret and “Dinner for One”

Many orchestras play New Year's Eve and New Year's concerts. The Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig traditionally plays Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for the turn of the year, and the Vienna New Year's Concert is broadcast on television on 1 January.

If you would rather laugh: many cabaret artists bring their Jahresrückblick, a look back at the year, to theatres in November and December, and on television “Dinner for One” belongs to New Year's Eve.

Source: Gewandhausorchester

The New Year's swim on 1 January

On 1 January clubs and swimming pools in many places invite people to a Neujahrsschwimmen or Anbaden, a swim to start the year. You usually need only swimwear, a towel and something warm to put on.

Only go in where there is supervision, walk in slowly and warm up straight afterwards. Organisers cancel at short notice in storms or ice: check their page that morning.