Event

Carnival 2026

Carnival season in Germany includes Women's Carnival, Shrove Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. It is not a nationwide public holiday, but it can strongly affect schools, parades, hospitality and local closures.

Answer

When is it?

Carnival 2026 includes these dates: Women's Carnival: ; Shrove Monday: ; Shrove Tuesday: ; Ash Wednesday: . Not a nationwide public holiday. Local events, schools or employers may still have their own arrangements. The applicable federal state decides holiday and school consequences; the rule supplies the date.

Status
Past

Carnival is already over for this year.

Exact dates

Carnival 2026

All events
Women's Carnival Street carnival

Start of street carnival in many carnival regions; check local rules and traffic.

Shrove Monday Custom

Important parade and event day, but not a nationwide public holiday.

Shrove Tuesday Not a public holiday

Common search date around carnival; check local arrangements.

Ash Wednesday Lent

Start of Lent and an important church-calendar marker.

Planning impact

Women's Carnival, Shrove Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday mark the key carnival dates before Lent.

In carnival regions, the city, school and event organizer matter more than the national public-holiday list: check parades, closures, transit, childcare and evening events locally. Compare the affected federal state before booking leave or childcare.

School

Check local school rules

School-free days and events vary strongly by city, state and school.

Traffic

Plan around parades and closures

In Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz and other carnival centres, city centres, public transport and parking can work very differently.

Work

No automatic leave

Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday are not nationwide days off. Time off comes from local rules, employers, schools or leave.

Planning

Compare with school breaks

The period often sits near winter breaks or movable school-free days, so the state calendar remains important.

Related planning

Open the right calendar view

Not a nationwide public holiday. Local events, schools or employers may still have their own arrangements. Compare the affected federal state before booking leave or childcare.

FAQ

Common questions about carnival

Short answers about date, status and planning impact.

Is Shrove Monday a public holiday?

No. Shrove Monday is not a nationwide public holiday in Germany. Schools, authorities or employers in carnival regions may still have special arrangements.

Why is Women's Carnival included?

Women's Carnival starts street carnival in many regions and matters for transit, city centres, schools, hospitality and childcare.

When does carnival end?

The visible peak ends on Shrove Tuesday; Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent.

Data basis

Recurring date rule, legal status separated

Women's Carnival, Shrove Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday mark the key carnival dates before Lent. The applicable federal state decides holiday and school consequences; the rule supplies the date.

Working Time Act section 9 KMK holiday calendar How we maintain this data