Carnival 2025 in Munich: highlights, parades and dates
It's all over since Ash Wednesday: but Munich carnival is back! On 11 November 2024, the Narrhalla will present the official Munich carnival prince and princess. And then it won't be long until the carnival procession of the Damische Ritter, the street carnival "München narrisch" and the traditional highlight, the market women's dance on Shrove Tuesday, which falls on March 4 in 2025. Here you can find out what carnival in Munich has to offer.
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A look back: The Damische Ritter 2024 carnival parade
On Sunday, February 4, the "Damische Ritter" with Duke Kasimir at the head once again led the official Munich carnival procession. Numerous participants paraded through Munich's old town: music bands, carnival societies, boys' and girls' clubs, dance groups and historical societies. Mayor and patron Verena Dietl, dressed as a queen, was of course also there.
Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter is also a fan of the traditional parade, which was organized on a voluntary basis for the 17th time by the traditional association Turmfalken e.V., the "Damische Ritter": "The fact that there is a large carnival parade in Munich is thanks to a 'damischritterliche Heldentat'," said the Lord Mayor of Munich. "It was the Damische Ritter who revived this beautiful tradition in 2006 with a great deal of idealism." A date for 2025 has not yet been set.
February 27, 2025: Nonsensical Thursday: Carnival has a heart
Munich's street carnival enters its hot phase on "Nonsensical Thursday": on February 27, 2025, people celebrate under the motto "Carnival has a heart" at the Viktualienmarkt and the carnival guards from Munich and the surrounding area create a great atmosphere in the center. Traditionally, the carnival guards from Narrhalla and others perform on the stage on this day.
March 2-4: München narrisch - the big party in the city center 2025
"München narrisch" (=crazy Munich) is the name of the three-day street carnival from Sunday to Shrove Tuesday (March 2 to 4) in the pedestrian zone of the old town. The pedestrian zone is colorfully decorated, from Stachus to Marienplatz to Viktualienmarkt, there is a lively atmosphere every day from 10:30 a.m. - with lots of creative costumes! On the two open-air stages on Marienplatz, live music, guard dances and activities will keep the revellers in a good mood.
March 4: Dance of the market women at the Viktualienmarkt 2025
The market women's dance on Shrove Tuesday, March 4, 2025, is the highlight of Munich's carnival. The market women whirl across the stage at the Viktualienmarkt in their colorful costumes. Traditionally, the market women start their program at around 11 a.m. with the classic song "Linie 8" by Weiß Ferdl, followed by new dances that have been rehearsed for several months. The self-made dresses represent the stall: they are decorated in such a way that you can tell who is selling what at the market - whether baker, butcher or florist. After the dance, there is music and good cheer at the stalls on the Viktualienmarkt into the evening.
Rückblick auf den Fasching - das ist bereits vorbei
Günther Jauch erhält Karl-Valentin-Orden
Der Moderator und Journalist Günther Jauch erhielt am 8. Februar 2025 den Karl-Valentin-Orden der Narrhalla überreicht. Sein Freund Thomas Gottschalk hielt die Laudatio bei der Verleihung im Rahmen des Großen Festballs der Narrhalla „Soiree Münchner Leben“.
The enthronement of the Munich carnival prince and princess on Marienplatz
The royalty have officially taken over the reigns of the city! On January 5 2024, Mayor Verena Dietl presented the carnival prince and princess Frederik I and Katharina I with the key to the city on Marienplatz. The popular enthronement was accompanied by a varied supporting program with performances by the guards and the band Nachtstark. A date for 2025 with the new princes has not yet been set.
Faschingsauftakt am 11.11.
Am Viktualienmarkt hat die Faschingszeit pünktlich am 11.11.2024 um 11:11 Uhr begonnen. Traditionell wurden das neue offizielle Prinzenpaar der Landeshauptstadt München Christian IV. & Michaela II. und das Jugendprinzenpaar Johan I & Hannah I. der Narrhalla vorgestellt.
Munich carnival societies: Narrhalla, Feringa and Würmesia
Narrhalla: The Narrhalla is the oldest carnival club in Munich, founded in 1893. It provides the official carnival prince and princess of the state capital of Munich and awards the Karl Valentin Order. The Narrhalla organizes several large carnival balls, for example in the Bayerischer Hof, and is of course also involved in Munich's street carnival.
Würmesia: The Würmesia was founded in Gräfelfing in 1949 and is also known outside the carnival season, as it provides the town gendarmerie corps with the original uniforms from 1813. The Würmesia also has its own prince and princess, a guard and even a ballet, with which it performs at various carnival events.
Feringa: The carnival society Feringa e.V. was founded in 1978 and mainly operates in the Munich area. It performs at numerous carnival parties with its own prince and princess, guard, youth show and children's guard.