Event

Carnival 2028

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 2028 includes these dates: Women's Carnival: Thursday, 24 February 2028; Shrove Monday: Monday, 28 February 2028; Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday, 29 February 2028; Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 1 March 2028. Not a nationwide public holiday. Local events, schools or employers may still have their own arrangements.

Upcoming date
612 days until Carnival

Check local events, seasonal offers and family plans early.

Exact dates

Carnival 2028

All events
24 Feb
Women's Carnival Street carnival

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

Thursday, 24 February 2028
28 Feb
Shrove Monday Custom

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

Monday, 28 February 2028
29 Feb
Shrove Tuesday Not a public holiday

Common search date around carnival; check local arrangements.

Tuesday, 29 February 2028
01 Mar
Ash Wednesday Lent

Start of Lent and an important church-calendar marker.

Wednesday, 1 March 2028
Data basis

Recurring date rule, legal status separated

The dates on this page follow recurring calendar rules. Public-holiday status is not inferred from the event name; it is kept separate and checked against German statutory source context.

Working Time Act section 9 KMK holiday calendar
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.

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

These dates provide context. Use the focused tools when you need leave days, week numbers, school breaks or exportable calendar data.

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.