Overview
- The Festkomitee unveiled four of 21 Persiflagewagen, with the remaining designs to be shown at next week’s Richtfest and two held back for revelation on Rosenmontag, February 16.
- Themes span local and global politics, including motifs on the AfD’s polling surge, US President Donald Trump, a combative Merz–Klingbeil pairing, Konrad Adenauer watching over Cologne, as well as AI, housing, drugs and queer diversity.
- Cologne confirmed it will not feature a Putin float this year, deferring that subject to Düsseldorf float builder Jacques Tilly.
- The city outlined an expanded security concept that will deploy about 3,000 Ordnungsamt staff and private guards around party zones and the parade route.
- Zugleiter Marc Michelske emphasized financial pressures, noting costs of roughly €3.5 million per year covered by tribune tickets, media rights, sponsorships and sales such as the Rosenmontagszug badge.