Mainz Carnival 2026: Finthen Parade brings traffic chaos and a historic princess debut

The 70th Finthen Parade, organized by the Finther Carneval Association, will take place during Mainz Carnival 2026, causing significant traffic changes in the city. Up to 30,000 visitors are expected to attend this event, which will introduce its first-ever parade princess, Luisa I. Authorities advise attendees to rely on public transport due to widespread road closures.

From Wednesday, February 11 at 4 a.m. until the following Wednesday at the same time, Ludwigsstraße will remain completely closed. Other streets, including Kaiserstraße on February 14 and Schillerplatz from February 14 to 17, will face temporary shutdowns. Surrounding towns will also experience restricted access on certain routes.

To facilitate travel, tram line 51 and bus routes 56 and 58 will operate every five to ten minutes to Finthen on Sunday. Substitute bus services and detours will replace disrupted routes, but no specific visitor paths have been suggested. The Finther Carneval Association has invited locals to join the parade, emphasizing the importance of keeping the tradition alive.

Strict rules will apply during the event. Driving or parking on field paths is banned, with monitoring in place to enforce compliance. Visitors are strongly advised to avoid private vehicles and use public transport instead.

The parade will run with enhanced transport links and tight traffic controls. Road closures will affect multiple areas, while extra trams and buses aim to manage the crowds. With Luisa I leading the celebrations, the 70th edition promises to be one of the largest yet.