Villach Carnival 2025
A must for every carnival fan and anyone who wants to become one!
Immerse yourself in the fifth season: Villach Carnival 2025 awaits you!
In January and February, the Drau town of Villach is affectionately known as the “stronghold of fools” by its inhabitants. And it is known for this throughout Austria. Why? It’s carnival time and Villach is famous for its “Villacher Fasching”. Have you ever dreamed of immersing yourself in a world full of color, music and carefree merriment? Then you shouldn’t miss the Villach Carnival! Experience Villach as a pulsating stronghold of fools and create an unforgettable experience. Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of this special time.
Event program: a colorful array of foolish events.
The carnival season in Villach is rich in varied events that offer something for every taste. The season kicked off with the presentation of the prince and princess, which took place on November 9, 2024 and revealed the secret of the jesters’ new regents. The popular carnival sessions of the Villach Carnival Guild take place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Congress Center and are an absolute must for anyone who enjoys being infected by humor and good humor. You can easily reach the Congress Center on foot from our hotel. We also offer special carnival packages every year. Please ask at our reception desk.
The carnival sessions take place on the following dates:
- January 11, 2025: Premiere
- January 17, 2025: 2nd meeting
- January 18, 2025: 3rd meeting
- January 24, 2025: 4th meeting
- January 25, 2025: 5th meeting
- January 31, 2025: 6th meeting
- February 07, 2025: 7th meeting
- February 08, 2025: 8th meeting
- February 14, 2025: 9th meeting
- February 15, 2025: 10th session – Costumed session
- February 20, 2025: 11th meeting ORF
- February 21, 2025: 12th meeting ORF
- February 22, 2025: 13th ORF meeting
The little fools will also get their money’s worth at the children’s carnival, which takes place on February 1 and 2, 2025.
Carnival Saturday program: A feast for all the senses
Carnival Saturday, March 1, 2025, marks the highlight of the carnival season and transforms Villach’s city center into a huge stage during the big parade. From 9 a.m., the members of the Villach Carnival Guild parade through the festively decorated streets, visit stores and pubs and create an exuberant atmosphere with their music.
From 10:30 a.m., the little fools can look forward to a fun children’s party at Oberer Kirchenplatz, where excerpts from the popular children’s carnival sessions will be presented. Those who like music can look forward to the pop party at Nikolaiplatz, which starts at 11 am.
The official highlight of the day is undoubtedly the big parade. It starts at 2 pm at Hans-Gasser-Platz. Thousands of costumed participants parade through the streets, past 8 May Square and the main square to the main railway station. The decorated floats and imaginative costumes are a real eye-catcher. Beforehand, at 13:30, the mayor symbolically hands over the keys to the city to the prince and princess at Hans-Gasser-Platz.
After the parade, the party continues seamlessly: from 3 pm, a carnival disco with the Villach Carnival Guild takes place on the Lower Church Square, and there is an exuberant party atmosphere throughout the city center. At 5 p.m., the most beautiful and creative masks are awarded prizes on the stage at Unterer Kirchenplatz, after which the prince and princess and all the fools are invited to dance together.
A special feature of Shrove Saturday is that many employees in the stores and restaurants are also dressed up, contributing to the cheerful atmosphere.
The Lei-Lei princely couple 2025: regents of the fools
In the jubilee year of the Villach Carnival, the jesters are ruled by Nicole Glanznig as Princess Nicole I and Marc Germeshausen as Prince Fidelius LXX. Nicole is 22 years old, is involved in the family business and has been associated with carnival since her childhood. Marc is 34 years old and a successful entrepreneur in the event industry. Both are looking forward to their tasks and are sure to ensure an unforgettable carnival season. The presentation of the prince and princess took place on November 9, 2024 and was a festive start to the carnival season.
Children’s carnival: A party for the little ones
The Villach Carnival also has a lot to offer for the little jesters. The children’s sessions on February 1 and 2, 2025 at the Congress Center Villach are a real highlight. Around 160 young talents present a varied program of dance, music, sketches and acrobatic performances. The children’s carnival sessions are not only great entertainment for the little ones, but also an opportunity to celebrate the up-and-coming artists. The children’s prince and princess lead the little jesters and add to the fun. There is also a special children’s program on Carnival Saturday, so that even the youngest visitors get their money’s worth.
The Villach children’s prince and princess 2025
In addition to the great prince and princess, who represent the adults, Villach also has a children’s prince and princess, who lead the young fools. For the 2025 carnival season, Sukey Welisch as Princess Sukey I. and Nico Rainer as Prince Gaudelius LIX. will take on this role. Both are active in sports and bring a lot of energy. Sukey is already experienced in carnival and has been dancing at the children’s carnival for years, while Nico is an enthusiastic floorball and soccer player. The two are a well-rehearsed team. They have already been to school together and share a passion for sport. They are looking forward to accompanying the little jesters through the carnival season and ensuring a good atmosphere.
What does the exclamation “Lei Lei” mean?
The jester’s call of the Villach carnival jesters is “Lei Lei!”. This exclamation is a traditional part of carnival and has no deeper meaning. It is simply an expression of joy and exuberant celebration. “Lei Lei” means “just, just” and is therefore an important part of the Villach carnival tradition.
The history of the Villach carnival
The roots of the Villach carnival go back a long way, with the first mention in 1867. On Shrove Tuesday of that year, the season ended with a “successful corso ride”, which probably corresponds to a parade.
What began as a loose tradition developed over time into an integral part of the town’s cultural life. From 1910, the Villacher Bauerngman organized an annual farmers’ ball, the proceeds of which were used for charitable purposes.
The actual transformation to the modern Villach carnival began in 1955, when the idea arose to turn the traditional farmers’ ball into an exuberant, foolish event. This idea was very well received, and just three years later over 50 bars and restaurants in the town center took part in the celebrations – the birth of “Fasching in ganz Villach”.
In 1961, the first “Villach Carnival Session” was held in the Chamber of Labor, which focused on the humorous and satirical elements of carnival. In 1964, the “Villacher Faschingsgilde” emerged from the Villacher Bauerngman. And the carnival guild finally took over the professional organization of the carnival. A milestone in history.
Another milestone was in 1972, when the events were moved to the Congress Center Villach, which offered greater capacity and better opportunities for staging the shows. In 2001, the carnivalists moved into their own, newly built guild house, which serves as the clubhouse.
The election of the first prince and princess in 1955 and the first children’s prince and princess in 1967 consolidated today’s traditions.
Since 1963, the highlights of the carnival sessions have also been broadcast on Austrian television (ORF) during prime time on Shrove Tuesday. For a long time, the Villach Carnival was one of ORF’s most popular entertainment programs.
Outlook: Villach Carnival 2026
You can also look forward to a colorful carnival festival in Villach next year. Carnival Saturday in 2026 will take place on February 14. Be there when the city is transformed into a carnival stronghold once again and experience the magic of the Villach carnival up close.
