Wednesday, 11 November 2026: Carnival revellers at the town hall, Capa-Wäldchen saved, house searches at ‘Kollektiv Zwickau’

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“Helau”, confetti and a mayor wearing a jester’s cap – carnival fans kicked off the ‘fifth season’ today at Leipzig Town Hall. There’s likely to be a cheerful atmosphere too amongst all those who have campaigned to save the Capa-Wäldchen. Instead of it being cleared, a compromise has now been reached between the city and RB Leipzig. And: The Saxony State Criminal Police Office has continued its investigations into the ‘Kollektiv Zwickau’ with house searches in seven towns. The LZ summarises the key events from Wednesday, 11 November 2026, in Leipzig and beyond.

A town hall full of revellers

Eleventh, eleventh, eleven past eleven. That rings a bell, doesn’t it!? That’s right: this year’s carnival season has also kicked off in Leipzig today. Around 80 revellers stormed the New Town Hall to take over the running of the town until Ash Wednesday. Administrative Mayor Ulrich Hörning (SPD) symbolically handed over the Town Hall key to Leila the Lioness – the head of Leipzig’s carnival revellers – who had just been sworn into office.

In her inaugural speech, she poked fun at, amongst other things, the summer grout dilemma. As is the case almost every year, the numerous roadworks and their associated diversions also came in for a bit of a roasting. After all, these also throw the “timetable of our little trams” into complete disarray. “They’re now driving as if between heaven and hell,” rhymed Leila – alias Sandra Schwarz from the Lindenhayn-Brinniser Carnival Club. With an eye on the upcoming mayoral election, the head of the carnival organisation also set out her wish list straight away: Tackle graffiti and the housing shortage, revise the transport plan, correct LVB fare increases, complete the Astoria, and bring order to the area around the station. Leila, helau!

“Not everything went well this year,” admitted Mayor Hörning in his response. However, he also had a whole list of successes at the ready: Parkbogen Ost, Elstermühlgraben, Karlbrücke, 50 years of Grünau including the Kultursommer, Feuerland at the zoo and the Conference League final, to name but a few. He then set the head of the carnival organisers one tiny task: “That hole in the budget that’s eating everything up – plug that, because it’s important!” Nice try.

The main highlight of this carnival season will, as is traditional, be the Grand Leipzig Rose Sunday Parade. On 7 February 2027, from 2 pm, it will wind its way through Leipzig city centre for the 28th time. Under the motto “Leipzig calls: ‘Clear the ring!’, the election is just a bit of fun”, visitors can look forward to a colourful parade featuring imaginative costumes, brightly decorated floats, music and plenty of carnival revelry.

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Compromise on Cottaweg saves Capa Wood

Good news for the woodland: RB Leipzig will be able to expand its training facilities on Cottaweg without having to clear the adjacent woodland. The City of Leipzig and the football club have agreed on a compromise proposal to this effect. This initially provides for the construction of two additional football pitches. Meanwhile, the Leipzig Kleinmesse trade fair can remain at the fairground until 2037; following the construction of the pitches, the fairground will be reduced in size to around 2.1 hectares. The festival meadow in front of the stadium is being considered as a medium-term alternative site.

However, issues relating to heritage protection, funding and noise protection for the Waldstraßenviertel district still need to be resolved. The Mayor’s advisory body has already approved the plans put forward by the Department of Economic Affairs. The final decision rests with the City Council. Previously, the city administration had examined 29 alternative sites for the Kleinmesse. These were ruled out, amongst other things, due to requirements regarding transport links and emissions control. The planned redevelopment of the area around the stadium, including a multi-storey car park and Arena II, could open up new possibilities for relocating the event to the Festwiese.

Homes raided in connection with the “Kollektiv Zwickau”

As part of investigations into the so-called “Kollektiv Zwickau”, the Saxony State Criminal Police Office has searched eight further flats. The searches took place at properties in Zwickau, Glauchau, Mittweida, Schwarzenberg, Leipzig, Meuselwitz and Halle (Saale). The searches were carried out today on the basis of orders issued by Dresden Magistrates’ Court.

The Dresden Public Prosecutor’s Office and the State Criminal Police Office’s Police Centre for Countering Terrorism and Extremism are now investigating 20 suspects aged between 18 and 36. They are suspected of having formed a communist political group in Zwickau in 2022. The aim of the ‘Zwickau Collective’ is said to have been to take action against far-right and misanthropic structures.

Investigators allege that the suspects planned criminal offences over a period of several years to this end, in particular assaults on those with differing political views and damage to property. The investigations to date have led to the identification of eight further suspects. During the searches, which have now been completed, the officers seized, amongst other things, technical evidence and numerous items of propaganda material. The investigation is ongoing.

What the LZ reported today:

The city council met: A local development plan for Lindenthal and the question of the lack of funds

Hello Leipzig: This is how Wednesday, 11 November 2026 begins

For Leipzig’s floodplain and the Neuseenland: Too many requirements, too many demands, but too little water and too little money?!

The separation and the emergence of house compensation payments in the town and fortress of Torgau: The search for Torgau’s common land

The Saxony State Environment Agency takes stock: water shortages are being felt throughout Saxony.

Memorial and Samizdat: opening of the double exhibition at the Bibliotheca Albertina on 12 November.

What else was important:

The Federal Ministry of Justice is working on a draft ‘Ticket Protection Act’. This is intended to stipulate that, when reselling concert and sports tickets, a mark-up of no more than 20 per cent – up to a maximum of 20 euros – on the original price will be permitted in future.

Around 6,000 schools in Italy are reported to have received emails containing bomb threats. In the Lazio region alone, around the capital Rome, over 50 schools were evacuated as a precaution. Numerous schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland were also affected by threatening emails. Here, however, the schools remained open.

The likelihood of 24-hour strikes in the German metal and electrical industry is increasing. In the collective bargaining dispute, the trade union (demanding a 5 per cent pay rise) and employers (offering 1.3 per cent) appear unable to reach an agreement. There has only ever been one full-day strike in this sector, in 2018.