Lord Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons opened the session today at 11.11 a.m. in the White Hall of Aachen's Town Hall with a threefold "Oche Alaaf" together with the designated royalty. Together with the President of the Aachen Carnival Festival Committee (AAK), Frank Prömpeler, and the Vice-President of the Aachen Carnival Association (AKV), Martin Speicher, Ziemons welcomed the designated Aachen Carnival Prince 2026, Lukas I. Brepols, as well as the designated Prince Charming Phil II.

The group For Fun presented the AAK's theme song "E Oche sprengt än danzt de janze Welt". Prince-designate Lukas I and Prince Charming Phil II also performed their songs.

"Thank you very much for the great honor you have bestowed on me. I think everyone here knows what carnival means to me," said Ziemons happily when Prince-designate Lukas I appointed him adjutant of the court of honor.

Ziemons thanked the active carnivalists: "What makes carnival in this city is more than economic performance and also more than tradition. It's liveliness and celebration, it's also mental hygiene, simply letting your hair down. You bring to the stages of this city what Aachen is all about: joie de vivre and freedom. That's what you give people and that's important. That applies to all clubs - it's not just the good atmosphere and the party, you work all year round. Thank you very much for that!"

Also present were various representatives of the Aachen Carnival, Aachen Carnival Association (AKV), Elferrat and Senate, Aachen Carnival Festival Committee (AAK), Aachen Children's Carnival Working Committee (AKiKa) as well as presidents and commanders of the clubs represented in the AAK.