Fasnacht and its Blaggedde

2026’s Basel Carnival badge with the motto «Blyyb verspiilt» (stay playful) represents the energy and vigour that children and adolescents give to the event in the middle of the “three most beautiful days”. In a world full of uncertainty, the Carnival offers a framework for celebrating a colourful, creative and playful festival with the lightness, waggishness and joy so typical of children. This energy is embodied in the badge by a cheeky, happy kid.

Blaggedde 2026

The 2026 badge designer, Orlando, was inspired by the great popularity the Basel Carnival enjoys with youngsters and the record number of participants in last year’s Basel School Carnival. The BSFIDI (Basel School Carnival in the Inner City) had around 14,000 children, helpers and participants, more attendees than the cortège. With a kid playing its piccolo, Orlando has designed a badge that, in his own words, is “radically different” to previous ones. He thinks that, as far as artistic creativity is concerned, the cities should lead the way and the Basel Carnival itself should be prepared to do something new, courageous and creative.

The badge has been deliberately designed with only a single figure, which can certainly be interpreted as minimalistic. Basel’s coat of arms, the Baslerstab, doubles as the kid’s cap and follows the same logic. Orlando wants his badge to be understood as being “drawn by a child’s hand”. To quote him: “Actually, Carnival gives us everything that we already loved as children: going out at night, being noisy, making a mess, dressing up and traipsing around the town with friends”.

Getting a Badge

Prices this year are bronze CHF 10, silver CHF 20, gold CHF 50, bijou badge CHF 100 and bijou pendant CHF 100. The money goes to the cliques. Badges can be bought at kiosks and shops in various parts of the city, as well as from cliques and sellers, e.g., at the SBB railway station.    

Freely translated from the text on the Fasnacht Committee site.
Picture: https://www.fasnachts-comite.ch.