Host Nation Update, Feb. 6, 2026
Voltage Drop in Stuttgart Switching Error by an Employee Led to Power Outage
Parts of Stuttgart experienced a temporary power outage. It is now clear: the cause was an error in a switching facility. The grid operator rules out sabotage. The large-scale power outage in Stuttgart was caused by a switching error made by an employee at a substation, according to the grid operator Stuttgart Netze.
According to Stuttgart Netze, the voltage drop in the high voltage sector lasted just 0.06 seconds. Construction work is currently taking place at the substation.
The drop was corrected in less than a second, Stuttgart Netze reported.
In the city, however, the outage had broader effects. The fire department had to respond to several incidents, and fire alarms were triggered across the entire city. There were no actual fires. Larger rescue operations—such as people trapped in elevators—did not occur, according to a fire department spokesperson. By midday, the number of incidents had decreased significantly, and operations were returning to normal, the spokesperson said. Some traffic lights were temporarily out of service; police deployed patrol units to direct traffic. In many offices, the internet also went down. Shortly afterward, the power supply across the city area was once again consistently stable.
A brief flicker, major impact
Even though the power was only out for a brief moment, the voltage drop in the high voltage grid had noticeable consequences for many people. This is because the power grid in Germany is a highly sensitive system. The interaction between its different levels is finely balanced. Even small deviations can lead to larger problems.
Following streets will be closed from Friday to Tuesday during Leonberg Horse Market
During the five-day Leonberg Horse Market, many streets will be closed for varying lengths of time. Here is an overview of the traffic restrictions. Several closures and traffic restrictions are necessary for the organization and safety of organizers and visitors. A regional detour is signposted, as is the emergency detour for the highway.
Friday, Feb. 6 Schlossstraße will be closed between Oberamteistraße and Zwerchstraße from 4 pm to 8 pm due to the opening ceremony at the market square; parking restrictions will be in place on Schlossstraße during this time.
Sunday, Feb. 8 Steinstraße will be closed from 9 a.m. Residents can use the indoor swimming pool parking lot and the town hall parking lot as alternatives. Access to private parking spaces will also be permitted. A free shuttle bus service will be available for visitors, with a stop at “Festplatz” (Festival Grounds To allow for the positioning of the horse trailers, Fichtestraße and Schleiermacherstraße will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. onwards; residents are exempt from this closure. Additionally, parking restrictions will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Fichtestraße, Schleiermacherstraße, and Römerstraße between the fire station and Hainbuchenweg.
Monday, Feb. 9 Steinstraße will be closed from noon until the cleaning work is completed on Wednesday.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 Steinstraße will remain closed all day due to the market. Access to and from the street will not be possible. Starting at 9 a.m., Grabenstraße and Eltinger Straße between Grabenstraße and Lindenstraße will be closed. After the parade and once the parade route has been cleaned, the road closures will gradually reopen to traffic until approximately 6 p.m. The Old Town is an exception; access at the Grabenstraße/Graf-Eberhard-Straße intersection will be blocked until 8 p.m.
Additionally, Schlossstraße and Klosterstraße will remain completely closed from the Zwerchstraße intersection (upper market square) due to the increased number of visitors in the Old Town after the parade. Entry into the old town area is possible via the Sonnenkreuzung (Graf-Ulrich Straße).
Fasching (Carnival) dates in the Böblingen district: Fools, witches, and devils are now in charge
Large parades, parties, storming of the town hall, children’s carnival: there is something for everyone. A call to celebrate Carnival cheerfully and peacefully.
The “fifth season” is earlier and shorter this year than last year. There are lots of events in the Böblingen district:
On Saturday, Feb. 7, starting at 8 p.m., the town hall in Holzgerlingen will be transformed into a wild carnival stronghold by the handball department of SpVgg Holzgerlingen and HSG Schönbuch. Whether dressed as a pirate, nurse, or ladybug, everyone celebrates until the early hours of the morning at the annual “Schäbberlesball.”
Weil der Stadt is a stronghold of Fasnet – the AHA carnival guild puts on a big program every year for the crazy days. Highlights include the Narrensprung (fools’ parade) with the storming of the town hall on February 8.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m., the horse market parade will take place in Leonberg, where regional masked groups traditionally join in the second half of the parade.
Feb. 12, the town hall storms will take place: the fools from Blau-Weiss Sindelfingen will storm the town hall of their mayor Markus Kleemann, his premiere – starting at 5 p.m. In Gärtringen, too, the fools will storm the town hall on this day: it starts at 5:17 p.m. In Böblingen, the storming of the town hall will take place at around 3:30 p.m. – the Böblingen kindergartens will also take part again.
And, of course, the Schönaich town hall will also be firmly in the hands of the fools from Feb. 12 onwards. At 5:17 p.m. – the craziest time of day – the Gärtringen fools’ future will storm the town hall with all their might. And Herrenberg’s mayor, Nico Reith, will also be deposed: the storming of the town hall will begin there at 5 p.m.
Friday, Feb 13, the twilight parade will take place in Gärtringen at 4:16 p.m. An after-parade party will be held in the Schwarzwaldhalle on Steingrubenweg, with admission costing eight euros.
Saturday, Feb. 14, the Fasching parade will take place in Deckenpfronn starting at 2 p.m. In Gärtringen, the Kinderfasnet children’s carnival will take place in the Schwarzwaldhalle on the same day from 1:13 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The city will be particularly crowded when the Weiler Narren roll through the streets of the old town with dozens of friendly Fasnets groups and some spectacular floats during the big parade on Sunday, Feb. 15 in Weil der Stadt, starting at 2 p.m.
Feb. 16, the Rosenmontag parade will take place in Böblingen at around 1 p.m. The organizers are hoping for the best winter weather: sunshine and blue skies for the subsequent party on Elbenplatz.
Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m., the Grün-Weiß Böblingen association invites you back to the Kongresshalle, Boeblingen for a children’s carnival with music, games, and lots of surprises. Also, the Hausemer Schnaidrebbler invite you to the Rosenmontag ball in the Schönbuchhalle in Hildrizhausen. And the Stuttgart Fasching parade will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in down town Stuttgart.
Wednesday, Feb. 17, Shrove Tuesday, the Fasnetsumzug carnival parade will take place through the old town of Herrenberg.
Weather in Baden-Württemberg Where the risk of icy conditions is increasing in the southwest
Freezing rain and black ice are leading to slippery roads in Baden-Württemberg. The risk is particularly high at night. – Roads in Baden-Württemberg could become slippery in the coming days. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), widespread black ice is expected, and persistent fog will linger in many areas. Drivers and pedestrians must prepare for a dangerous mix of frost and rain. It could be particularly slippery on Friday night: According to the DWD, freezing rain is possible in the south – with an increased risk of icy conditions. The regions south of Freiburg and west of Konstanz are particularly affected. “When the rain falls on the frozen ground, the risk of icy conditions increases,” said a DWD meteorologist. But first, Thursday will be pleasant, with sunshine possible in many areas. Nights remain frosty Towards the end of the week, it will become cloudy and rainy again, with highs in the Breisgau region climbing to as high as 12 degrees Celsius. According to experts, temperatures will generally range between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius. Saturday will also start unsettled, but some breaks in the cloud cover are in sight. It should remain dry. With temperatures ranging from 6 degrees Celsius in the east to 14 degrees Celsius in the west, the sun might even make an appearance at times. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), nights will remain prone to frost – meaning the risk of icy roads will remain high, especially in the early morning hours. Those traveling by car should allow extra time for their journeys and drive carefully in the coming days.