Carnival in Italy is one of those festivals that completely takes over everyday life. In the weeks before Lent, streets fill with masks, music and the smell of fried sweets, with every region claiming to be the best place to celebrate Carnival in Italy.
Where is the best place to celebrate Carnival in Italy?
Italy’s Carnival, or Carnevale, is a full‑on sensory overload: centuries‑old rituals, huge parades, baroque masks and spontaneous street performances. Each region puts its own spin on it, from elegant masked balls in palaces to giant paper‑mâché floats rolling along the seafront.
Carnival of Venice, Veneto
If you picture Carnival in Italy, you’re probably imagining Venice. The city's Carnival dates back to the 11th century and really took off during the Renaissance.
The 2026 Venice Carnival has a packed calendar of masquerade balls in historic palaces, parades on the water and performances in the squares all over the city. Every year has a different theme, with events both in the historic centre and out on the mainland.
- Dates: 31st January - 17th February 2026
- Website: www.carnevale.venezia.it
Carnival of Cento, Ferrara
The Carnival of Cento in Emilia‑Romagna is a brilliant option if you want big parades but a less touristy feel than Venice. This small town near Ferrara has built a huge reputation, with one of Europe’s most famous series of Sunday Carnival parades.
The stars of the show are the allegorical floats: massive, carefully crafted structures that roll through town, often poking fun at politics and pop culture. There’s a very local, communal vibe.
- Dates: 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd February, and 1st March 2026
- Website: www.carnevalecento.com
Carnival of Viareggio, Lucca
If you like the idea of Carnival by the sea, the Carnival of Viareggio in Tuscany is a great shout. Viareggio is a Belle Époque seaside town, and during Carnival, its long promenade turns into one big open‑air stage.
The main draw is the line‑up of enormous paper‑mâché floats, some several storeys high. They’re meticulously built in local workshops and often carry witty, satirical messages about Italian and international politics. Between the floats, there are bands, dancers and costumed groups weaving through the crowds.
- Dates: 1st to 21st February 2026
- Website: www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com
Carnival of Putignano, Apulia
Down in the south, the Carnival of Putignano in Apulia gives you a very different, more small‑town atmosphere – but with a history to match Venice. It’s one of the oldest and longest‑running Carnivals in Italy, held in the town of Putignano near Bari.
Here the focus is on colourful costumes, traditional music and the famous mascarieddi. These are imaginative, brightly coloured masks that turn the streets into a walking gallery.
- Dates: 1st to 17th February 2026
- Website: www.carnevalediputignano.com
What is the biggest carnival in Italy?
The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is generally considered the biggest and most famous Carnival in Italy. It’s the one that draws international visitors, photographers and costume designers every year, and it’s the event most people think of when they hear “Italian Carnival”.
One of the standout Venice carnival moments is the Flight of the Angel (Volo dell’Angelo), when a performer – in full costume – glides down on a cable from the bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica into the square below.
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