Venice Carnival 2026

Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is one of Europe’s most elaborate pre-Lenten festivals, running for approximately 18 days before Shrove Tuesday. In 2026 it runs from 14 February to 3 March (Martedi Grasso). Venice has staged carnival celebrations for centuries — records of the festival date to the 13th century, and the wearing of masks was codified by the Venetian Republic as a means of temporarily erasing social distinctions. The modern carnival was revived in 1979 after a long post-Napoleonic decline and has grown steadily into a major international event.

What happens during Carnival

The focus of public events is Piazza San Marco, where costumed and masked figures gather throughout the festival, particularly on weekends. The most spectacular single moment is the Volo dell’Angelo (Flight of the Angel) on the first Sunday of Carnival: a costumed figure is lowered by wire from the campanile of San Marco down to the piazza below, to the cheers of the crowd. In recent years a second flight — the Volo dell’Aquila (Flight of the Eagle) — closes the final weekend.

Throughout the festival, events include outdoor concerts, theatrical performances, historical processions, a traditional boat parade on the Grand Canal, and a competition for the best mask and costume (La Maschera piu Bella). The narrow calli (streets) of the Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, and Castello districts fill with costumed figures in the afternoons.

Private masquerade balls are a central part of the festival. Tickets to the major licensed balls — often held in historic palaces along the Grand Canal — range from approximately EUR 150 to EUR 500 per person. The most atmospheric balls book out months in advance; see carnevale.venezia.it for the official 2026 programme.

Masks and costumes

The traditional Venetian masks — the bauta (full-face white mask with a square jaw), the moretta (small black oval mask), and the commedia dell’arte characters such as Arlecchino and Colombina — are sold throughout the city. Quality masks are hand-painted and made from papier-mache; prices from specialist maskmakers begin at around EUR 30 for simple pieces and rise to hundreds of euros for elaborate pieces. The Rialto and San Marco tourist stalls sell cheap mass-produced plastic masks — easy to spot by comparison.

Practical tips

Venice during Carnival is extremely crowded on weekends, particularly the first and final weekends. Hotel prices increase significantly; book accommodation months in advance. The city imposes crowd-control measures (entry gates, one-way pedestrian flows) on the busiest days — particularly around San Marco and Rialto.

Acqua alta (high tides) is possible throughout February and early March. Pack waterproof boots or bring overshoes — rental boots are available from shops near major entry points. The city’s raised walkways (passerelle) are installed automatically when tides are forecast.

For more on visiting Venice, see our Venice city guide and our 2 days in Venice itinerary. Our Italy in February guide covers what else is open across the country in winter.