France · 5 days
5 Days in Nice
The capital of the Riviera: a Baroque old town, a pebble beach seven kilometers long and Monaco twenty minutes away by train.
Updated Oct 2026Read the plan →
Carnival festival · Place Masséna, Nice, France
Nice Carnival
Carnaval de Nice
When is it
9–28 Feb 2027
in 88 days
Confirmed · nicecarnaval.com, checked 11 Nov 2026
At a glance
- Where
- Place Masséna, Nice, France
- Usually
- February, about three weeks; the dates move with the calendar and are announced each year
- Kind
- Carnival
On a February evening the Place Masséna in Nice turns into an arena. Giant satirical floats roll through the square after dark, in the parades of lights. By day, the flower parades take over the same square.
Nice has celebrated carnival for centuries: the earliest record is from 1294, when a Count of Provence wrote that he had spent "the joyous days of carnival" in the town. The modern form, with a parade, masquerades and satirical floats, dates from 1873, when a committee led by the artist Alexis Mossa reinvented it. Each year has a theme, and the figures are built around it. The theme of the 2027 edition is "Long live love".
The 2027 edition runs from 9 to 28 February. The programme starts on Saturday 13 February with La Carnavalina, which is free, and an opening parade of lights at 21:00. After that come parades of lights on 16, 20, 23 and 27 February, flower parades on 17, 20, 24 and 27 February, and a Carnival Parade "d'aqui" on 21 February. All of them are at Masséna, and the organisers say the programme may change.
How to go: Nice has an international airport and trains along the coast, and our five-day Nice guide covers the city. Reserve parade tickets on the official ticketing site and book a room early. The Lemon Festival in nearby Menton runs from 13 to 28 February 2027, so the two fit into one trip.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 9–28 Feb | Confirmed | nicecarnaval.com |
Nice Carnival: FAQ
When is Nice Carnival 2027?
From 9 to 28 February 2027. The main parades are at Place Masséna, starting with La Carnavalina on 13 February.
Is Nice Carnival free?
La Carnavalina is free. For the parades, tickets are sold through the official site; check the programme for each date.
Plan the trip
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