Italy · 5 days
5 Days in Venice
A city built on water that shouldn't exist and somehow still does. Five days to see past the crowds and find the Venice Venetians live in.
Updated Oct 2026Read the plan →
Carnival festival · Venice, Italy
Venice Carnival
Carnevale di Venezia
When is it
23 Jan – 9 Feb 2027
in 71 days
Confirmed · carnevale.venezia.it, checked 11 Nov 2026
At a glance
- Where
- Venice, Italy
- Usually
- Late January to Shrove Tuesday; the start and the length change from year to year
- Kind
- Carnival, Folk and Tradition, Arts and Film
Venice does not need a festival to look theatrical, but in carnival season it leans into it. Masks and period costumes appear on the bridges and in Piazza San Marco, and private palaces, as in the days of the old Republic, turn into places for dancing. The city calls the earliest evidence of the carnival 1094, and after almost two centuries without it, the carnival was revived in 1979. What you see today is a modern festival with old roots.
The 2027 edition runs from 23 January to 9 February. The ending is fixed by the calendar: Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, which in 2027 is 9 February. The start changes from year to year, so the length does too. The 2026 edition ran from 31 January to 17 February.
The opening weekend is the busiest and the most public. In 2026 it began on a Saturday with a parade and the Gran Ballo di Carnevale in Piazza San Marco, and on the Sunday a water celebration on the Grand Canal with a procession of gondolas. Through the following days the programme moves into the squares with street shows, workshops and exhibitions. For an evening in costume, the official Carnival Dinner Show is held at Ca' Vendramin Calergi on the Grand Canal. The final days are quieter, with float parades on the mainland at Zelarino and a closing evening show.
How to go. The programme for 2027 is not out yet, so book the room first and pick the events later. Weekends are crowded, and the first weekend is the most crowded. Streets in the old town are narrow, so allow extra time to reach any show. Costumes are rented all over the city, but you do not need one to enjoy the streets. Dress for the damp cold: it is the middle of winter on a lagoon.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 23 Jan – 9 Feb | Confirmed | carnevale.venezia.it |
| 2026 | 31 Jan – 17 Feb | Confirmed | tg24.sky.it |
Venice Carnival: FAQ
When is the Venice Carnival 2027?
From 23 January to 9 February 2027, according to the organiser.
Why does the end date change every year?
The carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which depends on the date of Easter.
Plan the trip
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