🎟️ Where to go for carnival in 2027: dates, cities and tickets

Eight European cities will dive back into carnival in winter 2027. Venice opens the season in late January, Nice closes it on February 28, and in between come Cologne, Dusseldorf, Basel, Sitges, Binche, and Cadiz. The dates determine accommodation prices, grandstand ticket costs, and how crowded it gets at the barriers.

Below you will find the dates for each carnival and what is worth booking in advance. We have arranged the eight cities by date so you can match a trip to your available days.

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Masked and costumed participants of the Venice Carnival in the square

Carnival winter follows a predictable pattern: the closer to Ash Wednesday, the denser the program. The Venetians are the first to take to the streets, while Basel starts last, with Fasnacht following its own calendar.

Carnival winter 2027: the essentials

💡 In short:

Venice: January 23 to February 9, 2027.
Nice: February 9 to 28, 2027, theme "Vive l'Amour".
Cologne: Weiberfastnacht February 4, Rosenmontag February 8.
Dusseldorf: Rosenmontag February 8, 2027.
Basel: February 15 to 18, 2027.
Binche: February 7 to 9, 2027.
Sitges: February 2027, exact dates published by the city council.
Cadiz: February 4 to 14, 2027.
Dates and themes: verified on 09/12/2026 on the organizers' official websites.

We checked the season dates on 09/12/2026 against the official calendars: the Venice Carnival follows the program on its website, and the Nice theme was announced by the Nice carnival calendar. Some cities confirm their dates later than others, so it is worth reopening the table before buying tickets.

Carnival	Best time	What to see
Venice	late January and the first week of February	balls, masks, water parade
Nice	corso weekends	flower battle and evening parades
Cologne	Rosenmontag	floats, bands, crowds in costume
Dusseldorf	Altweiberfastnacht and Rosenmontag	storming of the city hall and parade
Basel	Morgestraich on Monday	lanterns, drums, Cortège
Sitges	carnival weekend	Gran Rua and street costumes
Binche	Sunday and Tuesday	Gille with oranges
Cadiz	final weekend	satirical verses and parades

1. Venice: masquerade on the water

The Venice Carnival runs from January 23 to February 9, 2027, with the program published on the official website. The key events take place in St. Mark's Square and along the surrounding waterfront: orchestras play there, and a water parade of decorated boats moves through the canals.

Palace balls are sold separately from the street program. The halls hold a limited number of guests, and some evenings are sold only as a package with dinner. If you do not need a ball, head to the city squares: street access is free, and masks and costumes are sold in shops throughout the center.

Plan your accommodation in advance. During carnival, rooms in the historic center get more expensive, and some visitors choose Mestre, where a train runs to Santa Lucia station.

When: January 23 to February 9, 2027.
What to see: balls, masks at St. Mark's Square, water parade.
The catch: hotels in the center get more expensive during these days, so book months ahead.
Hotels: Venice hotels on Trip.com

2. Nice: flower battle on the Promenade des Anglais

Nice holds its carnival from February 9 to 28, 2027, under the theme "Vive l'Amour" (as of 09/2026, Côte d'Azur tourist office). The program is built around two formats: daytime corsos with floats and evening parades with lighting. In between comes the flower battle, when fresh blossoms are thrown from the floats into the crowd.

Grandstand seats for the corso and the flower battle are paid, so it is better to buy tickets in advance. The street program is accessible without a ticket, but the barriers are always crowded.

The action takes place on the Promenade des Anglais and at Place Masséna. Book a hotel closer to the promenade, and you can walk to the parades.

When: February 9-28, 2027.
What to see: corso, the flower battle, evening illuminations.
The catch: grandstands are paid, and free spots are scarce on parade days.
Hotels: hotel prices in Nice

3. Cologne: Kölle Alaaf and the Rosenmontag parade

Cologne builds its carnival week around three dates: Weiberfastnacht on February 4, Rosenmontag on February 8, and Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2027 (as of 09/2026, Ruhr Nachrichten). The week's main event takes place on Monday: a procession of floats and bands moves through the city center for several hours.

Get to the route an hour or two early, otherwise you will end up in the back rows. German parades move slowly, so you will have time to take in the costumes and hear the music.

Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge over the Rhine

Look for a hotel near the main train station or in the Neustadt district: from there it is easy to walk to the route and avoid depending on closed streets.

When: Weiberfastnacht on February 4, Rosenmontag on February 8, 2027.
What to see: the Monday parade, costumes, and bands.
The catch: on Monday the city center is closed off, and after the parade the metro is packed.
Hotels: Cologne hotels for the carnival weekend

4. Düsseldorf: Altweiberfastnacht and Rosenmontagszug

In Düsseldorf, carnival week starts with Altweiberfastnacht on February 4, 2027, and ends with Rosenmontag on February 8 (as of 09/2026, Düsseldorf carnival calendar). On Thursday, women traditionally symbolically take power and storm the city hall, and on Monday the Rosenmontagszug moves through the city.

The route runs through the city center, so some streets are closed from the morning. Check the program in advance and pick a spot on a wide street: there you can see the whole procession.

Wilhelm Marx House and pavilion in central Düsseldorf

If you are going for just one day, take a hotel near the station: trains from Cologne run frequently, and you will be back in the evening.

When: February 4-8, 2027.
What to see: Altweiberfastnacht on Thursday, Rosenmontagszug on Monday.
The catch: the city center is closed to cars, so looking for parking is pointless.
Hotels: Düsseldorf hotels

5. Basel: Fasnacht and Morgestraich at four in the morning

Basel Fasnacht 2027 runs from February 15 to 18, and it starts on Monday at four in the morning with Morgestraich (as of 09/2026, Basel Tourismus). At that moment, the lights in the city center go out and only the painted lanterns remain: participants march with drums and flutes along the announced route.

Fasnacht is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, so visitors come from all over Europe. It all wraps up on Thursday morning with the Ändstraich.

Pick your viewing spot in advance: by around four in the morning, there are almost no good spots left along the route.

When: February 15 to 18, 2027.
What to see: Morgestraich, Cortège, painted lanterns.
The catch: it starts at four in the morning, and you need to claim a spot along the route in advance.
Hotels: Basel hotels

6. Sitges: Carnival on the Catalonian coast

Sitges sits on the coast just outside Barcelona, and during carnival week the town center turns into a stage: the costumes here are brighter, and the parades run along the sea. The city council announces the calendar separately, so check the dates before buying tickets and book your accommodation with some buffer.

Panorama of Sitges with a church on the headland and beaches

The main events of the week are the Dijous Gras and Gran Rua street parades. Floats, costumed groups, and bands move through the streets. Getting there is easy: suburban trains run from Barcelona to Sitges, and you get off almost in the center of town.

When: February, exact dates are published by the city council.
What to see: Dijous Gras, Gran Rua, street costumes.
The catch: the city council confirms dates later than other cities, so book your tickets with some buffer.
Hotels: Sitges hotels

7. Binche: Gille and oranges

The Carnival of Binche runs from February 7 to 9, 2027 (as of 09/2026, official website). The main figures of the carnival are called Gille: participants in costumes in the Belgian national colors and huge hats with ostrich feathers walk through the center and throw oranges into the crowd.

Panorama of Binche with a church and houses on the hill

Before the parade, the Gille traditionally drink champagne and eat oysters, so Sunday morning starts early. There are few hotels in Binche itself, and some guests stay in Mons or Brussels.

If you are standing in the front rows, stay away from the throwing line: the oranges come in fast and dense.

When: February 7 to 9, 2027.
What to see: the morning gathering of the Gille, the orange-throwing parade.
The catch: the Gille throw oranges into the crowd, so choose your spot in the front rows carefully.

8. Cadiz: eleven days of satire

Cadiz celebrates from February 4 to 14, 2027 (as of 09/2026, Cadiz tourism office). For eleven days, the program is built on coplas: choirs and quartets perform satirical songs about politics and everyday life, and at the end two large processions move through the city.

The competition evenings take place at the Falla theater before the street week begins, so tickets for them sell out in advance. If you are going for the atmosphere, get tickets for the final weekend: that is when the streets are at full throttle.

When: February 4 to 14, 2027.
What to see: satirical coplas, evening parades, the final processions.
The catch: tickets for the competition evenings go fast, and there are almost no seats left.
Hotels: Cadiz hotels

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When does carnival season start in Europe?

The season kicks off in late January, with the Venice Carnival opening first. Then Nice, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Binche, Cadiz, Sitges, and Basel join in. Nice finishes last, with its carnival running until February 28. Check the exact dates in the table above: some cities confirm their dates a few months before the start.

Do I need to buy tickets in advance?

Street parades do not require tickets; you watch them from the sidewalk for free. Paid grandstands are available in Nice, while balls and evening shows in Venice are sold by seat. The closer you get to Ash Wednesday, the faster paid seats sell out, so it is better to sort this out in advance.

Where should I go if I am traveling with children?

Daytime parades are more convenient than evening ones. In Cologne and Dusseldorf, the processions move in daylight, and in Nice the flower battle takes place during the day. In Binche, it is best not to stand in the front rows near the throwing line. For a quiet evening, choose a hotel away from the parade route.

How much does accommodation cost during carnival dates?

Prices depend on the city and how close you are to the route. In Venice and Nice, central hotels see the biggest price increases; in Cadiz and Cologne, it is cheaper to stay near the train station and walk. Book several months ahead: closer to the festival, options shrink and available rooms disappear.

Can I catch two carnivals in one trip?

Yes, if the cities are close to each other. Cologne and Dusseldorf are less than an hour apart, and Nice is connected to Italian cities by train. Check the dates: some carnivals run simultaneously on the same weekends, and then you will have to pick one city.

In short: what to book

If you only have a long weekend: go for Venice or Nice.

If you want a loud parade with music: choose Cologne and Dusseldorf.

If you are after traditions: Basel with Fasnacht and Binche with Gille.

If you are traveling from Barcelona: check the carnival dates in Sitges.

If you want the south: plan Cadiz for the second weekend of February.

Tickets for carnival shows and excursions are easy to find on GetYourGuide.

Carnivals of Europe 2027: 8 cities and their dates