Il Carnival It is one of the most anticipated festivals of the year, a celebration that involves people of all ages with parades of allegorical floats, colorful masks, dances and music. 2025 is no exception and, like every year, several cities in Italy and Europe are preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to celebrate this ancient tradition.
Below, a journey through the main dates and most spectacular events of the 2025 Carnival in Italy.
The dates of Carnival 2025
Carnival is a movable festivity, linked to Easter, and its dates vary from year to year. In 2025, the peak period of celebrations will be at the end of February, culminating with Shrove Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The official holidays begin the previous Sunday, March 2, 2025, but many Italian and European cities will kick off events as early as mid-February.
Here are some of the key dates:
- Fat Thursday: February 27, 2025
- Carnival Sunday: March 2, 2025
- Shrove Tuesday: March 4, 2025
Below are some dates of the Carnival parades in the main Italian cities.
Venice Carnival (February 8 – March 4, 2025)
One of the most famous Carnivals in the world, that of Venice, officially kicks off this week, on February 8, 2025, with a series of events, parties, and masked balls that culminate on March 4, 2025, the day of Shrove Tuesday. The Venice Carnival is famous for its elegant eighteenth-century masks and baroque costumes that recall the splendor of the Serenissima Republic. Among the unmissable moments are the “Flight of the Angel” in Piazza San Marco, scheduled for February 23, 2025, and the evocative water parade along the Grand Canal.
Carnival of Viareggio (February 9 – March 3, 2025)
Il Viareggio Carnival, one of the largest and most spectacular in Italy, has scheduled a series of parades of allegorical floats that will liven up the seaside avenues. The floats, famous for their size and political satire, will parade on different dates: February 9, 16, 23 and March 2, 2025. The event culminates with the great parade on March 3, 2025, in which the winning float of this edition will be announced. The Viareggio Carnival is an experience not to be missed for those who love tradition and fun in grand style.
Carnival of Cento (February 9 – March 2, 2025)
Another Carnival to mention is that of hundred, in the province of Ferrara, famous for its twinning with the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro. The parades of allegorical floats, characterized by bright costumes and overwhelming celebrations, will take place on the following dates: 9, 16, 23 February and 2 March 2025. The peculiarity of this Carnival is the Brazilian atmosphere that you can breathe, with samba music, dancing and a big party in the square.
The Carnival of Ivrea and the historic battle of the oranges
Il Carnival of Ivrea It is among the oldest and most evocative in Italy, famous for the historic Battle of the Oranges. The celebrations officially begin on January 6, 2025, but the most anticipated moment is the battle itself, which takes place from March 2 to 4, 2025. During these days, the streets of Ivrea are transformed into a real battlefield, where teams of orange throwers on foot and on carts challenge each other in a spectacular launch of oranges, a symbol of rebellion and freedom.
Carnival of Putignano (December 28, 2024 – March 4, 2025)
Il Putignano Carnival, in Puglia, is the longest in Italy and one of the oldest. Its origins date back to 1394, and every year it attracts thousands of visitors thanks to its parades of allegorical floats and traditional masks. The events of the 2025 Carnival begin on December 28, 2024 with the celebrations of Sant'Antonio, and continue with parades on February 9, 16, 23 and March 4, 2025.
Carnival of Acireale (February 15 – March 3, 2025)
Il Carnival of Acireale, in Sicily, is famous for its flower-decorated floats and papier-mâché floats. The main parades will be held on February 15, 16, 22, 23 and March 3, 2025. Acireale is filled with colors, flowers and music, in a festive atmosphere that attracts numerous visitors every year.Carnival in EuropeCarnival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in Europe.
The main Carnival events in Europe
Among the main events in Europe we certainly find the Carnival of Nice in France, famous for its fireworks displays, of Tenerife where one of the largest Carnivals in the world takes place, Cologne, one of the most popular in Germany, known for the “Rosenmontag”, Rose Monday, which is celebrated on February 24, 2025 with a large parade of floats and masked groups.
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