Venice Carnival – Your guide to the carnival in Venice

The Venice Carnival dates back to the 12th century. Revived officially in 1979, it takes place in the weeks before Lent. While carnival is celebrated all across Italy (and most of Europe really), the Venice Carnival is by far the most unique one.

While some other carnivals focus on vibrant colors and bold, thematic outfits, the Venice Carnival places a strong emphasis on elaborate masks and opulent costumes, reflecting the grandeur of Venetian history.

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I’ve had the opportunity to attend Carnival in different parts of Europe and Venice certainly sets itself apart!

Throughout the Carnival, Venice hosts a variety of events, including street performances, live music, theatrical shows, grand parades, regattas on the canals, and competitions for the best masks and costumes.

When is the Venice Carnival

The Venice Carnival, or Carnevale di Venezia, takes place in the weeks leading up to Lent. Exact dates vary each year as they are calculated based on the Easter date, which changes annually and is determined by the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.

The Carnevale lasts for 10 days and it usually begins in late January or early February. It culminates on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Martedì Grasso, which is the day before Ash Wednesday when Lent begins.

Carnival of Venice dates:

2024 Venice Carnival dates: 03.02.2024 – 13.02.2024

2025 Venice Carnival dates: 22.02.2025 – 04.03.2025

2026 Venice Carnival dates: 07.02.2026 – 17.02.2026

2027 Venice Carnival dates: 30.01.2027 – 09.02.2027

2028 Venice Carnival dates: 19.02.2028 – 29.02.2028

Where to stay during the Venice Carnival 

The best area to base yourself for to be at the center of the action at Carnival in Venice is the San Marco. This is the most central area in Venice and home to the majority of attractions and Carnival events.

If you prefer a more authentic Italian experience or you’ve been here before then basing yourself in Cannareggio or Dorsoduro is a good (and more affordable) option.

When picking your accommodation in Venice you might want to choose a canal-side hotel for the ultimate Venetian experience.

Related: Where to stay in Venice

Venice Carnival events and things to do

Carnival opening parade

The official opening of the great Carnevale di Venezia takes place after dark in the Grand Canal as colorful boats float by with acrobats, fire-toilers, music, and candlelights bringing magic into the night.

This is easily one of the most breathtaking performances during the carnival as the entire atmosphere leaves everyone watching completely spellbound. With such a fabulous performance kicking off the event, you can rest assured that the rest of the carnival will knock your socks off!

Il Volo dell’Angelo

Make sure you don’t miss out on the Volo dell’Angelo, which means the Flight of the Angel. This incredible opening ceremony to the Carnival of Venice roots back to the 16th century. Standing amidst cheering crowds on St. Mark’s Square watching the “the angel” (a woman dressed in a colorful carnival dress) slowly descend 80 meters from the top of St Mark’s Belltower, only attached to a rope will take your breath away.

The tradition started when a young Turkish acrobat walked up to the top of the bell tower on a rope from the pier. On the way down, he stopped by the Dodge’s balcony to pay respect to him. Several acrobats did this in the years to come.

Festa delle Marie

Witness a centuries-old tradition where 12 pretty Venetian girls in pompous dresses compete for the title of Maria of Carnival.

It started as a gift from the Dodge who picked 12 girls from the lower end of society who got married on the day of the purification of Mary. He dressed them up in beautiful dresses and presented them with a dowry. 

Now, the beauty contest is an integral part of the famous Italian carnival. After the ceremony, make sure you join in on the traditional Farondola dance across St. Marks Square.

Join a mask-making class

While strolling through the charming streets of Venice you’ll come across numerous shops selling gorgeously decorated Venetian masks, a popular souvenir from Venice.

However, you can also create your very own unique mask! Join this mask-making class and unleash your creativity. Then go win some contests with your own handy work!

In the production class, an expert artisan will guide you through the process of creating your own unique papier-mâché mask. In the decoration class, you’ll have the opportunity to paint and personalize your masterpiece. Choose one or both!

Book your mask-making course

Do some sightseeing

Whether you visit during the carnival of Venice or not, you must make time for some sightseeing. Your Venice itinerary is not complete without a visit to the St. Mark’s Basilica and Palazzo Ducale which are both located on St. Mark’s Square where many of the carnival events take place.

To get a break from the crowds, I recommend taking this guided tour of Venice’s hidden gems which includes some famous spots but also takes you through secret alleys. If you are a foodie, joining a food tour is a great way to avoid the tourist traps with bad and overpriced food.

Venice hidden gems tour

Watch the Parades

When walking around the streets it is impossible to not stumble upon one of the many street parades that take place during the carnival in Venice. A cocktail of music, colors, elegance, humor, and incredible artistic creativity fill the larger streets of the city and St. Mark’s Square. It literally feels like you traveled back in time!

Besides, there are some bigger parades with carriages in Mestre, Lido, and the areas around Venice where cars are allowed. And of course, you can’t miss out on the water parade on the Grand Canal.

Enter a Costume Contest

If you decide to dress up, why not go the whole mile and enter a carnevale costumes contest? You will be parading on the catwalk amongst the most elaborate costumes and Venetian carnival masks in front of thousands of spectators.

If this sounds like fun, make sure you make it a reality as this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and will engrave into your memory book for eternity as one of your best travel memories of all times!

Do a Carnival treasure hunt

Going on a carnival-themed treasure hunt is one of the fun things to do in Venice during carnival. Armed with a map and your phone, you will uncover secrets about the carnival as you navigate hidden alleyways and explore the city’s attractions.

Once the treasure is yours – a white Venetian carnival mask – you will paint it yourself with the help of a professional mask painter.

Book your Carnival treasure hunt

Concerts and Street Performances

As the carnival goes by, you will come across several concerts and street performances where you can admire masks and costumes from every corner of the world. There is so much artistic talent on street corners and squares, but especially in St Mark’s Square.

Fun theater plays depict historical events and acrobats impress with their skills. Because it is the carnival, everyone is dressed up in interesting historical costumes making every performance unique.

Do a Giro d’Ombra

Make sure you join a traditional carnival pub crawl during your trip. It is a great way to get introduced to different bars and try some local wines.

Giro d’Ombra translates to “Shadow Round” which makes no sense, right? Well, in Venice, they call a glass of wine Ombra (shade) – deriving from the times when wine in Venice was enjoyed standing up in the shade of St. Mark’s belltower.

I especially enjoyed this tour as you meet other travelers and the guide told us many fun stories and filled us in on the history of the sights we walked passed between the bars.

Join the Carnival pub crawl

Attend a masquerade ball or dinner

Get into an elegant costume, hide behind a Venetian mask, and enter a true Venice masquerade ball. Indulge in a 5-course dinner, mingle without revealing your identity, and dance the night away.

Many fancy hotels organize them, like Ca’ Vendramin Ball which is set in a 15th-century palace along the canal, or the Casanova Ball which takes place in the elegant Palazzo Contarini. Don’t miss the chance to learn dance steps from ball dances from the 1700s and 1800s at the Carnival Extravaganza Ball.

Most dinner balls require a historical costume and mask. But if you don’t have that, you can attend an after-dinner party where the dress code just requires a black suit and tie or a long evening dress and of course masks.

Try the traditional sweets

During the carnival, Venice dishes up some special sweet treats you can’t miss! The most popular is Fritelle, which is only sold a few weeks before the carnival and disappears as the festivities end. These are deep-fried pastry balls dusted with sugar. Some are filled with cream, chocolate rum, or the Italian favorite, Nutella.

Other sweets to try are Castagnole (small fried dough balls drizzled with icing sugar,), Galani (flat deep-fried pastry,) and Ravioli di Carnevale (sweet, deep-fried ravioli.)

See the Flight of the Lion

The Flight of the Lion (Svolo del Leone) is the iconic end ceremony of the Venetian carnival. Make sure you watch as a giant flag with the city’s symbol, a lion, gets hoisted up to the top of St. Mark’s Belltower. Make sure you stay till the end when a massive fireworks show lights up the city.

See the Candle-lit Boat Parade

On the final night of the carnival, you will be amazed by the so-called “Silent Regatta” when thousands of lights are lit up in the participating boats and along the Grand Canal.

As opposed to the lively and colorful event that is coming to an end, this parade consists of black boats and crews dressed in black. All electric lights along the Grand Canal are switched off, letting the candle lights work their magic.

Once the boats reach St. Mark’s, thousands of white paper lanterns are released into the air symbolizing the beginning of Lent.

Venice Carnival tickets

Some events, like fancy masquerade balls, require invitations and pricey tickets, but there are also free activities for the public, such as the candle-lit boat parade, concerts, and street performances.

How to dress for the Carnival in Venice

Most tourists and children don’t dress up for the carnival in Venice, except, they might buy or make a Venetian mask when they arrive in the city.

However, if you want to go all out at the event, you are looking into wearing 17th-century dresses and masks. This might not be something you have lying around in your closet, but luckily, there are places to both buy and rent costumes in Venice.

Check rental places like Vivo Venetia and Costumes in Venice.  

Venice Carnival Weather

During winter in Venice, you can usually expect average daytime temperatures of 7-9 degrees Celsius, with temperatures crawling down to near zero at night. But it is often sunny, which can make it feel nice and warm during the day.

Every time I have been there between January and March it has been surprisingly warm for winter. But you can expect cloudy and rainy days and if it is windy too, you should be prepared to dress in layers.

Related: Venice in winter

Venice Carnival History and Origins

The Carnival of Venice dates back to the Middle Ages. Legend has it that the carnival originated in 1162 to celebrate the Venetian Republic’s victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia. But the timing of it isn’t a coincidence!

The Venezia Carnevale is a pre-Lenten celebration, allowing people to indulge in parties and rich foods before the 40-day period of Lent, during which such indulgences were restricted. The term “Carnevale” may derive from the Latin words “carne” and “vale,” symbolizing a “farewell to meat.”

Throughout history, the carnival experienced periods of fame, including the Baroque Carnival in the 17th century. Outlawed in 1797, it gradually reappeared in the 19th century, gaining prominence again in 1979 and it now attracts around 3 million visitors annually.

Read next: Best things to do in Venice

Traditional Venetian Masks

In the age of Early-Modern Venice, donning masks wasn’t just a Carnival affair, it was a sneaky way to dodge the strict social rules. While Venetians had the freedom to wear masks for a span of six months each year. Venetians wore masks for all sorts of mischief—secret meetings, wild parties, brothel trips, and even some undercover gambling. 

Venetian masks vary in type and are tied to events, historical figures, and fictional characters. There are two groups of carnival masks in venice.

The traditional Venetian masks are rooted in the habits and traditions of Venetian citizens.The Plague doctor mask was worn by Venetian doctors during the Plague for protection. The Jolly mask symbolizes jest and revelry, and the Bauta mask was historically used for anonymity while facilitating easy communication and eating.

On the other hand, the Commedia dell’Arte masks originate from Renaissance Italy performaces, and include the graceful Colombina and the beloved Pulcinella, Pantalone, and Arlecchino masks.

Getting to Venice and around

Venice is served by Marco Polo airport. Book your airport shuttle ahead of time or take a ferry into town.

Venice is also accessible by train from most big cities in Italy just make sure to get off at Venice Santa Lucia and not Mestre (unless your connection requires you to switch trains so check that in advance). From the train station it is a roughly 30min walk to San Marco Square or you can take a vaporetto to various parts of town.

My favourite way of getting around in Venice is by foot. This is such a beautiful city and I really enjoy walking around. On top of that is really compact and nothing is more than 30-40in walk away from St. Mark’s Square. If you have a chance make sure to join this walking tour to get acquainted with the city.

If walking is not your thing then the second best option is taking a vaporetto. A single ticket lasts 75 minutes but if you plan on using the vaporetto a lot it is best to buy a day ticket.

Where to eat in Venice

Unless you’re willing to pay a premium price I’d recommend you avoid the restaurants in San Marco district or near popular attractions. Instead, head over to Dorsoduro or Cannaregio to experience the local bacaros and osterias. You’ll get much better food at a much friendlier price.

Among my favorites are Corner Pub and Osteria al Cicheto.

Venice also has a ton of Panifici, where you can grab a sandwich, pizza slice or pastry on the go, perfect for a quick lunch!

Join a food tour.

This way you’ll be able to combine sightseeing with delicious Venetian bites. This street food tour takes you over Rialto Market while this food tour focuses on the osterias in Cannaregio, and if you’re into wine then this wine and cicchetti tasting is for you.