Venice Carnival 2025, 2026 and 2027 - Dates, Best Days, Events

The Venice Carnival in 2025 will take place on Friday, February 22nd, and continue to Tuesday, March 4th.

The theme of the Venice Carnival  2025 is not yet released. Its theme in 2024 is 'travel, discovery, and encounters with previously-only-imagined worlds'. It will aim to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the death of Venice's great traveler, Marco Polo.

The Venice Carnival is an annual celebration in the city of Venice, Italy. It features dazzling costumes and stunning masquerade masks. During the event, participants often wear 17th-century Venetian dresses, complete with intricate masks, resembling figures straight out of a painting by Canaletto. Numerous events, balls, and masquerade parties are also organized during this period.

When is Venice Carnival 2025?

Venice Carnival 2025 will fall on Friday, February 22nd, and continue to Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

During the Venice Carnival 2025, the pre-carnival period will start several days early with street shows and boat parades, but the costumes and mask displays won't be prevalent yet.

From February 22 to March 4, the carnival period will include a series of activities that include costume shows, parades, and parties organized throughout the city.

When Is the Best Day for Venice Carnival 2025?

The best day to attend the Venice Carnival in 2025 for the grandest celebrations is during the final carnival weekend on Giovedì Grasso (Thursday, February 27th, 2025) or Martedì Grasso (Tuesday, March 4, 2025).

This period has the most vibrant and exciting events of the carnival. However, it is important to know that this is also the most crowded time.

How Long Does Venice Carnival 2025 Last?

Venice Carnival lasts for around 10 days. In 2025, it will end on March 4. The most colorful activities and parade will take place on the last weekend on February 27th and March 4. Don't miss it. 

How Much Is a Ticket for the Venice Carnival?

The Venice Carnival is a public event and many of the activities, such as the parades and open-air concerts, are free to attend. If you plan to participate in specific events or activities, such as masked balls, private parties, and special displays, you need to pay admission fees.

Ticket prices for these exclusive events at the Venice Carnival could vary. They typically range from about €300 to more than €5,000 per person, depending on the event and its level of luxury and exclusivity. If you choose to include a costume rental as part of your experience, you could expect an additional cost ranging from €400 to €800, depending on the intricacy of the costume.

Venice Carnival Activities Schedule in 2025

The activities schedule for Venice Carnival 2025 is not yet available. We will post it here as soon as we have it.  You may read the activities schedule 2024 for some ideas about the event. 

The Venice Carnival schedule: 2024: 

January 27th to 28th: These days mark the pre-carnival period, featuring street theater shows and a boat parade along the Grand Canal. The street shows are free for everyone to enjoy.

February 3rd to 13th:

During this period, you could participate in or witness the following activities. Please note that these activities typically take place between 9 am and 5 pm

• The Feast of the "Maries" — a parade showcasing the prettiest girls of Venice
• Carnival Costumes' Show — a display of elaborate and artistic costumes
• Costume contests — competitions for participants to showcase their creative attire
• Street theater shows — performances by street theater groups

Venice Carnival Dates for 2024, 2025, 2026, ... 2029

The dates of the Venice Carnival follow Italy's liturgical calendar, so they change each year. The festival could start anywhere from late January to late February and typically lasts 11 days, finishing on a Tuesday.

See the table below for Venice Carnival start and end dates in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029.

Continue to read: A Full List of Italy Public Holidays 2024/2025