Venice Carnival

TLDR

Carnival runs 10 to 12 days, finishing on Shrove Tuesday. The expected 2027 window is 30 January to 9 February. Book a hotel in Castello, Cannaregio or Dorsoduro at least six months ahead, arrive for the Flight of the Angel on the opening Sunday, and avoid San Marco between 11:00 and 17:00. Always confirm dates at carnevale.venezia.it.

What Carnival actually is

Venice Carnival is a civic festival of masks, costumes, and public pageants that leads up to Shrove Tuesday. The modern version was revived in 1979 after a long quiet spell. Today it draws around three million visitors over two weekends, with a theme announced each year. The historic heart is the masked ball: private, ticketed, expensive, and visible from the street only as people arrive.

Dates and the set pieces

Because the end date is tied to Shrove Tuesday, the window moves each year. The expected 2027 range is 30 January to 9 February. Confirm the schedule annually at carnevale.venezia.it. The main events sit inside that window.

• Opening weekend, Cannaregio water parade. The Festa Veneziana sul Acqua on the Rio di Cannaregio, with decorated boats, rowing and music. Friday evening and Saturday.
• Volo dell’Angelo (Flight of the Angel). On the first full Sunday at noon. A costumed figure descends by cable from the Campanile of St Mark’s to the Doge’s Palace. The square is packed for an hour before and after.
• Festa delle Marie. A costumed procession of twelve Venetian women from San Pietro di Castello to St Mark’s on the Saturday before the Flight.
• Best Mask competition. Several times on the main weekend in St Mark’s Square. Judged costumes from amateur makers.
• Shrove Tuesday finale. Evening concert on St Mark’s and the ceremonial lowering of the Flight figure.
• Carnival balls. Dozens of ticketed private events in palazzi along the Grand Canal, at 150 to 800 euros per head.

Masks, briefly

The traditional Venetian masks are a small family: the Bauta (white, square jaw, worn under a tricorn and a black cloak), the Moretta (a small oval held in the teeth, worn by women), the Medico della Peste (the long-beaked plague doctor), and the Volto (plain white full-face, often gilded). Then there are the commedia dell’arte masks (Harlequin, Pantalone, Columbina). For a proper mask, budget 60 to 250 euros at an authentic workshop. Avoid the plastic ones sold near Rialto, they are imported and say nothing about Venice.

How to avoid the worst of the crowd

The crush is on two Saturdays, the Sunday of the Flight, and Shrove Tuesday evening. Outside those hours Venice runs more or less like a normal city, just with more people in capes. Four things help.

• Stay outside San Marco. Book in Castello (east of the Arsenale) or in Cannaregio. Both are 15 to 20 minute walks to the square but insulated from the worst queues. See Castello or Cannaregio.
• Walk early and late. 07:30 to 09:30 and 20:00 to 22:00 are the quiet hours. Go to San Marco then.
• Book everything. Restaurants, water taxis, masked workshops, and any ball ticket. Walking up without a reservation fails during Carnival.
• Use Line 2 not Line 1. The limited-stops vaporetto is still crowded but you skip the holdups at minor pontili.

Weather and what to wear

Daytime highs in early February sit around 8 to 10 C, with real chances of fog and rain. Evening temperatures slide near freezing. Packing: a waterproof coat, a warm layer, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet. If you rent or buy a costume, expect to wear thermal layers under it. The wind off the lagoon is sharper than the temperature suggests.

Balls and dinners

Most private balls are themed-dress only and require costume hire, which can add 200 to 500 euros per person on top of the ticket. If you want the atmosphere without the bill, look at the lower-priced masquerade dinners during the opening weekend, or the free public concerts on St Mark’s on the Thursday and Friday evenings. Book no-prepayment direct rooms where the hotel offers them; during Carnival this flexibility is worth real money.

Practical close

If it is your first Carnival, book three nights across the opening weekend, plan the Flight of the Angel as your one big set piece, and keep the rest of the trip loose. One small mask, one good dinner, one cold sunrise on St Mark’s. Lock in the Marco Polo transfer early; Alilaguna boats run full on the two Saturdays.

Common questions

When is Venice Carnival in 2027?

Expected 30 January to 9 February 2027, ending on Shrove Tuesday. Always verify the exact dates on carnevale.venezia.it, as they depend on when Easter falls.

How much does Venice Carnival cost?

The public events are free. Private balls run 150 to 800 euros per person. Hotels roughly double their low-season rates across the two weekends. Budget at least 50 percent more than you would pay in March for the same room.

Where should I stay during Carnival?

Castello and Cannaregio are the most forgiving. Both keep you out of the San Marco crush but within a 20-minute walk of it. Avoid hotels right on the Mercerie or on Calle Larga XXII Marzo unless you like street noise until 02:00.

Do I have to wear a costume?

No. Most visitors wear normal clothes and just watch. If you want to photograph the costumed figures, ask politely before taking a close portrait. A tip or a coffee is common for a proper posed photo with one of the top costumers.

Can children enjoy Venice Carnival?

Yes. The afternoon shows in Campo San Polo, the mask-making workshops at the Ca’ Macana atelier, and the face painting on side campi all suit children well. Keep them away from the Flight of the Angel itself because the crowd density is high.

Are restaurants open on Shrove Tuesday?

Yes, but book well in advance. Many places require a set menu and a deposit for Shrove Tuesday dinner. If you have not booked by early January, you may be limited to late sittings at places further from San Marco.