Highly rated parties in Venice from January 31 to February 17, 2026
As always, the Venice Carnival is a triumph of taste, gastronomy and conviviality. This tradition is a common feature of the Venetian festivals, which usually take place from late January to February and always end on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.
The magic of Venice Carnival unfolds this year January 31 – February 17. The theme of the 2026 Venice Carnival is “Olympus – the origins of play,” linking the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and mythology.
The Venice Carnival is the most important and spectacular of all Venetian festivals. It is a highly regarded cocktail of traditions, sights, history and transgressions set in a unique city, a festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to the city every year.
This most festive event has its origins in ancient times. It is traditionally an event to celebrate the passage of winter into spring. This is a period in which everything is clearly connected, including the illusion of the humbler classes resembling the powerful, as everyone is camouflaged behind masks.
The Venetian Carnival officially began in 1296, when the Senate of the Republic approved the event through an edict declaring the day before Lent as a day of celebration. After almost 200 years, the tradition of Carnival was restored by the municipality in 1980, and the event has been held every year since then with great success. From culture to sheer spectacle, each year’s carnival is always celebrated around a variety of underlying themes.
For about two weeks, Piazza San Marco, its theatres, streets, squares and public buildings become the protagonist of numerous projects and shows. Actors, acrobats, dancers and musicians give the city a celebratory atmosphere for several days, reminiscent of the 17th century. Anyone who wants to get a taste of nobility during Carnival can go to the Venetian palaces, where masked balls and costumed galas are held. The city has a variety of fashion houses where you can rent colorful period costumes, wigs and masks.
For more information, please visit the official website. Carnival in Venice
