Venice Carnival 2027: dates and planning tips

The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is one of the oldest and most photographed festivals in Europe: masks, historical costumes and a city without cars that becomes a stage for two and a half weeks. The short answer for 2027: according to the official website, the carnival runs from Saturday 23 January to Shrove Tuesday, 9 February 2027. That gives you three weekends to choose from.

Venice Carnival 2027: the dates

Dates from the official website of the Venice Carnival, as of October 2026 (see sources). The carnival always ends on Shrove Tuesday, 47 days before Easter; in 2027 Easter falls on 28 March.

The detailed programme – the opening events, the parade of the Festa delle Marie, the shows on St Mark's Square and the closing night – had not been published by the end of October 2026. The organiser usually announces it in the weeks before the carnival on the official website. Plan your dates around the weekends and check the programme once it is out.

Which days to choose

The first weekend opens the carnival and is usually a little less crowded than the last one. The last weekend and the final days up to Shrove Tuesday are the busiest: more costumes, more events, but also the most visitors and the highest hotel prices. Weekdays in between are the quietest time; costumed people walk through the city every day, but you have more space on the squares and bridges.

If you want photos of costumes without crowds, go out early in the morning. St Mark's Square, the waterfront of the Riva degli Schiavoni and the gondola stations near San Zaccaria are the classic backdrops; at seven or eight in the morning they are much calmer than at noon.

Masks, costumes and sweets

You do not need a costume to enjoy the carnival, but many visitors buy at least a mask. The official website has a section on the traditional masks and costumes; the classic Venetian masks are made of papier-mâché in small workshops, and buying from one of them is the best way to get a real one rather than a mass-produced souvenir.

Part of the season are the carnival sweets that the bakeries of Venice sell only in these weeks: fritole, small fried dough balls, often filled with cream, and galani, thin fried pastry with icing sugar. They are on the official site's list of carnival traditions and worth a stop at any pasticceria.

Weather in late January and February

Averages 2015–2024 from the ERA5 reanalysis (via Open-Meteo), rounded.

Venice in carnival season is cold and damp, often foggy in the morning. Standing on a square for hours is colder than it sounds, so bring warm layers, gloves and shoes that can take wet pavement. In winter, Venice can also have acqua alta, high water that floods the lowest parts of the city for a few hours; since the MOSE flood barriers began operating, this happens less often, but it is still worth checking the tide forecast. YesTrip shows you the forecast for your travel days and suggests clothes in the packing list.

The access fee for day visitors

Since 2024, the City of Venice has charged an access fee for day visitors on selected days, mostly in spring and summer. So far, overnight guests in the city have been exempt. Which days of 2027 are included, and the rules for each, are published on the city's official access-fee website – check it before your trip, especially if you come only for the day.

Getting there

From London, Venice is about two hours by plane. From Marco Polo Airport, water buses and buses run to the city; for a late arrival with luggage, a transfer from Venice airport^* can be booked with Welcome Pickups. By train, you arrive at Santa Lucia station directly on the Grand Canal. Museum entries and tours, such as the Doge's Palace, are available as tickets for Venice sights^* on Tiqets.

Where to stay

• San Marco and Castello: closest to the main events, the most expensive during carnival.
• Cannaregio: quieter, near the station, with local bars along the canals.
• Dorsoduro: calmer lanes, museums, a short walk or vaporetto ride to St Mark's.

Rooms for the last carnival weekend are often gone months ahead. If you arrive in the morning and leave in the evening, there is luggage storage in Venice^* (Radical Storage). From outside the EU, a travel eSIM for Italy^* (Airalo) is usually cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares prices per gigabyte.

Planning the days

Two or three days are enough for the carnival and the main sights: St Mark's and the Doge's Palace, the Rialto, a walk through the quieter districts and a boat to Murano or Burano. Our plan for Venice combines these and works around the carnival days. Our article how many days in Venice explains how to split the time.

Venice trip planDay by day, with map and tips

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