‘Don’t even think about not going in fancy dress:’ Readers’ favourite carnivals around Europe

Wild weekends in the south of France

Having travelled to the area for years, I finally made it to the Limoux carnival last winter. What took me so long?! Every weekend from 25 January until 6 April, you can watch dancers and musicians parade around the medieval square of this beautiful town south of Carcassonne, dressed as ancient pierrots and modern scoundrels (Putin was featured last year), scattering confetti. There can’t be many carnivals that go on for so long in Europe. Bystanders cheer on the spectacle with a bottle or two of Blanquette de Limoux, one of the oldest sparkling wines in the world, and the perfect accompaniment to the mayhem. A great place to stay is nearby Mirepoix, another medieval centre of creativity.
Samantha

Dunkirk’s true spirit, France

Commemorating the seasonal departure of the fishing fleet, Dunkirk carnival (22 February-8 March) comprises parades, themed balls, and general jollity and mayhem, fuelled by beer, great waffles and frites. Don your most outrageous costume (cross-dressing panto-style encouraged), add multicoloured wig and parasol, and you’re ready. Then just follow the band through the streets, singing the songs of carnival, some in local patois, some decidedly fruity. To finish the evening, circle around the bandstand together until the final song celebrating 17th-century Dunkirk naval captain and privateer, Jean Bart. The carnival is not a spectacle put on for visitors, it’s truly popular and local.
Peter Reynolds

Party for the Prince in Cologne

For alternative carnivals in Europe, one place comes to my mind – the incredible six-day carnival in Cologne (28 February-5 March) . More than a million people regularly visit for the Rosenmontag parade (Rose Monday, 3 March this year). This has been running for more than 200 years and covers about five miles of the town centre. It has everything: traditional floats, bands, colourful dance crews etc, finishing when D’r Prinz kütt (the prince arrives). And if that’s not enough, sweets and treats are thrown around for everyone to enjoy.
Colin Snoad

Horses for courses, Sardinia

The Sartiglia of Oristano (2-4 March) is one of the best events on the island, and one of the oldest – it started in 1478. Horse riders race to hit the star and win the title with a series of stunts and there are traditional costumes, music, food and dances. An event that encompasses the identity of Sardinia and its culture.
Judith Stone

Italian spectacle that’s 631 years old

The Venice carnival is Italy’s best known carnival. But Putignano in Puglia is home to one of the very oldest. The first procession was held in 1394. Festivities begin on 26 December with a great feast. Two months of celebrations then take place, ending with a succession of parades during the week before Lent (which starts on 5 March). Each night up to 10,000 spectators come to see the procession of floats carrying oversized papier-mache caricatures. The grand finale takes place on the night of Shrove Tuesday with a “funeral” parade ending with 365 tolls of a papier-mache bell, before being burned.
Scott H

Unexpected Swiss jamboree

Visiting Basel was everything I expected; the place was organised, punctual, maybe even a tad boring! Until the carnival (Dame Fasnacht, 10-12 March). In the early hours the place was heaving with people in costumes with instruments, lanterns and torches. At 4am, still in darkness, the procession began. Lots of noises, and music and lights and throwing of sweets and oranges. People moved on to bars and it was all repeated, more decorously, for children at noon. An amazing and quite unexpected experience. Next day, everything had been cleaned up and the streets were shiny clean and Swiss again.
Ruth Coppard

Satire and song in Cádiz

At the Cádiz carnival (27 February-9 March) the streets come alive with parades, but what makes the spectacle unique are the spontaneous satirical performances from local groups, comparsas. Costumed revellers sing about local and wider political issues. Everyone is free to dress up and join in, many are fuelled by the local manzanilla wines. On a quieter day the Museo del Carnaval provides an opportunity to learn more about this unique traditional event.
Karen

Chaos in the piazza, near Rome

While in Rome, we followed a friend’s tip and visited Poggio Mirteto, a charming hilltop town 90 minutes away by public transport. It has two carnival celebrations: a traditional one and the wild Carnevalone Liberato (held on the first Friday of January), which celebrates the town’s liberation from the papal state, sometime in the 1800s. The liberated version was pure chaos – an anticlerical, anything-goes party with dancing, drinking, and outrageous costumes filling the piazza. It was so much fun! We were welcomed into the party and felt rebellious alongside fake nuns and whatnot. If you prefer something more traditional, I hear the classic carnival coincides with the town’s bruschetta festival …
Monia

Carnival by candlelight, Malta

Birgu’s annual Festival of Lights transforms this historic Maltese city into a glowing wonder. Unlike traditional carnivals, the streets are illuminated solely by thousands of candles, creating a magical atmosphere. Visitors wander through narrow, cobbled alleys adorned with lanterns, enjoying live music, traditional food, and artisan stalls. Arrive early to explore the Fort St Angelo area before dusk, as the panoramic views of the Grand Harbour are spectacular and offer a perfect backdrop to the candlelit transformation. The 2025 festival will be held on 10-11 October.
Lisa

Winning tip: a sea of foam in northern Spain

Avilés in northern Spain consists of narrow streets where every second building is a bar. The streets taper off into smaller and smaller lanes which have a Venetian atmosphere when the Antroxu carnival is running. The event (28 February-4 March) takes place in this warren of streets and reaches fever pitch by Shrove Tuesday night when Calle Galiana is flooded with foam for the main parade. The floats appear to, well, float. Like all great festivals it developed organically without a tourism board or council. Word of advice: don’t even think of not going in fancy dress. You’ll be the only one.
Fiona