Marcelo OliveiraThe world’s biggest carnivals in 2027 cluster between late January and late February: Venice runs Jan 23 to Feb 9, Nice Feb 9 to 28, and Cologne, Binche, Barranquilla, New Orleans and Trinidad all party on Brazil’s own holiday, February 8 and 9. If you want somewhere close and cheap, Montevideo throws the longest carnival on earth. Venice sells out hotels first.
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| Most famous | Venice: Jan 23 to Feb 9, 2027 Official |
|---|---|
| Same holiday as Brazil | Cologne, Binche, Barranquilla, New Orleans, Trinidad and Funchal |
| Closest to Brazil | Montevideo and Gualeguaychú, no passport needed (national ID works in Mercosur) |
| Longest | Montevideo: about 40 days from January to March |
| Outside February | Notting Hill, in London, in late August |
| Free | Almost all of them: the party is on the street; grandstands and balls are paid |
🎭 Carnival 2027 · Carnival 2027 Guide
In this article · 9 topics
2027 Carnival Calendar Around the World
The date of almost every one depends on Easter, which in 2027 falls on March 28: that’s why Fat Tuesday is February 9 in Brazil, Italy, Germany and New Orleans. The exceptions are Nice, Tenerife and Basel, which happen later, and Notting Hill, in August.
| Carnival | 2027 Dates | Signature | Entry | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice Italy | Jan 23 to Feb 9 (official) | Masks and period costumes; the Flight of the Angel in St. Mark’s Square | Free on the street; gala balls are paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Nice France | Feb 9 to 28 | Giant float parades and the Battle of the Flowers | Grandstand €14 to €31 in 2026 | Hotels › Tours › |
| Menton (Fête du Citron) France | Parades on Feb 14, 21 and 28 | Floats decorated with lemons and oranges | Grandstand €30, standing €16 | Hotels › Tours › |
| Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain | Street party Feb 19 to 28 | Queen’s Gala with giant costumes | Street free; galas are paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Cádiz Spain | Likely Feb 4 to 14 (not announced) | Chirigotas: groups singing satire | Street free; contest at Teatro Falla is paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Cologne Germany | Feb 4 to 9; parade on Monday, Feb 8 | Rosenmontagszug and Women’s Carnival Thursday | Street free; grandstands are paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Basel Switzerland | Feb 15 to 17; Morgestraich at 4 a.m. on Feb 15 | City in darkness with lanterns and piccolos | Street free; official badge sold in January | Hotels › Tours › |
| Binche Belgium | Feb 7 to 9 | Gilles in feathered hats throwing oranges | Free | Hotels › Tours › |
| Funchal (Madeira) Portugal | Parade on Feb 5 and 6; festivities Feb 3 to 14 | Allegorical parade on Avenida do Mar | Street free | Hotels › Tours › |
| Ovar and Torres Vedras Portugal | Likely Feb 5 to 9 (not announced) | Parades and the matrafonas of Torres Vedras | Day ticket or wristband | Hotels › Tours › |
| Montevideo Uruguay | Late January to February (2027 not announced) | Candombe at the Llamadas; the longest carnival | Llamadas UYU 250 to 590 in 2025 | Hotels › Tours › |
| Gualeguaychú Argentina | Saturdays in January and February (2027 not announced) | Comparsas at the Corsódromo | ARS 35,000 per night in 2026 | Hotels › Tours › |
| Barranquilla Colombia | Feb 6 to 9 | Battle of the Flowers on Via 40 | Street free; grandstands are paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Oruro Bolivia | Likely Entrada on Feb 6 (not announced) | Entrada Folklórica and the Diablada | Seats along the route are paid | Hotels › |
| New Orleans (Mardi Gras) USA | Parades Feb 3 to 9; Mardi Gras on Feb 9 | Krewe parades and beads thrown from floats | Free; grandstands are paid | Hotels › Tours › |
| Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean | Feb 8 and 9 | Costumed bands, soca and J’ouvert | Street free; band costume is paid | Hotels › |
| Notting Hill England | Likely Aug 29 and 30 | Sound systems and Caribbean bands | Free | Hotels › Tours › |
Ticket prices from the editions noted (2025 or 2026), checked on 10/11/2026. “Likely” = date calculated from the festival’s rule, with no official announcement yet.
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The Carnivals That Fall on Brazil’s Holiday
If all you’ve got is the Carnival days off, you need a party that happens between Saturday, February 6, and Tuesday, February 9. Six fit that window:
- Venice: the final weekend, with the mask contest finals, falls on Feb 6 to 9 (official site). Full guide: Venice Carnival 2027.
- Cologne: the big parade, the Rosenmontagszug, is on Monday, Feb 8 (koeln.de).
- Binche: the Gilles come out on Sunday the 7th, Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th (official site).
- Barranquilla: from the Battle of the Flowers on Saturday the 6th to Tuesday the 9th.
- New Orleans: the biggest parades run Feb 3 to 9, with Mardi Gras on Tuesday (New Orleans & Company).
- Funchal: the big allegorical parade is on Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th (Madeira calendar).
Carnivals in Europe in 2027
Venice (Italy) is the carnival of masks and period costumes, almost entirely free on the street, from January 23 to February 9. The balls in the palazzos are paid and pricey. Event details, hotels and costs are in the Venice Carnival guide.
Nice (France) has Europe’s most famous float parade, from February 9 to 28, 2027, themed “Vive l’Amour.” The parades and the Battle of the Flowers take place on Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais. In 2026, grandstand seats cost €20 to €31 and standing room was €14 (official prices); anyone in full costume gets into the pedestrian areas free. Thirty kilometers away, the Fête du Citron in Menton builds floats out of lemons and oranges on Sundays Feb 14, 21 and 28.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) pushed its 2027 street party back two weeks, to February 19–28 (Diario de Avisos). It’s Spain’s biggest carnival, with the Queen’s Gala and costumes weighing dozens of kilos. Cádiz, in Andalusia, is the carnival of satire sung by chirigotas; the 2027 date isn’t out yet.
Cologne (Germany) opens the season on November 11 and explodes during Carnival week: Women’s Carnival Thursday on Feb 4 and the Monday parade on Feb 8. Basel (Switzerland) is the opposite of Brazil: at 4 a.m. on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, Feb 15, the city turns off its lights and groups march with lanterns (Basel Tourismus). Binche (Belgium) has the Gilles, a UNESCO heritage tradition, parading in ostrich-feather hats.
In Portugal, Funchal on Madeira puts on a parade with samba schools along Avenida do Mar, and Ovar and Torres Vedras host the mainland’s most popular carnivals, with 2027 dates not yet published. Portuguese with no language barrier is the perk.
Carnivals in South America
Montevideo (Uruguay) has the longest carnival in the world, about 40 days, with an opening parade in late January, murga shows at the Teatro de Verano and the Llamadas, the candombe parade through the Sur and Palermo neighborhoods, a UNESCO heritage event. In 2026, the Llamadas were on February 6 and 7 (Montevideo Portal); the 2027 calendar comes out at the end of the year.
Gualeguaychú (Argentina), 230 km from Buenos Aires, throws its carnival on Saturdays in January and February, in a corsódromo with comparsas in the samba-school style. In 2026, entry for non-residents cost ARS 35,000 per night (Elonce). Barranquilla (Colombia), a UNESCO heritage event, runs February 6 to 9, 2027, with the Battle of the Flowers on Saturday. Oruro (Bolivia) has the Entrada Folklórica with the Diablada, at 3,700 meters of altitude: prepare for the altitude.
New Orleans Mardi Gras and Trinidad Carnival
New Orleans (USA) has its Mardi Gras season from January 6 to February 9, 2027, with the big parades from February 3 to 9: Muses on Thursday, Endymion on Saturday, Bacchus on Sunday, Orpheus on Monday and Zulu and Rex on Tuesday (official guide). The parades are free; if you want to sit, you pay for a grandstand. You’ll need a US visa.
Trinidad and Tobago throws the Caribbean’s most famous carnival on Monday and Tuesday, February 8 and 9, 2027, with J’ouvert before dawn and costumed bands parading to soca. To march in a band, you buy the costume months in advance.
Carnival Outside February: Notting Hill
The Notting Hill Carnival in London takes place on the last weekend of August, a UK holiday. In 2026 it ran August 29 to 31, with a free parade on Sunday and Monday (Time Out); in 2027, it’s likely August 29 and 30. It’s a great way to get your carnival fix on an extended July vacation or a trip at the end of the school year.
How to Choose a Carnival Abroad
| If you want… | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and costumes, no street party | Venice | Masks and period costumes, almost all free |
| Giant float parades | Nice | Parades and Battle of the Flowers with cheap grandstands |
| A street party like ours | Barranquilla, Tenerife or Trinidad | Crowds, costumes and music all day long |
| Close by and no passport | Montevideo or Gualeguaychú | National ID is enough; short flight from southern Brazil |
| To use only the 4-day holiday | Montevideo or Buenos Aires + Gualeguaychú | Less than 3 hours of flying |
| A tradition Brazil doesn’t have | Basel, Binche or Cologne | Lanterns at 4 a.m., the Gilles and Women’s Carnival Thursday |
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous carnivals in the world?
Besides Rio and Salvador, the best known are Venice, Italy; Nice, France; New Orleans, United States; Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean; Barranquilla, Colombia; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; and Notting Hill, in London.
When is the Venice Carnival 2027?
From January 23 to February 9, 2027, according to the official website. The final weekend, February 6 to 9, overlaps with the Carnival holiday in Brazil.
Which carnival abroad falls on the same Brazilian holiday in 2027?
Cologne, Binche, Barranquilla, New Orleans and Trinidad have their main days on February 8 and 9, just like Brazil. Venice ends on February 9, and Funchal holds its parade on February 5 and 6.
Which carnival is closest to Brazil for going without a passport?
Montevideo, Uruguay, and Gualeguaychú, Argentina. Brazilians can enter both countries with just a valid RG (national ID), and Montevideo has the longest carnival in the world, lasting around 40 days.
When is the Nice Carnival 2027?
From February 9 to 28, 2027, with the theme “Vive l’Amour”. The parades and the Battle of Flowers are ticketed in the grandstands; in 2026, tickets ranged from € 14 for standing to € 31.
Summary: which carnival abroad to choose in 2027
To make the most of the Brazilian holiday from February 6 to 9, head to Venice, Cologne, Binche, Barranquilla, New Orleans or Trinidad. To stay close and spend less, Montevideo. To stretch February out, Nice and Tenerife come later. Wherever you go, book a hotel with free cancellation before locking in your flight, and double-check the 2027 dates still marked “likely” once the schedules come out in December.