Marcelo OliveiraVenice Carnival 2027 runs from January 23 to February 9, according to the official website, and almost everything is free: masked parades in St. Mark’s Square, boat processions on the Grand Canal and the Flight of the Angel. You only pay if you go to a gala ball. The last weekend, February 6–9, is the busiest. Hotels in the historic center sell out first.
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| Dates | 01/23 to 02/09/2027 Official |
|---|---|
| 2027 theme | Not announced yet Not announced |
| Admission | Free in the streets and St. Mark’s Square; gala balls are paid |
| Hotel (5 nights, couple) | From R$ 2,317 in Mestre to R$ 5,583 in San Marco (Booking, Oct/2026) |
| Flight from São Paulo | From R$ 4,877 round trip per person, with one connection (Oct/2026) |
| Weather | Cold: around 3 °C to 10 °C in February |
| Documents | Passport; Brazilians don’t need a visa for tourism |
🎭 Carnival 2027 · Carnival 2027 Guide · Carnivals around the world
In this article · 11 topics
When is Venice Carnival 2027
Venice Carnival 2027 takes place from Saturday, January 23, to Tuesday, February 9, according to the official website. Just like in Brazil, it ends on Fat Tuesday, the eve of Ash Wednesday. The difference is the length: nearly three weeks of programming, with the big events concentrated on weekends.
The 2027 theme and full program haven’t been published yet; organizers usually release them in December, on the program page. For a Brazilian going just once, the best window is the last weekend, from Saturday, February 6, to Tuesday, February 9: that’s when the mask contest final and the Burano festival fall, and you can tack it onto the Carnival holiday back home.
| Period | What the city is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| First weekend (01/23 and 01/24) | Opening with a water procession; city still has rooms | Those who want to pay less and see the opening |
| Weekdays | Costumes in the streets, fewer crowds | Those who want to photograph at ease |
| Middle weekend (01/30 and 01/31) | Festa delle Marie and mask contest | Those who want Venetian tradition |
| Last weekend (02/6 to 02/9) | The busiest and most expensive; contest final | Those who want the peak and to extend the holiday |
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The Venice Carnival events worth the trip
Most of the party is free and happens outdoors. The dates below follow the 2027 calendar already listed by specialist portals (carnival-in-venice.eu) and the pattern of previous years; confirm on the official program once it’s out.
| Event | What it is | When (2027) | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Festa Veneziana sull’acqua | Procession of decorated boats and gondolas that opens Carnival | Sunday, 01/24 (expected) | Rio di Cannaregio and Grand Canal |
| Festa delle Marie | Procession honoring the 12 young women celebrated by the Republic of Venice | Saturday, 01/30 (expected) | From Castello to St. Mark’s |
| Volo dell’Angelo | A guest descends on a cable from St. Mark’s bell tower to the square | Date not announced; in 2026 it was on a Sunday at noon | St. Mark’s Square |
| Most beautiful mask contest | Period costume parade judged on stage | Heats on 01/30; final on 02/07 (expected) | St. Mark’s Square |
| Burano Carnival | Festival on the island of colorful little houses | Saturday, 02/06 (expected) | Burano |
| Free costume parades | Masked revelers posing for photos | Every day | St. Mark’s, Rialto and the waterfront |
The Flight of the Angel is the most crowded moment: the square fills up hours in advance, and the view is better from a distance, near the Procuratie, than pressed against the stage. For the water processions, the Rialto bridge and the Grand Canal fondamente get packed; the Cannaregio waterfront gives you more room.
Masks and costumes: buy, rent or make your own
Nobody has to dress up, but a mask already changes the experience. There are three routes, at very different prices:
| Option | Reference price (2025/2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple stall mask | From € 9 to € 30 | Those who just want to get in the mood |
| Handmade papier-mâché mask | From € 50 to € 400, depending on the atelier | Those who want a souvenir to take home |
| Period costume rental | Around € 350 to € 800 per day at traditional ateliers | Those going to a ball or wanting the classic photos |
| Mask workshop | From R$ 412 per person on Civitatis (Oct/2026) | Those who want to make their own mask |
Real handmade masks are made of papier-mâché and painted by hand, and the atelier usually shows off the workshop in the back. The mass-produced plastic ones sold at stalls near St. Mark’s are cheap, but they don’t last. Rent your costume in advance: on the last weekend, ateliers run out of sizes.
Paid balls and parties at Venice Carnival
Gala balls in the palazzos are the paid, pricey side of Carnival, with period dress required. The most famous, the Ballo del Doge, charged € 2,500 to € 5,000 per person with dinner in 2026, according to tourism portals. There are also dinner shows on the official program and boat parties, which are more affordable.
- Dinner and party aboard a galleon
- 4 hours
- Costumes welcome
- You decorate your own mask
- 1h15
- Take the mask home
- Dinner and ball in a palazzo
- Period dress required
- 2027 date not announced
Where to stay during Venice Carnival
The choice is between sleeping in the historic center, paying more and walking everywhere, or staying in Mestre, on the mainland, and coming in by train or bus. During Carnival, the difference can reach double.
| Neighborhood | Best for | To St. Mark’s | Well-rated hotel (5 nights, couple) | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marco | Those who want to be in the heart of the party | On foot | R$ 5,583 (Oct/2026) |  Mocenigo Grand Canal Luxury Suites9.2Booking › |
| Castello | Those who want to be near St. Mark’s with quieter streets | 10 to 15 min on foot | R$ 4,651 (Oct/2026) | Cà Flavia in Bragora10Booking › |
| Cannaregio | Those arriving by train who want a local neighborhood | 20 to 25 min on foot | R$ 4,634 (Oct/2026) | Hotel Adriatico8.5Booking › |
| Dorsoduro | Those who want museums and student bars | 15 to 20 min on foot or by vaporetto | R$ 4,467 (Oct/2026) | Bragadin della palma9.0Booking › |
| Lido | Those who want to pay less without leaving the lagoon | 15 min by vaporetto | R$ 2,366 (Oct/2026) | Hotel La Pergola di Venezia8.8Booking › |
| Mestre | Those who want the lowest price | 10 to 20 min by train to Santa Lucia, plus the walk | R$ 2,317 (Oct/2026) | Venice Rooms9.3Booking › |
Total of 5 nights for 2 adults, from 02/04 to 02/09/2027, on Booking, rated 8 or higher with free cancellation, checked on 10/11/2026.
If you sleep in the historic center, you’re exempt from the access fee Venice charges day-trippers, and you wake up to an empty city, the best time for photos with masked revelers. In Mestre, check whether the hotel is near the train station or the bus stop to Piazzale Roma, which run late.
| Hotel | Nota | Faixa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albergo Cavalletto & Doge OrseoloSan Marco · Quarto duplo clássico, café da manhã | 8,71.099 aval. | $$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel Dei DragomanniSan Marco · Quarto duplo em San Marco | 9,01.534 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Al GazzettinoSan Marco · Quarto duplo clássico em San Marco | 8,11.761 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel BisanzioCastello · Quarto duplo em Castello | 8,52.709 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel Carlton On The Grand CanalSanta Croce · Quarto superior com cama de casal ou duas de solteiro em Santa Croce | 8,07.116 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel Olimpia VeniceSanta Croce · Quarto Queen clássico em Santa Croce | 9,41.964 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel Antiche FigureSanta Croce · Quarto duplo superior, café da manhã | 9,31.132 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Hotel Cannaregio 2357Cannaregio · Quarto duplo standard com vista do canal | 8,71.394 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
| Al Mascaron RidenteCannaregio · Quarto com cama de casal ou duas de solteiro | 8,61.952 aval. | $$ | Ver preços |
| Pesaro PalaceCannaregio · Quarto superior, café da manhã e cancelamento grátis na oferta consultada | 8,32.822 aval. | $$$ | Ver preços |
Nota e faixa do Booking.com em 09/10/2026, para 04/02–09/02 e 2 adultos · $ até R$ 1,5 mil · $$ até R$ 4 mil · $$$ acima · como calculamos
How much it costs to go to Venice Carnival
For a couple flying from São Paulo, the biggest expense is the airfare. The math below uses a flight with one connection, departing Wednesday, February 3, and returning Thursday, February 11, plus five hotel nights on the last weekend.
| Item | Budget (Mestre) | Historic center (Cannaregio) |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare, 2 people round trip | R$ 9,754 | R$ 9,754 |
| Hotel, 5 nights | R$ 2,317 · Venice Rooms | R$ 4,634 · Hotel Adriatico |
| Transportation | 7-day ACTV pass: € 65 per person | 2-day pass: € 35 per person |
| Party | Simple mask: from € 9 | Mask workshop: R$ 412 per person |
| Couple’s total, no food | ≈ R$ 12,071 + € 148 | ≈ R$ 15,212 + € 70 |
Flight and hotel checked on 10/11/2026 (Google Flights and Booking); transportation per Venezia Unica fares; workshop via Civitatis. Amounts in euros are unconverted, since exchange rates change by February.
How to get to Venice and get around during Carnival
There are no direct flights from Brazil: connections are usually in Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt or Rome, and the flight lands at Marco Polo airport (VCE). From there, the AeroBus goes to Piazzale Roma for € 10 each way, and the Alilaguna boat takes you to the center for € 18 (Venezia Unica). If you fly into Treviso (TSF), take the ATVO bus, from € 14.
Within the city, transport means the vaporetto. The ACTV pass costs € 25 for one day, € 35 for two, € 45 for three and € 65 for seven (official fares), and it also covers Lido, Murano and Burano. On event days, some stops near St. Mark’s close or get long lines; walking is usually faster.
Stress-free arrival in Venice
- Flight: compare cash and miles fares to Venice on FlipMilhas; arriving Thursday, February 4, guarantees the whole last weekend.
- Transfer: AeroBus or Alilaguna are cheap; to reach your hotel with luggage, Civitatis sells a private boat from the airport (from R$ 1,494 per boat, Oct/2026).
- Documents: valid passport; Brazilians enter visa-free for tourism. Check in advance whether the ETIAS electronic authorization is already being required.
- Insurance: recommended for Europe, with medical coverage; check Seguros Promo.
Cold, crowds and acqua alta: what to know beforehand
February in Venice is cold and damp, with highs near 10 °C and lows of 3 °C, plus lagoon fog that can delay the vaporetto. Bring a coat to wear under your costume and closed shoes: you’ll be walking a lot on stone.
Acqua alta, the tide that floods the lowest parts of the city, has been less frequent since the MOSE flood barrier system started being raised during strong tides, but St. Mark’s can still get wet. Cheap rain boots are sold at pharmacies and hardware stores. As for the € 5 to € 10 access fee for day-trippers: in 2026 it applied only from April to July, outside Carnival, and the 2027 rule still depends on the city government (official fee website).
The costumed figures posing in the squares are there for photos, but the etiquette is to ask first and never touch the costume. In the crowd at St. Mark’s, keep your wallet in front; pickpocketing is the most common problem.
Tours in Venice between one event and the next
Partner · Civitatissee all tours in Venice ›Burano and Murano Excursion
Boat to the islands of glass and colorful little houses; during Carnival, Burano has its own celebration.
- Gondola ride by the Bridge of SighsThe canals of the center seen from the waterfromR$ 215per personSee ›
- Guided tour of the Doge’s PalaceWith ticket, next to St. Mark’sfromR$ 334per personSee ›
- Guided tour of St. Mark’s SquareTo understand the square before the partyfromR$ 118per personSee ›
Civitatis prices, per person, checked on 10/11/2026.
0 of 4 done
- See hotelsBook the hotelNow, with free cancellationThe historic center sells out first on the last weekend.
See flightsBuy the flightAfter the hotelDeparting 3 or 4/02 catches the entire last weekend.- See workshopBook costume or workshopBy DecemberAteliers run out of sizes close to the festival.
See insuranceTravel insuranceBefore you travelRecommended in Europe, with medical coverage.
Check off what you’ve already sorted; it’s saved in this browser. Prices with a check date; confirm with the partner before paying.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Venice Carnival 2027?
The Venice Carnival 2027 runs from January 23 to February 9, according to the official website. The last weekend, from February 6 to 9, concentrates the mask contest final and the Burano celebration.
Do you have to pay to attend the Venice Carnival?
No. The parades, the water processions and the Flight of the Angel in St. Mark’s Square are free. The gala balls, dinner shows and boat parties are paid.
How much does it cost to go to the Venice Carnival?
For a couple departing from São Paulo, around R$ 12,000 with a hotel in Mestre and R$ 15,000 in the historic center, including airfare and five nights (Oct/2026), without food. The flight starts at R$ 4,877 per person, round trip.
Where to stay during the Venice Carnival?
In the historic center, in San Marco, Castello or Cannaregio, to get around on foot; in Mestre or on the Lido, to pay about half. In October 2026, five nights for a couple ranged from R$ 2,317 in Mestre to R$ 5,583 in San Marco.
How much does a mask cost in Venice?
The simple ones, from stalls, cost from € 9 to € 30. The handmade papier-mâché ones go from € 50 to € 400, depending on the atelier. Renting a full period costume runs a few hundred euros per day.
Is the Venice Carnival worth it?
It’s worth it for anyone who wants a Carnival of costumes and photography, not street parties: it’s a festival to watch and pose at, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, almost entirely for free. What to do now: pick the weekend, book the hotel with free cancellation before the historic center sells out and buy the flight with one connection. To compare with other celebrations abroad, see the carnivals around the world.