The Venice Carnival 2027 runs from Saturday 23 January to Tuesday 9 February 2027, according to the event’s official website. It always ends on Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras), 47 days before Easter, which is why its dates change every year, from late January to early March.
For about ten days, sometimes a little more, the city fills with costumes, masks and street shows, above all around St Mark’s Square. This page gives you the official 2027 dates, our calculated calendar of Shrove Tuesdays to 2035, the real February climate, the programme highlights and our tips for booking, where to stay and enjoying the carnival without being caught out by the crowds.
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Venice Carnival: key facts
- 2027 dates: 23 January to 9 February 2027 (official site carnevale.venezia.it)
- How the dates are calculated: the carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, 47 days before Easter Sunday
- Climate: in February, 9.2 °C (49 °F) in the afternoon and 0.8 °C (33 °F) at night on average (1991-2020 normals, Venice-Tessera)
- Crowds: at their peak on both weekends and on the last day; weekdays are quieter
- Access: most street events are free; masked balls and dinners are paid and need booking
- Book early: accommodation and costume hire, several months ahead
Venice Carnival 2027 dates
The carnival’s official website announces the 2027 edition from 23 January to 9 February 2027. The detailed programme (times of parades, competitions and shows) is published gradually: the times of the main events are often confirmed only a few weeks before. Check carnevale.venezia.it before planning a specific event.
Above all, remember the last day, Tuesday 9 February 2027 (Shrove Tuesday): it is the fixed point of each edition. The rest of the calendar varies from year to year, but the festivities generally cover the two weekends before Shrove Tuesday.
Calendar: carnival dates to 2035
Few sites give the dates for coming years, because the organisers publish them edition by edition. The end of the carnival, though, can be calculated: Shrove Tuesday falls 47 days before Easter, whose date follows the Gregorian computus. Here is our calendar, with the average climate of the month concerned.
| Year | Easter | Shrove Tuesday (end of carnival) | Climate of the month (max / min, rain) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 28 March 2027 | Tuesday 9 February 2027 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2028 | 16 April 2028 | Tuesday 29 February 2028 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2029 | 1 April 2029 | Tuesday 13 February 2029 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2030 | 21 April 2030 | Tuesday 5 March 2030 | March: 13.2 / 4.5 °C (56 / 40 °F), 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| 2031 | 13 April 2031 | Tuesday 25 February 2031 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2032 | 28 March 2032 | Tuesday 10 February 2032 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2033 | 17 April 2033 | Tuesday 1 March 2033 | March: 13.2 / 4.5 °C (56 / 40 °F), 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| 2034 | 9 April 2034 | Tuesday 21 February 2034 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| 2035 | 25 March 2035 | Tuesday 6 February 2035 | February: 9.2 / 0.8 °C (49 / 33 °F), 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Two editions end in March (2030 and 2033): the air is a little less cold (13.2 °C / 56 °F in the afternoon on average) and the days are longer. Conversely, editions that end early, such as 2027 (9 February) or 2035 (6 February), fall in the depths of winter, with nights close to 0 °C (32 °F).
What is the weather like during the carnival?
The carnival almost always takes place in February, the coldest month after January. According to the 1991-2020 normals for the Venice-Tessera station (Marco Polo airport), February has an average maximum of 9.2 °C (49 °F) and minimum of 0.8 °C (33 °F), with 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain. Fog is frequent on the lagoon and the damp makes it feel colder. The historic centre, surrounded by water, can be slightly less cold at night than the airport.
| Month | Max | Min | Rain | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.5 °C (46 °F) | 0.1 °C (32 °F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | Possible start of the carnival: dry cold, freezing nights |
| February | 9.2 °C (49 °F) | 0.8 °C (33 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | The most common month: plan warm layers under the costume |
| March | 13.2 °C (56 °F) | 4.5 °C (40 °F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | Late editions (2030, 2033): milder |
For the month-by-month detail, acqua alta and the other seasons, see our article on when to go to Venice.
Programme highlights
Each edition has its own theme and programme, but several events return from year to year. Their organisation (place, time, whether they go ahead) can change: always check the official programme.
- The opening on the water: on the first weekend, a parade of boats on the Cannaregio Canal or the Grand Canal often launches the festivities.
- The Festa delle Marie: a procession in historic costume recalling an ancient Venetian festival; the “Marie” are presented in St Mark’s Square and one of them is chosen on the last day.
- The Flight of the Angel (Volo dell’Angelo): a spectacular descent from the St Mark’s campanile, a carnival tradition. Whether it takes place depends on safety conditions: do not build your trip around this one event.
- The best mask competition: on a stage in St Mark’s Square, on several days of the carnival, with a final at the end of the edition.
- Masked balls and dinners: in palaces, paid, by reservation, with a dress code (period costume is often required).
- Neighbourhood events: street theatre, music and shows in the campi, and festivities on islands such as Burano.
Decision tree: which days to choose?
The carnival lasts more than a week, but the experience changes a lot from day to day. Here is our selection guide, built from the structure of the official programme (two weekends, last day = Shrove Tuesday).
- You want to see the most costumes → aim for the last weekend and Shrove Tuesday; arrive in St Mark’s Square early in the morning, when people in costume pose in softer light.
- You want to avoid the crowds → choose weekdays between the two weekends: the masks are there, the lanes can breathe, and hotels are sometimes cheaper.
- You want a masked ball → book as soon as sales open (those for the official 2027 dinner show opened in late July 2026, according to the carnival website) and arrange costume hire at the same time.
- You are staying only one day → avoid Saturday; a weekday leaves time to see St Mark’s, the Rialto and an island without being crushed.
- You are travelling with children → favour mornings and neighbourhood events, which are easier than St Mark’s Square packed with people in the afternoon.
Booking and where to stay during the carnival
The carnival is one of the busiest periods of the year in Venice. Book your accommodation several months ahead, especially for weekends. Three options:
- In the historic centre (San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio): everything is on foot, but it is the most expensive option during the carnival.
- On the Lido or Giudecca: a few minutes by vaporetto, quieter in the evening.
- In Mestre, on the mainland: cheaper, linked by train and bus in a few minutes; handy on a tight budget.
Check the City of Venice’s official website for current visitor rules before your trip. Our Venice travel guide covers the districts, vaporetto transport and what to see.
Masks and costumes: buying, hiring, wearing
- A mask alone is enough to take part: nobody has to wear a costume to enjoy the streets.
- Handmade or souvenir mask: papier-mâché mask workshops work on site, by hand; mass-produced plastic masks are not Venetian. Ask to see the workshop.
- Costume hire: essential for some balls; book early and allow for a fitting.
- Under the costume: thermal underwear and waterproof closed shoes. With 0 to 1 °C (32 to 34 °F) at night on average and the damp of the lagoon, this is the key to a good evening.
- People in costume are not extras: ask before photographing at close range, and do not block the narrow bridges.
Our practical tips
- Getting there: Marco Polo airport is linked to the centre by bus and by boat; Santa Lucia station is on the Grand Canal. The vaporetto is crowded: allow time.
- Getting around: the bridges and lanes near St Mark’s saturate on busy days; go via Cannaregio or Dorsoduro and follow the instructions on site.
- Eating: try frittelle (fritters) and galani, pastries of the carnival season.
- Extending your trip: combine with Verona or the lakes, or with Rome; our page where to go in February offers other ideas for the month.
- Insurance: a late cancellation is expensive in high season; look at the cover of your cancellation insurance.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Venice Carnival 2027?
From Saturday 23 January to Tuesday 9 February 2027, according to the official site carnevale.venezia.it. The detailed programme is published gradually.
Why do the carnival dates change every year?
Because the carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday, 47 days before Easter, and the date of Easter changes every year (between 22 March and 25 April).
What are the dates of the Venice Carnival 2028?
They are not yet official. By our calculation, Shrove Tuesday falls on 29 February 2028, so the carnival should end that day.
Do you have to pay to attend the carnival?
Street events are largely free. Balls, masked dinners and some seats are paid. Check the City of Venice’s official website for current visitor rules.
What is the weather like during the Venice Carnival?
Cold and damp: 9.2 °C (49 °F) in the afternoon and 0.8 °C (33 °F) at night on average in February (1991-2020 normals for Venice-Tessera), with frequent fog.
What is the best day to go to the carnival?
To see the most costumes, the last weekend and Shrove Tuesday. To avoid the crowds, weekdays between the two weekends.
Our sources
- Carnevale di Venezia, official website carnevale.venezia.it (2027 dates and dinner-show ticketing), read 14 October 2026.
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) and NOAA: 1991-2020 normals for the Venice-Tessera station, taken from our page on when to go to Venice.
- Destination de Voyage calculation: Easter dates (Gregorian computus) and Shrove Tuesday (Easter minus 47 days), 2027-2035.
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.