February is carnevale season in Italy and the most famous events of all held in Venice with celebrations set to run from January 31st to February 17th 2026.
But Venice is not the only part of Italy famous for its carnival celebrations; there's the famous parade of papier mache floats and political caracutures in Viareggio and an annual orange fight in Ivrea among others.
From Sicily to Tuscany to Marche, the main events and the dates are listed below.
Fano - February 16th, 24th and March 2nd - The sweetest of the festivals
Viareggio - February 8th, 16th,22nd,27th March 2nd 4th - The Masked Parade
Cento - February 16th, 23rd, March 2nd,9th ad 16th - Twinned with Rio de Janeiro
Sciacca - February 22nd,23rd,28th, March 1st, 2nd - Burning of the Carnival King
Ivrea - March 2nd -4th - Annual Orange fight
Acireale - February 15th, 16th,22nd,23rd, March 2nd,3rd - Elaborate flower/light parades
Putignano - February 16th,22nd March 2nd 4th - One of Europes oldest and longest
Information Provided by NAPLES HIVE