Carnevale di Massafra 2027 sketches: the floats of the 74th edition

The Carnevale di Massafra has raised the curtain on its next edition. On Sunday 19 July 2026, during the “Notte Bianca del Carnevale” at the Villaggio del Carnevale, at km 634 of the Strada Statale Appia, the sketches of the 10 allegorical floats were unveiled, 7 in the first category and 3 in the second, which will bring to life the 74th edition.

The Notte Bianca del Carnevale

For one evening the master papier-mâché makers’ workshops opened their doors to the public, who could admire up close the paper-and-glue giants of the last edition. At 8 pm the ceremony began, hosted by Antonello Giasi, the event’s long-standing presenter, with the unveiling of the sketches. Mayor Giancarla Zaccaro then presented the official 2027 poster, by the artist Lucia Digiorgio, and the evening closed with the show “Cloni Quasi Tali & Quali” by the Associazione Culturale Musik Life. The announcement of the event is on the official website.

«Everyone takes part, nobody just watches!»

The Carnevale di Massafra is recognised as a historic event by the Regione Puglia and the Ministry of Culture. Its motto says it all: along the route there are no barriers separating performers and public, except on the last stretch for safety reasons. A reference to Massafra’s carnival is already found in a document from 1776, but the modern story begins in 1951 with a mock bullfight organised as a joke by some young men: a papier-mâché bull, a matador and picadors riding broomsticks. The following year came the first contest, won by the float “L’Imperatore di Capri”, and in 1953 the Comune organised the first official edition. The story is told on the page The history of the Carnevale di Massafra.

There are two official masks: the Gibergallo, a clown in tails with a rooster on a lead, inspired by Gilberto Gallo, and Lu Pagghiùsë, the shepherd-farmer who flares up like a straw fire, created in 2002 by Nicola Andreace. The carnival season traditionally opens on 17 January, the feast of Sant’Antonio Abate: “Sant’Antuòne, maschere e suòne”.

The 2027 floats

First-category allegorical floats

Second-category allegorical floats

For 2027 the Comune did not set a compulsory theme: each association freely chose its own subject, as laid down in thepublic notice for the allegorical floats.

From sketch to float

On the official website Massafra’s master craftsmen describe their work: after the idea and the sketch comes the design of the structure and the movements, then the clay shapes and plaster moulds, onto which layers of newspaper soaked in flour-and-water paste are applied. Then comes painting with tempera and acrylics, the set design and the final assembly, with tests of the movements and lights.

2027 dates

According to the announcement published on the official website, the 74th edition is scheduled for Sunday 7 and Tuesday 9 February 2027. Parade times and route will be announced with the official programme.