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2027 editionCarnevale di Putignano
From the ceremony of the “Propaggini” to the grand finale in February, the Carnival of Putignano is a festival lasting more than a month, celebrated with parades of majestic papier-mâché floats, musical performances and the unmistakable cheer of Apulia. With more than 600 years of history behind it, Putignano is ready to amaze young and old with a unique event where tradition and innovation meet under the sign of Farinella, the Carnival’s symbolic mask.
2027 dates
- 2027 edition: dates to be confirmed
- 2027 theme: «Smascherata! Liberate le maschere» (Unmasked! Set the masks free)
Tickets
Don’t want to miss the magic of the floats and the celebrations of one of the oldest Carnivals in the world?
Tickets for the parades will be available on the official channels as soon as sales open.
The Carnevale di Putignano
“One of the oldest in Europe, with Farinella’s smile”
Where it is and how to get there
- Where: Putignano (province of Bari, Apulia)
- Parade times: From 3:30 pm and throughout the afternoon/evening
- Getting there:
- Plane: Bari-Palese (Karol Wojtyła) Airport. From the airport you can hire a car or take a shuttle bus/train to Putignano.
- Car: Strada Statale 172, well connected to Bari and Taranto.
- Train: Ferrovie del Sud Est, Putignano stop.
- Bus: Regional routes and dedicated shuttles during Carnival.
- Ideal for: Families, young people, lovers of papier-mâché, fans of folklore and Apulian cooking.
Official website
The programme, updates and official announcements are published by the organisers.
Gallery
Carnevali d’Italia’s photos from the Carnival of Putignano.
Video
History
The origins of the Carnival of Putignano date back to 1394, when the relics of Saint Stephen were moved to the town from the Abbey of Monopoli. To welcome this religious event, the people gathered in celebration, giving rise to rituals that gradually evolved into today’s Carnival. Since then it has grown into one of the oldest carnivals in Europe and one of the longest, as it traditionally opens with the ceremony of the Propaggini on 26 December.
Over the centuries, allegorical floats of monumental size made of papier-mâché have become the main stars of the festival, accompanied by masked groups, marching bands and travelling shows.
True works of art, the floats are designed and built by skilled master papier-mâché makers, who every year reinterpret themes of satire, current affairs or local folklore, turning papier-mâché into breathtaking figures and sets.
Besides the parades, another symbol is Putignano’s official mask, Farinella, a cheerful elf dressed in multicoloured patches, named after a local dish made of roasted chickpeas and barley. Then there are the so-called Thursdays of Carnival, each dedicated to a social category (monks, priests, widows, cuckolds, etc.), when parties and pranks are held in keeping with an ancient, light-hearted folk tradition.
Carnevale di Putignano through your eyes
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