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2027 editionCarnevale di Viareggio
The Carnival of Viareggio, founded in 1873, is one of Italy’s most important folk festivals, famous for the largest allegorical floats in the world.
2027 dates
- Saturday 30 January, 4 pm – 1st opening masked parade.ics · Google
- Giovedì Grasso (Fat Thursday) 4 February, 5 pm – 2nd parade, by night.ics · Google
- Sunday 7 February, 3 pm – 3rd parade.ics · Google
- Martedì Grasso (Shrove Tuesday) 9 February, 3 pm – 4th parade.ics · Google
- Sunday 14 February, 3 pm – 5th parade.ics · Google
- Saturday 20 February, 4 pm – 6th closing parade.ics · Google
On 30 January the parade ends with a fireworks show; on 20 February it ends with the announcement of the winners and fireworks.
Frequently asked questions
The parades start at 3 pm (Sundays and Shrove Tuesday), at 4 pm (opening and closing Saturdays) and at 5 pm (Fat Thursday, by night).
About 3 hours, along the Viali a Mare seafront.
Online on VivaTicket, at the Cittadella del Carnevale in via Santa Maria Goretti, at the entrances to the parade route and in some Conad stores in Versilia.
Tickets
Buying tickets:
- Online: Day tickets are available on VivaTicket.it.
- Ticket office: At the Cittadella del Carnevale in via Santa Maria Goretti, Viareggio, and at the entrances to the parade route.
- Conad stores: Some discounted tickets are available in the 17 Conad stores in Versilia.
The Carnevale di Viareggio
Italy’s Carnival capital welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, captivated by an extraordinary mix of art, satire and spectacle. During the “Corsi Mascherati” (masked parades), the famous “Viali a Mare” seafront becomes an open-air stage, filled with thousands of costumed performers and towering allegorical constructions. These majestic floats, the result of a year’s work in the workshops, come to life with astonishing movements and vivid colours, leaving the audience breathless.
But the Carnival of Viareggio is not just about the allegorical floats. The individual masks and the group masquerades further enrich the event with their creativity and their ability to engage the crowd. The former, more intimate and personal, are miniature works of art expressing their creator’s vision; the latter, more choral, are genuine travelling theatre performances that turn the streets into an explosion of energy and fun.
A key role is also played by the neighbourhood festivals, which liven up the town’s districts with music, dancing and local food. Each district becomes a hub of conviviality where residents and visitors meet to celebrate the spirit of Carnival together. These festivals are the authentic heart of Viareggio’s community, a bond between tradition and innovation that involves every generation.
Viareggio is a town that lives Carnival all year round. In the workshops of the Cittadella del Carnevale, craftsmen and artists work non-stop to create new wonders. The town never stops breathing the carnival atmosphere, and this shows in the many events that come before and after the Carnival itself. Workshops, exhibitions, shows and educational activities let young and old get to the heart of the tradition.
The Carnival of Viareggio is not just an event, it is a way of life. A celebration of creativity, freedom of expression and community spirit that makes this town unique in the world. When the spotlights go out on the floats and masks, the magic of Carnival lives on, ready to amaze and enchant once again.
Where it is and how to get there
By car
Viareggio is well connected by the A12 (Genoa–Livorno) and A11 (Florence–Coast) motorways.
- From the north: Take the A12 and exit at Viareggio-Camaiore.
- From the south: Follow the A12 towards Genoa and take the Viareggio-Camaiore exit.
- From Florence: Take the A11 towards Pisa, then continue to Viareggio.
Once you arrive, there is plenty of parking near the centre and the Viali a Mare area, especially during Carnival.
By train
Viareggio railway station is centrally located and well served.
- From Florence: Direct connections (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
- From Pisa: Just 20–30 minutes by regional train.
- From La Spezia: About 45 minutes.
Frecce and Intercity trains connect Viareggio with major Italian cities such as Rome, Milan and Genoa.
By plane
The nearest airports to Viareggio are:
- Pisa Airport (Galileo Galilei): Just 25 km away. From there you can continue by train or taxi.
- Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci): About 90 km away, connected by bus and train.
By bus
Numerous bus routes connect Viareggio with nearby towns and the main centres of Tuscany. During Carnival, extra services are often laid on to handle the flow of visitors.
By boat
Viareggio has a well-equipped marina, ideal for anyone travelling by boat. The town can be reached by sea from the Tyrrhenian coast.
Official website
The programme, updates and official announcements are published by the organisers.
Gallery
Carnevali d’Italia’s photos from the Carnival of Viareggio.
Video
History
Since 1873 in Viareggio, dreams take shape amid confetti and streamers, and the floats tell stories suspended between reality and fantasy.
The Carnival of Viareggio, recognised as one of the most important and spectacular carnival events in Italy, dates back to 1873, when a few decorated carriages paraded for the first time along the historic Via Regia, in the heart of the town. The event was born as a spontaneous expression of the townspeople’s love of celebration and togetherness, and over the years it grew into a cultural and artistic event of international renown.
At the end of the 19th century the event began to feature “carri trionfali” (triumphal floats), extraordinary allegorical structures made of simple materials such as wood, jute and scagliola. These floats were the work of skilled local craftsmen, many of whom were used to working in the shipyards of the Darsena, and who applied their ingenuity and manual skill to creating moving works of art.
A revolutionary moment in the history of the Carnival of Viareggio came in 1925, when the sculptor Antonio d’Arliano introduced papier-mâché. Light and inexpensive, the material made it possible to build ever larger, more complex and dynamic floats, giving artists the chance to experiment with shapes, colours and movement in bolder and more spectacular ways.
In 1930 the Futurist painter Uberto Bonetti designed Burlamacco, an original mask combining elements of Italian carnival traditions, which became the official symbol of the Carnival of Viareggio. With his diamond-patterned costume and red cape, Burlamacco embodies the playful, satirical soul of the event and carries a message of universal joy.
During the 20th century the Carnival went through difficult times, such as the interruptions caused by the two World Wars, but each time it returned to shine with renewed enthusiasm, winning a special place in the hearts of the people of Viareggio and its visitors. In the following years it established itself as an international event, thanks partly to television, which brought images of the allegorical floats into the homes of millions of viewers.
A further step forward came in 2001 with the opening of the Cittadella del Carnevale, a modern complex dedicated to building the floats. Here artists work in the workshops to bring these extraordinary works of art to life, and the public can visit museums telling the history and traditions of the Carnival.
Today the Carnival of Viareggio is a symbol of creativity, satire and spectacle that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. The parades of allegorical floats, brought to life by mechanical movements and known for their biting satire, pass along the famous “Viali a Mare”, turning the town into an open-air theatre where art and tradition merge to celebrate the beauty and joy of life.
Relive the 2025 edition: Carnevale di Viareggio 2025.
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