These Are The Top 10 Carnivals Around The Globe

February 4, 2025

1. Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Brazil

Dates: Late February to Early March
Occurs 5 days before Lent
Attracts over 2 million people daily
Features more than 200 samba schools

Rio de Janeiro Carnival is the granddaddy of all carnivals, a non-stop party that takes over the entire city. Picture millions of people dancing in the streets, elaborate parades with jaw-dropping floats, and samba beats that’ll have you moving before you know it. The Sambadrome is where the real magic happens – imagine a purpose-built parade ground where samba schools compete with stunning costumes and choreography. It’s a sensory overload in the best possible way, and you’ll find yourself swept up in the infectious energy of the Cariocas (Rio locals) as they celebrate life in true Brazilian style.

🧭 Explore Brazil

2. Venice Carnival, Italy

Dates: 10-12 days before Ash Wednesday
Typically falls in February
Known for elaborate masks and costumes
Dates back to the 13th century

Venice Carnival is like stepping into a time machine set to 18th-century decadence. The city’s winding canals and stunning architecture become the backdrop for a two-week extravaganza of masked balls, elegant parties, and mysterious encounters. Everyone dons elaborate masks and costumes, turning the entire city into a living theater. You might find yourself sipping champagne at a palace ball one moment, and the next, wandering through misty alleyways feeling like you’ve stumbled into a historical novel. It’s romantic, it’s surreal, and it’s quintessentially Venetian.

🧭Explore Italy

3. Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, Spain

Dates: Late February
Runs for approximately 15 days
Features multiple contests and parades

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is Spain’s answer to Rio, and boy, does it deliver! This Canary Island throws a party that lasts for weeks, filling the streets with music, dance, and more sequins than you can imagine. The highlight is the election of the Carnival Queen – think Miss Universe meets Lady Gaga, with costumes so massive and intricate they have to be wheeled onto the stage. The streets are alive day and night with impromptu dance parties, parades, and enough food and drink to keep you fueled for the duration. It’s a perfect blend of Spanish flair and island vibes.

🧭Explore Spain

4. New Orleans Mardi Gras, USA

Dates: Varies annually, typically February
Culminates on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday)
Famous for colorful parades and beaded necklaces

New Orleans Mardi Gras is where the Old World meets the New in a explosion of jazz, beads, and beignets. The French Quarter becomes party central, with balconies dripping in purple, green, and gold decorations. Elaborate parades roll through the streets, with masked riders tossing coveted beads and trinkets to the crowds. The air is thick with the smell of Cajun cooking and the sound of brass bands. It’s a uniquely American take on carnival, blending French, African, and Southern traditions into something truly magical.

🧭Explore USA

5. Trinidad Carnival

Dates: Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
Usually in February
Features soca, steel pan, and calypso music

Trinidad Carnival is the Caribbean at its most colorful and energetic. For two days before Lent, the island explodes in a riot of calypso, soca, and steel pan music. Masquerade bands fill the streets with elaborate costumes that often tell stories of the island’s history and culture. The party starts at dawn with J’ouvert, where revelers cover themselves in mud, oil, and paint, and doesn’t stop until late into the night. It’s raw, it’s vibrant, and it’s the ultimate expression of Trinidadian joy and creativity.

🧭Explore Trinidad

6. Oruro Carnival, Bolivia

Dates: February/March
Occurs before Lent
UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage event
Features “La Diablada” or “Dance of the Demons”

Oruro Carnival in Bolivia is a feast for the senses that blends ancient Andean traditions with Catholic symbolism. The star of the show is the Diablada, or Dance of the Devils, where dancers in incredibly intricate devil costumes perform a story of good versus evil. The parade lasts for a staggering 20 hours, winding through the streets of this high-altitude mining town. It’s a deeply spiritual event for many participants, who dance as an act of devotion to the Virgin of the Mineshaft. The costumes, the music, the altitude – it all combines to create an otherworldly experience.

🧭 Explore Bolivia

7. Cologne Carnival, Germany

Dates: November to Ash Wednesday
Peak celebrations in February
Known as the “fifth season”

Cologne Carnival is Germany’s answer to letting loose, and they do it with typical efficiency and enthusiasm. It kicks off on the dot of 11:11 am on 11/11 and builds to a crescendo in the days before Lent. The streets fill with revelers in costumes, from the traditional to the utterly bizarre. There’s a warmth to this carnival – strangers become fast friends over beers and hearty German food. The Rose Monday parade is the highlight, with massive floats often poking fun at politicians and current events. It’s a perfect blend of tradition and irreverence.

🧭Explore Germany

8. Nice Carnival, France

Dates: February, before Lent
Features six carnival parades
Includes unique “Bataille de Fleurs”

Nice Carnival brings French Riviera glamour to the carnival scene. The star of the show is the Battle of Flowers, where elaborately decorated floats parade along the Promenade des Anglais, with costumed performers tossing flowers to the crowd. At night, the parades take on a more fantastical air, with illuminated floats creating a dreamlike atmosphere. There’s a sophistication here that you won’t find at other carnivals, but don’t worry – the French know how to party, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to let loose.

🧭Explore France

9. Notting Hill Carnival, UK

Dates: Last weekend in August
Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday
Celebrates Caribbean culture

Notting Hill Carnival transforms this posh London neighborhood into a Caribbean paradise for a weekend. It’s Europe’s biggest street festival, a celebration of London’s West Indian communities that’s grown into a massive party everyone’s invited to. The streets pulse with reggae, soca, and calypso, while the air is filled with the mouthwatering scents of jerk chicken and fried plantains. The costume parade is a riot of feathers and sequins, with sound systems on every corner keeping the party going. It’s London at its most vibrant and diverse.

🧭Explore UK

10. Barranquilla Carnival, Colombia

Dates: Four days before Lent
Typically in February
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Features colorful street performances

Barranquilla Carnival is Colombia’s cultural crown jewel, a four-day whirlwind of cumbia, vallenato, and pure joy. It kicks off with the Battle of Flowers, a parade so colorful it makes rainbows look dull. The whole city becomes a stage, with street parties, dance competitions, and masquerade balls happening everywhere you look. There’s a beautiful mix of African, indigenous, and European influences in every aspect of the carnival. The locals have a saying: “Those who live it are those who enjoy it” – and trust me, you’ll be living it to the fullest.

🧭Explore Colombia

These carnivals showcase diverse cultural traditions, vibrant music, elaborate costumes, and unique local customs, attracting millions of visitors from around the world each year.

GlobLeo Travels