The 10 Best Carnival and Mardi Gras Celebrations in the World in 2027

Rio’s carnival is considered the biggest in the world, with two million people per day on the streets. The Sambadrome parades run February 7, 8 and 9, 2027, and the six best schools return on Saturday, February 13. Special-stand tickets are R$250 per night, or R$125 half price.

The Carnival of Venice runs January 23 to February 9, 2027. It was abolished in 1797 and revived in 1979, and it now draws approximately 3 million visitors a year to see elaborate costumes and masks.

Salvador’s carnival lasts six official days, and about 2.5 million people take part each year, 1.5 million of them tourists. The trio elétrico, the sound truck that defines it, was created in 1950. The city has not yet published 2027 dates.

Notting Hill Carnival has taken place in London since 1966 and draws around 2 million people a year. In 2027 the weekend is August 29 and 30, with Families and Children’s Day on Sunday and Adults Day on Monday, both free to all.

New Orleans’ season starts January 6, Lundi Gras is February 8 and Fat Tuesday is February 9, 2027. There are over 40 krewes in the city alone, and parades are free to watch. A 2020 study put visitors at 1.4 million.

Cologne’s street carnival opens on Weiberfastnacht, February 4, and peaks on Rosenmontag, February 8, 2027. More than one million people regularly come to Cologne, and about 300 tonnes of sweets are thrown. The 2026 parade had 11,500 participants in 74 groups.

Nice Carnival runs February 9 to 28, 2027, under the theme “Long live love”, with a Carnival parade and a Flower parade. It draws over a million visitors across its two weeks, and its earliest record dates to 1294.

The Carnival of Binche is on February 7, 8 and 9, 2027. Up to 1,000 Gilles in wax masks and ostrich-feather hats appear at any given time, UNESCO recognised it in 2003, and its earliest record dates to 1394.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s official 2027 program opens January 22 and has the Queen gala on February 17, the Coso Apoteósico on February 23 and a fireworks finale on February 28. It has been a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest since 1981.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival is on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2027. It dates back to the 1780s and is known for mas costumes, stick-fighting, limbo and steelpan competitions, with soca now more popular than calypso. No crowd figure is published.