When: The roughly two weeks before Ash Wednesday (moving with Easter), usually in February.
Tickets: Free + ticketed balls — The public events are free. The grand masked balls (such as Il Ballo del Doge) are booked directly through their websites — black-tie, costume required, and pricey.
What it is
Venice's Carnival is about spectacle and disguise: elaborate period costumes, ornate masks, and public events in St. Mark's Square, alongside exclusive masked balls.
How to get started
- Roam for free: the St. Mark's Square events, costume parades and the 'best mask' contests cost nothing to watch.
- Rent or buy a costume and mask if you want to join in the photos.
- For the famous masked balls, book tickets well ahead — they're formal and expensive.
Tickets & where to buy
The public events are free. The grand masked balls (such as Il Ballo del Doge) are booked directly through their websites — black-tie, costume required, and pricey.
- Where to stay
- Venice is busy and dear during Carnival — book accommodation early, or stay on the mainland and day-trip.
- First-timer tips
- Mornings in St. Mark's Square are best for costume photography, before the crowds peak.
- Watch out
- The square gets packed; watch your footing on wet stone and keep valuables close.
Several of these festivals are tied to Easter or a lunar calendar, so the exact dates shift each year. Confirm the current year's dates and ticket on-sale times from the official source before you book flights.