Venice Carnival: Fabulous costumes of 2026

It was almost by accident that I found myself attending several days of the 2026 Venice Carnival and I enjoyed it more than I expected, as you’ll probably be able to see from the photos here. Frankly, I usually avoid Venice during its carnival season these days. During the Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia), Venice is both expensive and crowded. I enjoy the other weeks of winter, and often visit just before or just after the carnival dates (I make it a point to be in Venice between Christmas and Carnival for food-related reasons which you’ll read further down this page). I have actually enjoyed past carnivals, but that was years ago when I had my own flat in Venice that I could retreat to when the crowds got too much.

Venice Carnival has been stretched to maximise tourist income and now usually lasts two and a half weeks, including three weekends (mind you, this is nothing compared with the duration of carnival season in 18th-century Venice, when it lasted six months, for similar reasons). In 2026 I was in Venice for the first few days, including the first weekend, when opening events take place. This period is quieter than the end of Carnival, as the festivities build up to a peak on the final weekend and Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso), the final climax, when the town floods with revellers.

I’d planned to visit, as normal, in the quiet spell before Carnival started, and leave before the start of festivities. But my arrangements were delayed, I was running out of time, and I discovered that over that first Carnival week there were still some very reasonable prices for flights, hotels and apartments at short notice. It suited me. I was worried about crowds, but I took a gamble.

My favourite thing about Carnival season is frittelle (also known as fritole or fritoe), special Venetian carnival doughnuts which are only on sale from Epiphany (6th January) to the end of Carnival. My visit during these weeks is mostly about frittelle. But once in Venice, I soon remembered that despite my reservations about crowds and costs, I do always enjoy other aspects of the event. Carnival-goers’ costumes liven up the winter city and are fun to admire and to photograph. Turning the corner of a lane and coming face-to-face with a couple in full traditional 18th-century garb is like being whisked into Venice’s past. And non-traditional costumes can be impressive spectacles too.

Some of the costumes and styles are admittedly old hat if you’re a regular visitor – I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some of the same rented costumes year in, year out. But even if it’s not your first visit, there’s still lots to enjoy that is fresh each year. I deeply appreciate the high level of invention many visitors put into their custom costumes, often inspired by local history or the official theme of the year’s carnival (this year the theme was Olympus in honour of the Winter Olympics taking place in northern Italy). Carnival-goers come from all around the world, and many spend months preparing their costumes.

Some visitors bring costumes that share their own culture. Others may riff on their own special interests (or even fetishes – I wasn’t so keen on S&M elements at such a family event), and you might see steampunk, Disney adults or other themed costumes. A few of these choices feel a bit out of keeping to me, but since Venice’s Carnival was generally held to be about transgression and anything-goes fun, perhaps they are as appropriate as anything else.

Where to see costumes? It’s likely that you’ll spot costumed participants ‘in the wild’ in picturesque spots around Venice, but to see a big concentration, head to St Mark’s Square (the Piazza) and the Piazzetta alongside. There are regular formal parades of the day’s best costumes on a stage in the Piazza, with commentary, but I most like capturing the carnival-goers as they promenade around the square or strike poses for anyone holding up a camera or a phone, from pro photographers to tourists.

I have seen some really fun and clever handmade costumes over the years – I still remember a one-man Noah’s Ark and a hot air balloon. This year the most inventive and amusing costumes I saw were both double-acts: a fisherman and his captured mermaid (scroll down to see them among my favourite photos), and an Italian Big Brother couple. Some of my favourite costumes and photos from Carnival 2026 are included in this post, with my favourites ranked below.

This year my favourite costumes included one of those creative ensembles as well as historical costumes, from the generic to a Doge and Dogaressa who posed in a stately manner outside the Ducal Palace where their real-life counterparts once lived.

I loved the happiness in the faces of costumed visitors enjoying February sunshine in the Piazza and clearly having the time of their lives promenading in their costumes. Each time I head to visit the Piazza during Carnival – often a bit grumpy, anticipating the tourist crowd – I am surprised and delighted to rediscover the genuine good humour and the warm friendly atmosphere. People are here for a good time. And the tourist Carnival of glamorous adults overlaps with the traditional Italian Carnival with Venetian children dressed up in their little costumes (often Disney) throwing confetti with their parents. All in all it’s a really delightful all-ages vibe.

Selfie culture in times of Carnival – a grumble

The only thing that made me feel a bit disappointed this year was noting the consequences of society’s shift to selfie culture. When I first started taking photos at the Carnival, years ago, the costumed participants were the stars of the show. The rest of us flocked around taking photos of our favourite subjects as they posed happily. We complimented them, took our photos, and thanked them. It was very civilised and respectful towards them and the efforts they had made, essentially paying homage to their creativity and chutzpah.

Nowadays many visitors, despite attending as tourists in everyday clothes rather than dressing up to take part, see themselves as the main characters, and the wonderful carnival-goers as backdrops for holiday snaps. Instead of leaving the true protagonists to strike their poses and be admired by the banks of photographers, today’s tourists take turns pushing into the centre of the shot, puffy coats and all, while the costumed attendees stand patiently to be used as props.

As well as feeling somewhat disrespectful to the carnival participants (though I’m sure it’s not intended that way), it means that other photographers may wait in vain as long queues of selfie-takers stand in front of our chosen subjects. ‘It’s impossible!’ sighed a woman next to me, standing with her camera in her hand as an endless line of adults pushed themselves, their children and their friends in front of a couple with lovingly-created costumes. Occasionally the professional photographers or even the more experienced costumed carnival-goers themselves would request the selfie-hungry to WAIT, PLEASE to allow costume-only photos to be taken.

This is just a sign of changing times but it did lead to frustration and some reflections on our social-media shaped culture.

My fab four: favourite Carnival photos 2026

Of the costumes I admired and photos I took, there are four that really stand out as my favourites. Here they are, counting from fourth to first place in my preferences.

4. The mermaid and the fisherman

A popular legend around the world – and there is a local Venetian version of this folk-tale, too (you can find a reference to this in my Venice guidebook, and visit a location connected with the story). I really enjoyed the playful inventiveness of this creation as well as the relevance to Venice’s lagoon setting.

3. Carnival after dark

These glamorous costumed companions were hard to photograph unobstructed, as they were surrounded by admirers in modern puffy coats and winterwear. But I was lucky enough to snap this angle with no-one else in the way, including a nice glimpse of the portico by Caffè Florian and the evening sky. Gorgeous colours and lighting, and it feels like these extravagantly-dressed dandies are really living their roles and sharing old-time Venetian scandalous gossip.

2. The joy of Carnival

This is one of my favourite photos of all those I took at the 2026 Carnival because of the moment of sheer, infectious happiness it captures. I took several nice posed photos of this couple in their charming costumes but this shot really conveys the feelgood side of Carnival. Who can feel cynical when this much fun is being had?

1. Doge and Dogaressa

What can I say? I love the historical costumes and those that are inspired by Venetian history. For a thousand years the mighty Republic of Venice was ruled by a doge, with his wife, the dogaressa, by his side. They resided in the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale), where this doge and dogaressa are holding court. I love the costumes, the inspiration, the care for detail, the location and the lighting.

More Carnival moments

Are you in my photos? I usually try to avoid publishing photographs of recognisable faces online. At Carnival, though, part of the modern tradition is being photographed and taking photos, with Carnival-goers posing happily. If you are in any of these photos, however, and would like them removed, please contact me. Or if you would like copies of these or any additional photos I have of you, or to add a comment about your Carnival, contact me about this.

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