Patras Carnival

The Patras Carnival 2026 officially commence on Saturday, 17 January and reach their climax with the Grand Parade on Sunday, 22 February 2026.




The opening is highlighted by a three-day carnival programme (16–18 January) featuring a variety of events including music, dance, theatrical performances, and a vibrant carnival atmosphere in Georgiou A’ Square in Patras.

Its events are not limited to the last weekend of the parade, but extend throughout the entire carnival season including parades, a hidden treasure game for the crews of the floats, and the Carnival of the Little Ones with its most spectacular parade. The events also include the revival of traditional carnival customs, the Panhellenic Satire Festival of Amateur Troupes, exhibitions, artistic activities, concerts, Chocolate War, dances, etc.

The children’s carnival towns take place on selected Sundays – 18 and 25 January, 1 and 8 February – culminating in the central celebration on 14 February, offering a wide range of activities and creative engagement.

The big parade on Sunday as well as the night parade on Saturday 21/2 is the culmination of the carnival fun. In the Grand Parade of the Patriotic Carnival on the last Sunday (22/2) and in the Parade of the Carnival of the Little Ones more than 50,000 carnivalists will march.

Check out the full programme here.

The celebrations of the Patras Carnival will end at the central pier of Patras with the traditional burning of the King Carnival float. A huge stage with special lighting and music will host special shows and many dazzling fireworks will stir up the crowd and draw them into a frenetic dance - a farewell to the Carnival that is coming to an end. The rendezvous of carnivalists is renewed for the next year, as the declaration of the end of the carnival is accompanied by the declaration of the beginning of the next one.