Carnival 2026 in Bologna and surroundings: all the events not to be missed
Updated on 30 January 2026 From Martina Cavezza
With the arrival of Carnival, Bologna and its territory prepare to experience one of the most colourful and engaging moments of the year. Amidst masks, allegorical floats, music and traditional sweets, the city and its surroundings offer a rich calendar of events designed for families, children and visitors of all ages.
The start of Carnival is scheduled for Sunday 1 February, while Shrove Thursday falls on 12 February and the celebrations culminate with Shrove Tuesday on 17 February.
In these weeks, the city and the metropolitan area come alive with initiatives that combine tradition and contemporary creativity.
Here is a selection of Carnival 2026 events in the area:
Carnival in Bologna
Bologna's historic centre transforms into a space of widespread celebration. The streets fill with costumes, confetti, and stalls dedicated to traditional sweets, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere. In particular, Sunday 15 February and Tuesday 17 February 2026, on the occasion of Shrove Tuesday, the historic centre hosts the Carnival Fair.
Piazza Maggiore, Piazza del Nettuno, and Via Indipendenza welcome numerous stalls selling sweets and toys, making a stroll through the heart of the city a much-loved event for families and children.
Carnival in the Bologna Apennines
In the Bologna Apennines, the Vergato Carnival returns on Sunday 8 and 15 February 2026 with its historic parade of allegorical floats, famous for the giant-headed characters that have characterised this event for over a century.
On the same Sundays, the Children's Carnival returns to Bazzano (Municipality of Valsamoggia). From 2:30 PM, colourful floats and children in masks will parade through the streets of the village starting from Piazza Garibaldi. After the parade, the party will continue in the garden of the Parish Nursery School.
Meanwhile, in Casalecchio di Reno, from 6 to 8 February, the Family Carnival arrives. On Friday and Saturday, stalls and children's games will liven up Piazza del Popolo, Piazza dei Caduti, Via XX Settembre, Via Pascoli starting from 10:00 AM. On Sunday 8 February, the parade of floats will take place in Via Marconi starting at 2:00 PM.
In Monghidoro, on Saturday 7 February 2026, the traditional Carnival Vigil takes place at the town hall, accompanied by music from the musicians of the Upper Savena Valley. The event is free of charge and participants are encouraged to come in fancy dress.
In Zola Predosa, in the hamlet of Ponte Ronca, on Saturday 14 February 2026, the event “Balanzone's Friends: a Carnival of memories and friends” will be held, featuring a parade of official masks from all over Italy, snacks for children at the Ilaria Alpi Sociocultural Centre and a special session dedicated to the symbolic mask of Bologna, with a screening of the documentary film dedicated to the mask of Balanzone.
In Monzuno, on Saturday 28 February 2026, the Carnival brings the village to life with music, food stalls and a craft market. The afternoon culminates with a parade of masks inspired by cartoons from the seventies, eighties and nineties, designed to engage both adults and children.
Carnival in the Bologna Plains
Among the most anticipated events in the Bologna Plains, the Historical Carnival of San Giovanni in Persiceto stands out, celebrating its 152nd edition on Sunday 8 and 15 February 2026. It is one of the oldest carnivals in the area, famous for its animated floats created by local historical associations and for the traditional mask Bertoldo, an ironic figure from peasant culture.
The Pieve di Cento Carnival is also very popular, with parades scheduled for 1, 8, and 15 February and 1 March 2026. The star of the festival is Barbaspein, a symbol of conviviality and a playful spirit, reinterpreted every year in an artistic key.
On Saturday 31 January, Sunday 8 and 15 February, the historic Carnival also takes place in San Pietro in Casale. Every afternoon, allegorical floats parade through the town's main streets. But the most important moment of the festival is the reading of the "testament" of Re Sandròn Spaviròn, the traditional mask of San Pietro in Casale, which will be held on Sunday 15 February at 8:30 PM.
Designed especially for families, the Sala Bolognese Children's Carnival takes place on the Sundays of 1, 8, and 15 February 2026 in the various hamlets of the municipality, with allegorical floats, confetti, and food stalls along the route.
On the same dates, Molinella and its hamlets host the 70th edition of the Molinella Carnival, with allegorical float parades, food stalls, and fun for all ages.
The San Matteo della Decima Carnival, scheduled for 8 and 15 February 2026, enlivens the historic centre with parades and festive moments deeply felt by the local community.
In Granarolo dell’Emilia, however, the Children's Carnival, scheduled for Sunday 22 February 2026, represents a tradition established in 1979, involving entire generations.
On Sunday 1 March, Carnival also arrives in Castenaso with a parade of allegorical floats, music, and dancing through the town streets.
Carnival in the Imola Area
In the Imola Area, one of the most original events is the Carnival of Fantaveicoli in Imola, scheduled for Sunday 15 February 2026. An eclectic carnival parade starts from the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Racetrack, amazing and enchanting audiences of all ages. The "Fantaveicoli" (fantasy vehicles) are unique and original pieces created by assembling bicycles, wheelbarrows or other non-polluting vehicles, often accompanied by themed masks.
Also on Sunday 15 February 2026, the Medicina Carnival takes place in Medicina, an afternoon of celebration designed to involve both adults and children. Starting at 2:00 PM, in the via Oberdan and basketball court area, the event features allegorical floats, a masked parade open to everyone, and a competition for the best mask and masked group. The programme is enriched by games, rides, entertainment and stalls with sweets and traditional Carnival products, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere that invites the active participation of the entire community.
In Castel San Pietro Terme, on Sunday 8 February 2026, the Carnival of Worlds enlivens the historic centre with a masked parade, theatrical performances, live music, workshops for children and the inauguration of an exhibition of drawings created by local school students.
Dozza also participates in the Carnival celebrations. On Saturday 14 February from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM in Piazza della Libertà in Toscanella, there will be games, workshops, competitions for the best mask themed "Ice Age in Love" and a delicious snack for young and old. The following day, Sunday 15 February 2026, the village of Dozza hosts “La sfrappolata” from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Throughout the day, it will be possible to taste "sfrappole" and other carnival sweets.
Carnival in Bologna and its surroundings is the ideal opportunity to discover the territory through its most authentic traditions. From the city to the Apennines, from the Plains to the Imola Area, every location offers a different way to experience Carnival, amidst history, creativity and conviviality.
Before attending the events, it is advisable to check for any updates or changes to the programme, especially in case of bad weather.
A curious explorer with a passion for trekking and photography, I discover the world one step at a time. I have been writing for bolognawelcome.com and editor for extrabo.com since 2022.
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