Everything You Need to Know About the Venice Carnival

by Jess Williamson | 26 Feb 2025

You’d be forgiven for thinking that February is a quiet time in Venice, but every year around 3 million people flock to the city to celebrate Venice Carnival. With a history dating back to the 12th century and an unmistakable dress code, we’re unmasking some of the carnival traditions.

a view down the Grand Canal in Venice, with a large boat in the foreground

1. The History of Venice Carnival

The first iteration of Venice Carnival can be dated back to the 12th century, when in 1162 the city put on a celebration to mark a military victory over the rival patriarchate of Aquileia. What was a one-off party then became a regular event, which coincided with pre-Lent. As a period of fasting and abstinence, in the last days before Lent people would put on grand banquets and parties in order to empty their pantries.

By the 16th century Venice Carnival was a well-known and unmissable event, seen as a way for the aristocratic classes of Baroque Europe to indulge in hedonistic pleasures – though it was also a way for all social classes of society to celebrate thanks to the anonymity of the masks that were traditionally worn.

However, the Carnival was outlawed for excessive licentiousness by the Austrian Emperor Francis II in 1797 and only revived in the 1970s, from which time it has grown from strength to strength once again. The modern festival was officially inaugurated in 1979.

2. How long does the Carnival of Venice last?

The Venice Carnival is a 2-week celebration that usually happens in February and March, depending on when Lent falls.

3. What date is the Venice Carnival?

The 2025 Venice Carnival is taking place from 22 February to 4 March.

4. Does Venice Carnival have a theme?

Every Venetian carnival has a theme, and the 2025 Venice Carnival’s Theme is “In the time of Casanova” (“Il Tempo di Casanova” in Italian), to honor the 300th anniversary of Giacomo Casanova’s birth. Today, Casanova is best known as one of the most famous lovers in history, but he was one of Venice’s most iconic figures for other reasons – he was a writer, soldier, spy, diplomatist, and extensive traveler. The 2025 theme promises to immerse visitors in the romance of Casanova’s 18th century Venice.

5. What to wear to the Venice Carnival

There’s no official dress code to simply attend the public celebrations – many people will have dressed up in full Venetian costume, while others will wear regular clothes and spectate. If you don’t want to wear the full dress, you can add a token mask to join in the fun. Wear whatever you want to make sure you’ll have fun.

One of the most striking masks you’ll see is the plague doctor, though that’s a more modern addition to the carnival dress.

However, if you’re attending a masquerade carnival ball, these are usually strict dress codes of either historical costume or black tie with masks.

6. What to do in Venice during Carnival

There’s so much to do in Venice during the carnival! The heart of the action is in St. Mark’s Square (also known as San Marco), where on the last Sunday and Tuesday of the carnival a huge wooden stage is put up in the square. It’s here that the winners of the ‘Best Masked Costume’ are crowned, and where you can catch colorful parades and even traditional plays.

The ‘Flight of the Angel’ takes place on the second Sunday of the carnival, when people gather in St. Mark’s Square to witness the winner of the ‘Marie’ beauty contest of the previous year ‘fly’ from St. Mark’s Basilica bell tower to reach the Doge’s Palace.

Beyond the square, there are treasure hunts, acrobatics, street theater, and more. You can find masquerade balls in some of the city’s most prestigious venues, like the exclusive Doge’s Ball in the Doge’s Palace.

The Venice Carnival 2025 schedule can be found here.

7. How crowded is Venice during the Carnival?

People travel from around the world to take part in the Venice Carnival – around 3 million people head to the Floating City to celebrate, vastly outnumbering the 50,000 inhabitants. The largest concentration of masked and costumed people will be around St. Mark’s Square, so you can explore outside of the main area on your own (and hopefully find some hidden gems!).

Don’t leave the charms of Venice as a mystery – discover it for yourself in premium style with an Insight Vacations Italy tour.

About Jess Williamson

Jess is an experienced writer and editor, with 6 years' experience working within the whisky industry. Her work has taken her to Scotland and beyond, while her personal travel highlights include backpacking around Vietnam with her sister, trips to California, Madrid, and the Greek islands.

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