From Brazil to Europe, see how carnival is celebrated in different cities around the world, with traditions, rituals, and styles that reflect unique cultural identities.
Submitted at Feb 12, 2026, 3:00 PM
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Espanha — Fantasias monumentais, concursos exuberantes e festas que atravessam a noite definem o carnaval nas Ilhas Canárias. ( Tenerife/Divulgação)
The carnival is one of the oldest and most diverse festivals on the planet. Present on various continents, it takes on very different forms depending on the local culture, mixing religiosity, history, popular identity, music, fantasy, and the occupation of the streets. In some places, the celebration is marked by grand parades; in others, by ancestral rituals, traditional masks, or spontaneous manifestations that take over squares and alleys.
carnaval (Venus Major/Unsplash/Divulgação)
Much more than the common idea of festivity and excess, the carnival carries deep meanings that talk about collective memory, cultural resistance, and popular expression. In 2026, while millions of people prepare to celebrate, it is worth looking at how different cities around the world transform this date into something unique.
In Rio de Janeiro, the carnival has transformed into a monumental scale spectacle, where samba schools parade with complex plots, gigantic allegories, and meticulously rehearsed choreographies.
Desfile das escolas de samba no Sambódromo do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. (Fernando Grilli/Riotur/Divulgação)
The Sambadrome concentrates the most televised part of the celebration, but the true carioca soul also pulses in the street blocks that occupy entire neighborhoods, gathering crowds around music, humor, and improvised fantasy. The carioca celebration combines professional organization and popular spontaneity, reflecting the social diversity of the city and the power of samba as a cultural expression.
In Salvador, the carnival essentially happens in the streets and revolves around the electric trios that travel through the city's historical circuits. Bahian music — from axé to pagode, passing through samba-reggae — sets the rhythm for entire days of collective dancing.
Blocos de rua em Salvador movimentam multidões. (Central do Carnaval/Divulgação)
Unlike the parade model, here the audience follows the artists in constant movement, forming a vibrant crowd that transforms avenues into human rivers. The strong presence of Afro-Brazilian culture gives the celebration a very strong identity dimension, where ancestry, rhythm, and celebration walk together.
The carnival of Venice is world-renowned for its elaborate masks and costumes that evoke 18th-century nobility. The city becomes a theatrical backdrop, where people circulate through bridges, canals, and squares like characters from another era.
Veneza, Itália — Máscaras elaboradas e trajes históricos transformam a cidade em um cenário teatral cheio de mistério e elegância. (InfoEscola/Divulgação)
Unlike the noisy and musical parties of other places, here an atmosphere of mystery, elegance, and aesthetic contemplation prevails. The tradition of masks originated as a way to erase social differences, allowing everyone to mix anonymously during the celebration.
In the city of Nice, on the French Riviera, the carnival combines parades of floats with the famous “Battle of Flowers”, where fresh flowers are thrown to the audience.
[caption id="698caf7826e5c5f75ac187ec" width="736" data-alt="Nice, France — Artistic floats and the traditional Battle of Flowers color the streets of the French Riviera during the celebration." data-caption="Nice, France — Artistic floats and the traditional Battle of Flowers color the streets of the French Riviera during the celebration." data-credit="Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d'Azur" data-source-id="" data-source-name=""]
[/caption>The aesthetic of the event is refined and colorful, with a strong presence of artistic elements and giant caricatures that make political and social critiques. The Mediterranean climate contributes to an outdoor party that mixes lightness, tradition, and visual creativity, attracting visitors from all over the world.
The carnival of Cologne, known as Karneval, is a celebration that mixes humor, satire, and strong popular participation. People wear fun costumes and take to the streets in a spirit of collective camaraderie.
[caption id="698cb32a26e5c5f75ac187f4" width="736" data-alt="Cologne, Germany — Creative costumes, political satire, and strong popular participation mark the good-humored German Karneval." data-caption="Cologne, Germany — Creative costumes, political satire, and strong popular participation mark the good-humored German Karneval." data-credit="iStock" data-source-id="" data-source-name=""]
[/caption>There are parades, typical songs sung in chorus, and a strong tradition of games and ironies directed at politics and society. The German party is less visually grandiose than others but extremely intense in community involvement.
In New Orleans, the carnival is called Mardi Gras and carries strong French and Afro-American influence. The parades organized by associations called krewes distribute colorful necklaces and small gifts to the audience, while jazz bands and brass music fill the streets.
[caption id="698cb88426e5c5f75ac18811" width="736" data-alt="New Orleans, United States — Krewes parades, colorful necklaces, and the sound of jazz give a unique identity to Mardi Gras." data-caption="New Orleans, United States — Krewes parades, colorful necklaces, and the sound of jazz give a unique identity to Mardi Gras." data-credit="Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia Commons" data-source-id="" data-source-name=""]
[/caption>The celebration mixes religiosity, music, and local tradition, creating a unique atmosphere where culture, festivity, and history intertwine in a vibrant manner.
The carnival of Oruro is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and has deeply religious and indigenous roots. The festival mixes Andean rituals with Catholic elements, resulting in symbolic dances such as the Diablada, which represents the struggle between good and evil.
[caption id="698cb8fb26e5c5f75ac18815" width="736" data-alt="Oruro, Bolivia — Symbolic dances, richly detailed costumes, and Andean rituals make the carnival a spiritual and ancestral celebration." data-caption="Oruro, Bolivia — Symbolic dances, richly detailed costumes, and Andean rituals make the carnival a spiritual and ancestral celebration." data-credit="autentica_viajera/Tripadvisor" data-source-id="" data-source-name=""]
[/caption>The costumes are rich in details and laden with spiritual meanings, transforming the carnival into a true reenactment of ancestral myths.
In the Canary Islands, the carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the largest in Europe and stands out for its exuberant costume contests, especially that of the Carnival Queen, whose costumes can weigh dozens of kilograms.
[caption id="698cb97526e5c5f75ac18817" width="736" data-alt="Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain — Monumental costumes, exuberant contests, and parties that last through the night define the carnival in the Canary Islands." data-caption="Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain — Monumental costumes, exuberant contests, and parties that last through the night define the carnival in the Canary Islands." data-credit="Hello Canary Islands" data-source-id="68f2b8ff98f18c7f5f5e4deb" data-source-name="Divulgação"]
[/caption>The entire city enters the festive mood, with shows, parades, and parties that last through the early morning. The celebration combines Spanish influence with the island's tropical spirit, resulting in a vibrant and extremely visual party.
CASACOR Publisher is a creator of exclusive content, developed by the CASACOR Technology team from the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.
