Events, Festivals and Exhibitions

Carnaval de Nice (Nice Carnival) 2024

17 February - 3 March

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Set on the glamorous Cote d’Azure, the Nice Carnival (Carnaval de Nice) is one of the largest and most famous carnivals in the world. Many of the world’s top film directors, such as Vadim, Truffaut, Cocteau, Hitchcock and Woody Allen, have contributed to the city’s fame by filming there in the renowned Victorine Studios, established in 1919.

Nice is a city immortalised by Hitchcock’s 1955 classic To Catch a Thief and Cary Grant’s rampage through the stunning Nice Flower Market.

Flower battles still occur on the Promenade des Anglais as part of the carnival’s celebrations, with about 100,000 flowers thrown from the floats.

Nice Carnival

Nice is now a city for the many not the few, with many budget airlines flying to its international airport, making the carnival accessible to thousands of visitors. Held in February and March, tourists from less temperate climes are tempted to seek out the blue skies and the warmer weather of the South of France.

The carnival has six parades with up to 17 floats and more than 1,000 musicians and dancers.

History of the Nice Carnival

The festival has a long and illustrious history. It is reported that in 1294 Charles Anjou, the Count of Provence, commented on the joyous days of carnival that he had spent in Nice, which in all probability makes it the first recorded carnival in history.


While you are in the South of France, why not try out the Fête du Citron Menton (Lemon Festival)?


In 1873, a Committee of Festivities was set up by Andriot Saetone, a citizen of Nice, and in 23 February, 1873 the first Carnival took place with floats and other structures used for the parade. On 14 February, 1882 a rag and straw puppet called Triboulet, based on an archetypal 15th century court jester created in Victor Hugo’s banned novel Fantine was introduced as an active part of the festival. Triboulet was enthroned in the ‘char royal’ and paraded through the city centre and environs.

The festival did not take place during the first and second world wars, nor in the Gulf War in 1991, but the modern carnival as we know it was created by Alexis Mossa and his son Gustav Adolf in 1971. They set up grotesque and very unusual models for the floats.

Don’t miss this amazing festival set in such idyllic surroundings with such a romantic past.

Nice Carnival

Nice Carnival 2024 Programme

The theme for the 2024 event is King of Pop Culture. The programme is available here.


Can’t make this carnival, then try our round-up of the best carnivals around the world.


Nice Carnival

When is the Nice Carnival 2024?

It starts on 17 February and conclude 3 March.

Getting to Nice

Nice Airport has a number of budget flights from around Europe, including Ryanair and EasyJet.

Accommodation in Nice

If you are looking for accommodation in Nice during the Carnival, please try our Hotel Booking Portal.

Click to search for hotels with Agoda
Further information on the Nice and the Carnival

For further information on the Carnival, click here, and for ideas on what to do while in Nice, click here.


Details

Start:
17 February
End:
3 March
Website:
http://en.nicecarnaval.com/

Venue

Nice

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Mark Bibby Jackson

Mark Bibby Jackson

Before setting up Travel Begins at 40, Mark was the publisher of AsiaLIFE Cambodia and a freelance travel writer. When he is not packing and unpacking his travelling bag, Mark writes novels, including To Cook A Spider and Peppered Justice. He loves walking, eating, tasting beer, isolation and arthouse movies, as well as talking to strangers on planes, buses and trains whenever possible. Most at home when not at home. Mark is a member and director of communications of the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW).

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