by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Alessandra Orlich, President of the Coordinating Committee for the Trieste Carnival and the City Palio; Giorgio Rossi, Trieste City Councilor for Culture and Tourism
The city of Trieste has presented the program for its 32nd annual Carnival, set to unfold in February 2026 with a renewed organizational structure, a formal partnership with the nearby Carnival of Muggia, and a strong emphasis on community participation and charitable giving.
Among the most notable developments is a twinning agreement with the Carnival of Muggia, one of the region’s most established carnival celebrations. Representatives from Muggia, including its reigning King and Madrina, will take part in Trieste’s opening ceremony, symbolically linking the two events and encouraging broader regional cooperation.
The Carnival will officially begin on Sunday, February 8, with the traditional handover of the Keys to the City in Piazza Unità d’Italia at 10 a.m., coinciding with the Bavisela di Carnevale, a themed running event that combines sport and celebration. The race, promoted by APD Miramar and Trieste Atletica, will also serve as a fundraiser for the Burlo Garofolo Children’s Hospital, reinforcing the Carnival’s charitable dimension.
Solidarity will remain a central element throughout the festivities. During the main parade, spectators will be able to access a dedicated grandstand in exchange for a voluntary donation starting at five euros, with all proceeds going to support pediatric care and family services at the Burlo Garofolo hospital.
The program confirms many of the events that have defined Trieste’s Carnival for decades, particularly those centered on children. Schools, kindergartens, and municipal recreation centers will take part in parades across several neighborhoods, including Servola, San Giacomo, Roiano, Borgo San Sergio, Barriera Vecchia, and Valmaura. Baby dance events and children’s entertainment in public squares will once again play a prominent role.
Festivities will intensify from Thursday, February 12, with school parades in San Giacomo and Servola, followed the same afternoon by the historic “Corso delle Serve” in Servola, one of Trieste’s oldest carnival traditions. Additional neighborhood parades will take place on February 13 and 14 in Barriera Vecchia, Borgo San Sergio, Valmaura, and Roiano, involving students, families, and local bands.
The most anticipated event remains the masked parade on Shrove Tuesday, February 17. Seven city districts will participate with themed floats and costumes, parading through the city center along a route from Piazza Oberdan to Piazza Unità d’Italia. The procession will feature musical accompaniment from local and regional marching bands and will be open to individual participants and groups of all ages.
This year’s district themes range from playful and fantastical to symbolic, including references to Lego worlds, Viking mythology, Atlantis, and geometric motifs. Registration for participants is free and open until February 16.
Another returning feature is the Carnival photography contest, open to non-professional photographers. Participants will be invited to capture moments from the Shrove Tuesday parade, with awards given in three categories: best mask, best float, and best group. Selected photographs will later be displayed in a dedicated exhibition.
The Carnival will conclude on Wednesday, February 18, with the traditional Funeral of Carnival in Servola. The ritual procession, accompanied by music, will culminate in the symbolic burning that marks the end of the festivities and the beginning of Lent.
Organizers say the 2026 edition reflects an effort to reaffirm Trieste’s Carnival as both a cultural celebration and a shared civic experience — one rooted in neighborhood identity, open to families and visitors, and increasingly connected to the wider region.
