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This is a guide to the upcoming Carnival in Nice, France. We’ll tell you what to expect in the celebration and how to save money on a visit to Nice.
In 1973, Nice residents set up the “Comite des fetes” to organize Carnival and attract wealthy winter visitors to Nice. It was in the 19th century that Carnival became the “capital of the winter resorts.”
In 1873, parades were added with huge floats, mixing in current events, allegorical myths and grotesques
Today, the Carnival has two weeks of festivities, attracting a million people. It will begin on February 11 and end on March 1, 2026. There are several parades, both night and day. It is the Number 1 Carnival in France and one of the four most famous Carnivals in the world.
The 2026 theme for Carnival is “Vive le Reine!!” That translates to “Long Live the Queen” and this will be a tribute to women.
Crowds line Nice’s famous boulevard to see the colorful floats and dancers. They have to get there early to get the best viewing points. The Flower Parade is a signature event of the Nice Carnival. Giant screens are present to make sure you can see everything. This parade celebrates the local floral heritage of the French Riviera.
Each float will have thousands of real flowers pinned by hand. This creates a beautiful mosaic of colors. Costumed actresses will be tossing 100,000 flowers to people in the crowd. The flowers include gladioli,graberas, daisies, carnations and roses. 20 tons of mimosas are also given to the crowds.
The Parade of Lights goes on a magical journey through Nice. The floats will have thousands of twinkling LED lights and neon strips. High energy dancing and musicians lead the way through the darkened streets. It’s a vibrant street party filled with laughter, loud music and confetti. Everyone will be dancing to the music.
Lou Queerraval is a LGBTQTD+ event. It is the first gay carnival event in France. You’ll see rainbow colored floats and flamboyant costumes. It represents inclusion and solidarity.
Watching the parades requires a ticket. The cost varies with each parade and the grandstand will cost more than the standing area. However, if you’re fully dressed in a costume, you can enjoy free access to the pedestrian areas only, not in the grandstands. The key words are fully dressed. A mask and a hat will not get you free access. If you need inspiration for a costume, you can get that here.
Carnival Village is free to enter and features artistic activities for all ages, creative workshops and food stalls.
You can try the local Carnival specialty called Ganses. They are sweet filled fried dough treats, dusted with powdered sugar with a hint of orange or lemon. You can find them in many of the food stalls. A favorite snack would be panisses, chickpea fries.
You can also try socca, a chickpea pancake. That is a much loved street food. And try pissaladiere. It is a savory tart with caramelized onions, anchovies and Nicoise (“from Nice”) olives.
The closing ceremony features a spectacular traditional burning of the Carnival King float on the last night of the festival. It is placed in the water and set on fire. This marks the end of the festivities and the beginning of the spring season in France. Then fireworks will light up the night sky over the Mediterranean Sea.
Hotel Discounts
If you’d like to visit Nice for Carnival or any other time, you should look for a great hotel deal here. Many of these hotels have discounted rates and all can be booked for under $100 (USD) a night which could save you money on your stay.
Nice Restaurants
While you’re in Nice, you should try some of their excellent restaurants. Here are the 10 best restaurants as chosen by the users of TripAdvisor.
- La Marenda
- La Vaglia
- Boccacclo
- Bocca Nissa
- Plage Beau Rivage
- La Maison de Marie
- La Plongeair
- Eat Sushi – Nice Jean Jaures
- Cumin & Cannella
- La Reserve
Flying to Nice
If you’re going to be flying to Nice, you can book discounted flights here.
Sources
Sources per Friendly Planet, Michelin Guide & Carnival de Nice
