Direct answer: Nice Carnival 2027 runs from Tuesday 9 February to Sunday 28 February 2027 in Nice, France, on the theme Vive l'Amour, meaning Long Live Love. The main events are daytime carnival parades, flower battles, and illuminated night parades around Place Masséna. Parades are ticketed per event, while the carnival village and street shows are free.
When is Nice Carnival 2027
Nice Carnival 2027 runs from Tuesday 9 February to Sunday 28 February 2027. The dates are set by the city each year and no longer follow Mardi Gras strictly. In 2027, the opening day, 9 February, is also Mardi Gras, the day before Lent begins. The detailed 2027 programme, with exact parade days and times, is published in autumn 2026, so check the official programme before you travel. See the Ryo guide to Nice Carnival dates, programme, and 2026 ticket prices for how the dates were confirmed.
| Date 2027 | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9 February | Opening day. Carnival parades begin. Also Mardi Gras in 2027. |
| 9 to 28 February | Carnival parades in the daytime, flower battles, and illuminated parades at night, on set days. |
| Sunday 28 February | Closing day: burning of the King and fireworks. Check the official programme for the time. |
What is Nice Carnival
Nice Carnival is the main winter festival on the French Riviera, the Mediterranean coast of south-east France. The French Riviera is the English name for the Côte d'Azur. The carnival fills the centre of Nice with parades, music, and street art for about three weeks each February. It is a secular festival today, though its roots sit in the pre-Lent season, when people feasted before the fasting of Lent. Mardi Gras means Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent. See the full list of cultural festivals in this category.
What happens at Nice Carnival
The heart of the carnival is the parade loop around Place Masséna and the Jardin Albert 1er. Daytime carnival parades bring floats built around the year's theme, with street art troupes and musical groups from many countries. The floats are large, satirical, and bright, and they move slowly so the crowd can see each one. In the evening, the same route hosts the Corso Illuminé, the illuminated parade, with the floats lit up and music playing through the streets. The carnival village on the Promenade du Paillon stays open through the festival, with free entry, food stalls, and family activities.
The best known event is the Battle of Flowers. In this parade, costumed performers ride on floats covered in fresh flowers and throw blooms to the crowd. The flowers are mostly grown locally, and the parade runs along the Promenade des Anglais and around Place Masséna. The 2026 pattern saw more than 100,000 flowers handed out across the flower parades. The closing ceremony ends the festival: the King, a large effigy, is burned, and fireworks light up the bay. Read the Côte d'Azur France guide to the Nice Carnival programme and flower battles for how the days are organised.
Tickets
There is no single ticket for the whole carnival. You buy a ticket for each event: one for a carnival parade, another for a flower battle, and so on. Seated grandstand tickets cost more than standing places in the pedestrian areas. People in full costume, dressed from head to toe, enter the illuminated parade pedestrian areas for free, subject to availability, but this does not cover grandstands or flower battles. The carnival village and the street shows are free. Book early: the best sections sell out well before the festival. Check the official site for 2027 prices, which were not published at the time of writing.
| What | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival parade, grandstand seat | Paid per event | 2026 price was 28 euros adult Zone A, 23 euros Zone B. 2027 prices not published. |
| Carnival parade, standing area | Paid per event | 2026 price was 14 euros Zone A, 7 euros Zone B. Full costume free for illuminated parades only. |
| Flower battle | Paid per event | Costume free entry does not cover flower battles. Book early. |
| Carnival village, street shows | Free | Free entry through the festival. |
| Closing ceremony, burning of the King and fireworks | Free to watch | 2026 pattern was free. Check the 2027 programme for time and viewing areas. |
How the festival began
The first written mention of a carnival in Nice dates to 1294, when Charles of Anjou, Count of Provence, wrote of the joyful days of carnival in the city. That early mention makes Nice Carnival one of the oldest recorded carnivals in the world. For centuries it stayed a local street festival, with masked balls and processions through the old town. In 1873, a committee was formed to organise the event, and the modern format began: themed floats, a King of Carnival, and paid viewing stands. Flower battles followed in the 1870s, growing out of the region's flower trade. The carnival paused during the world wars and again in 1991, but it kept its shape: satirical floats, flowers, music, and a closing bonfire.
Another carnival worth knowing is the Carnival of Venice date, masks, and visitor guide. For the full list of festivals across the world, go back to the World Festival and Holiday Calendar.
What to eat
Food stalls at the carnival village and along the parade route sell snacks and hot drinks. Nice is known for socca, a thin chickpea-flour pancake cooked in a wood-fired oven, and for sweet fried pastries. For a full meal, the old town and the streets near Place Masséna hold restaurants serving Niçoise cooking, the food of Nice and Provence. Book tables ahead: restaurants fill fast on parade days.
Safety and visiting tips
- Crowds: parades draw large crowds. Keep your bag closed and in front, carry little of value, and agree a meeting point with your group.
- Security: expect bag checks and barriers around the parade areas. Arrive early. Do not bring large bags.
- Transport: roads close around Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais on parade days. Trams and buses are diverted. Check local transport listings before you travel, and allow extra time.
- Weather: February in Nice is mild for Europe, with daytime highs often near 14 degrees, but evenings are cool and rain is possible. Bring layers and a light rain jacket.
- Stay: book months ahead. Nice fills fast for carnival, and prices rise close to the dates. Nearby towns such as Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cagnes-sur-Mer offer a quieter base with a short train ride.
- Costume: if you want free entry to illuminated parade pedestrian areas, wear a full costume, head to toe. A few accessories are not enough, and entry depends on availability.
- Children: parades are family events, but waits are long and crowds are thick. Bring water and snacks, and keep children close.
- Photography: ask before photographing people in costume up close, and keep clear of the parade route.
Sources
- Nice Carnival official site: 2027 edition, Vive l'Amour, zones, costume free entry, tickets
- Ryo: Nice Carnival 2026 and 2027 dates, theme, 2026 ticket prices, free entry rules
- Côte d'Azur France: Nice Carnival programme, flower battles, closing ceremony
- Iconic Riviera: Carnaval de Nice 2027 programme, parade loop, ticket advice