The following is a list of cultural carnival events that are held by different countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Carnivals are festive seasons involving street parties and parades. They are characterized by cultural dances, elaborate costumes, music, revelry and simply having fun. It’s an occasion to go out in the streets and join thousands of fellow residents and tourists taking part in the annual extravaganza. It is also an opportunity to watch beautiful and sexy women in festival attire. Carnivals are the reason why Brazilian Samba women are admired and well known as the most beautiful women in the world. Above all, the event promotes diversity, giving you a broad perspective of the world. It offers a chance to learn about other cultures and explore beautiful traditions that you could never have seen in your life if you didn’t attend the event.
Africa Carnivals
Cape Verde
Festivals in Sao Vicente
- Sao Vicente Carnival – Date [mid-February] An exotic carnival that begins around the middle of February, 40 days before the beginning of Easter. Largest celebrations are held in Mindelo,the street party starts at 9:00am
- Sao Vicente Baia Das Gatas Festival – Date [August full moon] A cultural and musical festival that is held on a full moon in August, over a long weekend
Festivals in Boa Vista
- Boa Vista Day of Santa Isabel Festival – Date [4 July] Municipality Day
Festivals in Sal
- Nossa Sra De Piedade – Date 15 August
- Santa Maria Festival – Date 11 to 12 September
Festivals in Santiago
- Gamboa Festival – Date 17 to 19 May
- Tabanka – Date June and July
Cape Verde dance and music includes The Morna, The Batuko and The Funana
Seychelles
Victoria Carnival
- Known as the Carnaval International de Victoria, a 3 day carnival from 24 to 26 April.
Zimbabwe
Harare Festivals
- Zimbabwe International Carnival also known as the Harare International Carnival [HIC] takes place from 16-25 May, but the 2015 event date has been moved to September due an International Tourism Expo that will take place in June. The scheduled date is 12 to 19 September.
Victoria Falls Festivals
- Victoria Falls Carnival – Date 29-31 December
South Africa
Cape Town Carnival – A non-profit carnival held in the middle of March – 14 March
Nigeria
- Calabar Carnival – lasts a full month from 1 December to 31 December. Launched by Cross River State governor in 2004 to promote Nigerian tourism and hospitality.
Asia Carnivals
Indonesia
- Kuta Karnival – Takes place in Bali at the Kuta Beach – Date: 9 to 11 September.
- Solo Batik Carnival – Takes place in the city of Solo also known as Surakarta in Central Java. The carnival began in 2008 – Date: 12 to 14 June.
- Jember Fashion Carnaval – Takes place in the city of Jember in East java province. Date: 26 to 30 August
India
- Goa Carnival – Goa is the only state in India that celebrates carnival or intruz in the local language. It’s a three day event celebrated in the towns of Panaji, Margoa, Mapusa and Vasco da Gama. The Sambalpur carnival is a two-day event.Panaji draws the largest crowd. Date: Celebrated in mid February, from 14 February to 17 February.
Israel
- Tel Aviv Purim Carnival – Celebrated by Jews to observe the day of deliverance from Haman who tried to influence the King of the Persian Empire to commit a genocide of Jews. Date: Usually observed in March at sunset on the Jewish 14th day of Adar.The 2016 event will take place on 24 March and the 2017 event will take place on 12 March. The 2015 event took place on 5 March.
Turkey
- Highline Carnival (THC) – Takes place in Geyikbayiri, Antalya. Date: from 14 February to 22 February
- Balkahorani Carnival – Also known as Apokries is a 3 day Greek carnival that takes place in Turkish cities like Instabul and Tatavla.Date: Starts 3 weeks before Ash Monday in the Greek Orthodox Christian calendar. Ash Monday marks the beginning of the 40 day Lenten fast.
Europe Carnivals
Belgium
- Carnival of Binche – Celebrations start 3 days before the start of Lent [Ash Monday], a 40 day fasting period observed in the Orthodox Church. Date: 15 to 17 February 2015, the 2016 event will take place from 7 to 9 February.
- Carnival of Aalst – Starts 3 days before ‘Clean ’ Wednesday [Another term for Ash Wednesday]
Bosnia Herzegovina
- Ljubuski Carnival – Date: February
Croatia
- Rijeka Carnival – Held every year before Lent. Date: Starts in late January and ends in early March. The 2016 event runs from 17 January to 10 February. It also features a pageant for Miss Rijeka Carnival.
Cyprus
- Limassol Carnival – Fun event celebrated for 10 days before Lent (Ash Monday), by Greek Orthodox church. Date: Runs from 12 February [Shrove Thursday] to 22 February.
Czech Republic
- Masopust Traditional Carnival – Date: Celebrated during Epiphany up to Ash Wednesday according to Orthodox Christian calendar.
Denmark
- Nordic Halloween or Fastelavn – Date: A carnival celebrated on a Sunday or Monday preceding Ash Wednesday, Christian Orthodox calendar.
England
- Notting Hill Carnival – The largest street carnival in the UK and second largest in the world. This is celebrated by people of Caribbean origin in England, particularly Trinidad and Tobago. Date: 30 to 31 August.
France
- Nice Carnival – Date: The 2016 event starts on 13 February and ends on 28 February. Generally the celebrations take place between mid February and end of February or beginning of March.
- Dunkirk Carnival – Date: Mid January to late March
- Paris Carnival – Date: July
Germany
- Cologne Karneval – Date: [11 November is the start of carnival season]
Greece
- Patras Carnival – 3 day event. Date: The 2015 event opens on 17 January 2015. Annual event starts on St Anthony Day.
Italy
- Venice Carnival – Date: The 2016 event starts 23 Jan to 9 Feb.
- Viareggio Carnival – Date: The 2015 event starts 17 February to 17 March
- Ivrea Carnival – Orange fight. Date: The 2015 event takes place on Tuesday 17 February. The 2016 event falls on 15 February.
Malta
- Nadur Carnival – Date: Street party happens in the period 13-17 February, and usually starts on 12 February.
- Valleta Carnival – Date: The 2015 event falls between 12 Feb and 17 Feb
- Floriana Carnival – Date: 13 to 17 Feb
Netherlands
- Rhineland Carnaval – 3 day event held in Maastricht, the capital city of Limburg province. Date: Happens 15 to 18 February in 2015, otherwise in the month of February.
Portugal
- Torres Vedras Carnival – Date: 13 to 18 February
- Ovar Carnival – Date: Every year on Fat Tuesday, February or March
- Sesimbra Carnival – includes Samba dance parades. Date: February
- Madeira Carnival – A one week celebration. Date: 3 to 10 February
- Loule Carnival – Streets get jammed with revelers. Date: The 2015 event runs from 14 Feb to 17 Feb.
- Nazare Carnival – Date: Shrove Tuesday
Spain
- Las Palmas Carnival – 500 year old celebration that goes on for a month filled with galas and dancing. A very large carnival after Rio de Janeiro.To enter the galas, visitors pay between 10 and 15 euros per individual. The main spectacle of the extravaganza is the Gala Queens competition. Date: Will run from 3 Feb to 21 Feb in 2016.
- Sitges Carnival – Date: The 2015 extravaganza takes place between 12 and 18 February.
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival – Capital of Canary Islands attracts a million participants to the event each year. The main highlight of the event is when the Carnival Queen is chosen.Date: The 2015 celebration starts 8 Feb t 22 Feb. The 2016 extravaganza starts 31 Jan to 4 Feb. [January/February/March].