Abatese Carnival
Papier-mâché floats, dance troupes, and masks in the heart of the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese
About Abatese Carnival
The Abatese Carnival, the great festival of Sant'Antonio Abate
Every winter, for a few days, Sant'Antonio Abate transforms. Nestled between the Lattari Mountains and the Sarno Plain in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, the town becomes an open-air stage for the Abatese Carnival: towering allegorical floats, costumed dance troupes, thousands of people filling the streets, and an entire community united by its most iconic celebration.
A papier-mâché tradition born in the seventies
The carnival has been celebrated in Abate continuously since the mid-1970s. Over the decades, local artisans have refined the art of papier-mâché, which remains the foundation of every construction: frames, paper, glue, and paint, all handcrafted in local workshops during the months leading up to the parade. The master float builders do not just build; they pass the craft down to the younger generation. Hundreds of young people are involved in the floats, with over five hundred participating in the 2024 edition. This passing of the torch is the true heritage of the Abatese Carnival, even more than the floats themselves.
The allegorical floats and dance troupes
Each float is born from a group with its own name and story. Recent years have seen formations such as Enigma, Black Jack 21, New Generation, Dioniso, Nikkinnella, Gli Incartati, and Africano. These floats are not static statues; they move, unfold, and change shape, accompanied by dance troupes that perform choreography prepared over months, competing for awards that recognize both the craftsmanship of the floats and the quality of the performances.
Themes range from animated cinema to current events. In 2026, seven floats paraded under the titles Alice and her Wonders, The New Eden, Las Vegas, Joker, Music Unites Us, War is a Game, and Pinocchio in the Land of Toys.
Where the festival takes place
- Piazza della Libertà: The heart of the morning festivities, featuring float displays, inflatables, and children's entertainment.
- Via Stabia: The starting point for the first afternoon parade.
- Via Roma: The starting point for the second parade, which concludes the carnival.
- Largo Sandro Pertini and Via De Luca: Spaces used for float exhibitions and the final day's activities.
The children's carnival
A significant portion of the program is designed for the little ones. Mornings are dedicated to entertainment in the square with workshops, inflatables, and meet-and-greets with cartoon characters, while local schools, such as the "E. Forzati" and "Mosé Mascolo-De Curtis" institutes, organize their own parade of masked students based on a theme chosen each year—in 2025, it was stars, planets, and galaxies.
The 2026 ecological turning point
The 2026 edition linked the festival to an environmental theme. The Municipality of Sant'Antonio Abate, together with Velia Ambiente and the Abatese Carnival Association, launched a contest for residents under 18: costumes made exclusively from recycled materials, from paper and cardboard to plastic, caps, and packaging. As Mayor Ilaria Abagnale summarized, "educating about recycling means educating about beauty and respect for the future."
Why it's worth the trip
The Abatese Carnival is not a manufactured tourist event; it is a grassroots village festival, free and open to everyone, in a corner of Campania that visitors often pass through without stopping, located between Pompeii, Castellammare di Stabia, and the Sorrento Peninsula. Those who arrive on the right days will find crowded streets, loud music, confetti until late at night, and the chance to see up close how a papier-mâché float is born.
Abatese Carnival — edition 2026
Three days of celebration, plus a recovery parade
The 2026 Abatese Carnival took place over three days, from February 15 to 17, in the streets and squares of Sant'Antonio Abate. On Sunday the 15th and Tuesday the 17th, the mornings were dedicated to float displays and children's entertainment, while in the afternoon, two major parades crossed the center until evening. On Monday, as a new addition this year, the party focused on young people with an event-evening transformed into an open-air disco.
However, rain forced the administration to halt one of the parades: Mayor Ilaria Abagnale announced its cancellation, citing the principle that "safety comes first," and the float procession was rescheduled for the following Sunday, February 22.
The carnival that embraces the environment
The theme of the edition was sustainability. The Municipality of Sant'Antonio Abate, with Velia Ambiente and the Abatese Carnival Association, launched a contest for residents up to 18 years old: create a carnival costume using only recycled materials, such as paper, cardboard, plastic, caps, packaging, and waste items. The costumes were photographed in the square and voted on online, with prizes for creativity, the best reuse idea, and the most successful environmental transformation.
Programme Abatese Carnival 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
- 10:00 to 13:00 in Piazza della Libertà: Allegorical float exhibition, inflatables, and children's entertainment
- 16:00 to 23:00: First major parade of allegorical floats and dance troupes, starting from Via Stabia
Monday, February 16, 2026
- Evening dedicated to young people: Open-air disco with Radio Ibiza and the "Ibiza Live Time" format
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- 10:00 to 13:00 at Largo Sandro Pertini and Via De Luca: Float exhibition and entertainment
- 10:00 to 12:30 in the square: "Green" carnival costume contest made with recycled materials, reserved for residents up to 18 years old
- 16:00 to 23:00: Final major parade of floats and dance troupes, starting from Via Roma
Sunday, February 22, 2026
- Recovery parade of allegorical floats, rescheduled after the postponement due to bad weather
The seven allegorical floats of 2026
- Alice and her Wonders
- The New Eden
- Las Vegas
- Joker
- Music Unites Us
- War is a Game
- Pinocchio in the Land of Toys
Highlights Abatese Carnival 2026
- Seven papier-mâché allegorical floats, handcrafted by local groups
- Two major afternoon parades along the center streets, starting from Via Stabia and Via Roma
- Monday youth evening with Radio Ibiza and the "Ibiza Live Time" format
- Recycled costume contest with prizes for participants under 18
- Morning entertainment, inflatables, and workshops for children in Piazza della Libertà
- Recovery parade on February 22 following the weather-related postponement
Prices Abatese Carnival 2026
Practical information — Abatese Carnival
How to get there
Sant'Antonio Abate is located in the province of Naples, just a few kilometers from Pompeii and Castellammare di Stabia. By car, take the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway and exit at Castellammare di Stabia or Angri, then follow local roads. By train, the most convenient stations are the Circumvesuviana stops at Pompeii Sanctuary and Castellammare di Stabia, connected to the town by local bus lines. The nearest airport is Naples-Capodichino.
Admission and hours
Admission is free: the parades take place on public roads, and no tickets are required. Morning entertainment and float exhibitions generally run from 10:00 to 13:00, while parades start in the afternoon and continue until 23:00.
Practical tips
- During parade days, the center is closed to traffic; it is advisable to park on the outskirts and reach the route on foot.
- This is a mid-winter festival; warm clothing and comfortable shoes are essential.
- In case of bad weather, parades may be postponed for safety reasons, as happened in 2026; it is useful to check updates on the Municipality's channels before traveling.
- For accommodation, it is best to stay in Pompeii, Castellammare di Stabia, or on the Sorrento Coast, all of which are a short distance away.
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Where does it take place — Abatese Carnival
Piazza della Libertà e vie del centro
Piazza della Libertà, 80057 Sant'Antonio Abate