Ambrosian Carnival

The carnival that lasts the longest

The Ambrosian Carnival is the carnival of Milan, in Lombardy, and it has a unique characteristic in Italy: it ends on Fat Saturday and not on Fat Tuesday. The city, following the Ambrosian rite linked to Saint Ambrose, celebrates four days longer than the rest of the country. It is an ancient and identity-rich tradition, a source of pride for Milanese people.

The grand parade in the Duomo

The most anticipated moment is the Fat Saturday parade: floats, masked groups, and shows parade in the afternoon along a route that starts from Via Palestro, crosses Corso Venezia and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, and culminates in Piazza Duomo. Hundreds of colorful costumes invade the city center in a grand popular festival.

Meneghino and Cecca

The protagonists of the Milanese carnival are the traditional masks: Meneghino, a witty and kind-hearted servant symbolizing popular wisdom, and his companion Cecca. Figures that tell the soul of ancient Milan and still accompany the celebrations today.

The 2026 theme: Fatti Avanti

For 2026, the Fondazione Oratori Milanesi has chosen the theme "Fatti Avanti" (Step Forward), an invitation to courage that translates into costumes and floats. The festival, free and open to all, also involves oratories, neighborhoods, and municipalities of the city with parades and distributed initiatives.