Borgo Vercelli Carnival
The historic carnival of the Borgo, featuring the General, the Bela Burghin-a, allegorical floats, and the traditional bean stew
About Borgo Vercelli Carnival
A village carnival with an ancient heart
The Borgo Vercelli Carnival is an event deeply rooted in the life of the town, in the heart of the rice-growing plains of the Vercelli Province, in Piedmont. Affectionately known by locals as il Carvè, it is a celebration that has involved entire generations for over half a century, from families to masked groups, and is organized with passion by the Famija Burghin-a and the Pro Loco with the patronage of the Municipality of Borgo Vercelli.
The official masks
Like any self-respecting Piedmontese carnival, Borgo Vercelli has its own official masks. Leading the festivities is the General, who makes his solemn entrance into town to receive the keys to the Municipality, accompanied by the Bela Burghin-a and her ladies-in-waiting. They are the protagonists of the parades and the most anticipated events, symbols of a tradition that renews itself year after year.
Parades, floats, and tradition
The program unfolds over more than two weeks and reaches its climax with the parades of allegorical floats and masked groups. Alongside the grand closing parade, there is also the evocative night parade, which illuminates the streets of the Borgo with colors and music. The heart of the carnival's gastronomic tradition is the fagiolata (bean stew), distributed in the school courtyard, while in the squares, you can taste panissa, the iconic dish of Vercelli cuisine.
Conviviality and community celebration
- Tour of local businesses by the masks
- Arrival of the General and presentation of the keys
- Giubiasa Dinner and Grand Mask Gala
- Children's dance in the gym
- Carnival dinners with music and themed evenings
- Distribution of the bean stew and bean stew dinner
- Night parade with a late-afternoon snack and panissa in the square
A carnival among the Villages of the Waterways
The Borgo Vercelli Carnival is part of the wider circuit of carnivals in the Vercelli plains, linked to the Borgo in Maschera (Masked Villages) project along the Waterways. A unique feature is the traditional participation of the 'twins' from the nearby town of Villata, a sign of a bond of friendship between communities that is renewed during the parades. It is the perfect opportunity to discover the authenticity of a village carnival, far from the major tourist flows but rich in human warmth.
Borgo Vercelli Carnival — edition 2026
53° Carnevale di Borgo Vercelli
L'edizione 2026, la cinquantatreesima, ha animato Borgo Vercelli dal 7 al 22 febbraio. Il via il 7 febbraio con il giro delle attività del paese con le maschere e la bicchierata alla Casa Parrocchiale; l'8 febbraio l'arrivo del Generale con la consegna delle chiavi.
Tra gli appuntamenti clou: la Cena della Giubiasa e il Gran Galà delle maschere con Radio Gran Paradiso (12 febbraio), il ballo dei bambini e le serate a tema (14 febbraio), la distribuzione della fagiolata nel cortile delle scuole (16 febbraio), la sfilata notturna con merenda sinoira e panissa in piazza (21 febbraio) e la grande sfilata dei carri allegorici e dei gruppi mascherati di chiusura (22 febbraio), con la consegna del premio Giuseppe e Camillo Pollo al Salone Soms.
Programme Borgo Vercelli Carnival 2026
- Sab 7 feb — ore 9:00 Giro delle attività con le maschere; ore 18:00 Bicchierata alla Casa Parrocchiale
- Dom 8 feb — ore 10:00 Arrivo del Generale e consegna delle chiavi
- Gio 12 feb — ore 19:30 Cena della Giubiasa; ore 21:30 Gran Galà delle maschere con Radio Gran Paradiso
- Sab 14 feb — ore 14:30 Ballo dei bambini; ore 19:30 Cena del Carnevale, serata a tema "Coppie famose" con 4Dance
- Dom 15 feb — ore 14:30 Sfilata; ore 19:30 Cena del Carnevale
- Lun 16 feb — ore 16:00 Distribuzione della fagiolata; ore 19:30 Cena della fagiolata con Alex Biondi
- Mar 17 feb — ore 15:00 Sfilata al Carnevale di Villata
- Sab 21 feb — ore 18:00 Sfilata notturna e merenda sinoira con panissa in piazza
- Dom 22 feb — ore 14:30 Sfilata dei carri e gruppi mascherati; chiusura al Salone Soms con premio Giuseppe e Camillo Pollo
Highlights Borgo Vercelli Carnival 2026
Prices Borgo Vercelli Carnival 2026
Practical information — Borgo Vercelli Carnival
Getting there
By car: Borgo Vercelli is located a few kilometers from Vercelli, along the SS11 Padana Superiore, near the A4 Turin-Milan motorway exit (Vercelli Ovest toll booth).
By train: The reference station is Vercelli, on the Turin-Milan line, from which the town is easily reached.
When
The carnival takes place in February, with events spread over more than two weeks. The main parades are held on the middle and final Sundays of the event.
Costs
Parades and events in the square are free to attend. For carnival dinners, booking is recommended by the dates indicated by the organizers; entry to the dance evenings is generally free from 10:00 PM.
Contacts
Municipality of Borgo Vercelli: +39 0161 32136 — information is also available via the Pro Loco Borgo Vercelli Facebook page.
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Where does it take place — Borgo Vercelli Carnival
Palestra della Scuola Primaria
Via Besate 9, 13012 Borgo Vercelli