Carnival and More in Sorrisopoli
The solidarity carnival of Tor Sapienza, where the neighborhood becomes the city of smiles
About Carnival in Sorrisopoli
A carnival born from the neighborhood
The Carnival and More in Sorrisopoli is much more than just a masked parade: it is the identity-defining festival of Tor Sapienza, a working-class neighborhood in Municipio V of Rome, in the heart of the capital's eastern periphery, in the Lazio region. For over twenty-five years, on a Sunday in February, the neighborhood changes its name and becomes Sorrisopoli, the fantastic city inhabited by those who bring smiles where there are none. The idea, simple and powerful, was born in the early 2000s from the work of the volunteer association TS IdeE OdV, which still coordinates the entire event today alongside schools, parishes, neighborhood committees, and third-sector organizations.
The Viale Filippo De Pisis Parade
The heart of the day is the masked parade that travels along Viale Filippo De Pisis, the neighborhood's large tree-lined artery, which is closed to traffic for the occasion. The procession features over a thousand participants, including children, teenagers, and adults: entire school classes from the area, sports groups, volunteer associations, senior centers, and local families. Each group spends weeks working on costumes and handcrafted floats, often built with recycled materials—a choice that has led the association to be recognized for its environmental sustainability.
Music, rhythm, and street arts
The parade is always accompanied by a rich musical lineup, which over the years has involved bands and percussion ensembles: Banda La Rustica, the Bassa Musica of Molfetta, the drums of Caracca, the Ritmania group, the Street Percussion Band Città di Cave, as well as flag-wavers, acrobats, clowns, and stilt-walkers who entertain the little ones along the route. For several editions, the event has been hosted by television presenter Maria Chiara Cimini.
The Key to the City and the solidarity project
What makes Sorrisopoli different from any other neighborhood carnival is its commitment to solidarity. Every year, the festival chooses a charitable project to support and symbolically presents the Key to the City to its promoters, acknowledging the quiet dedication of those who work daily to make the world a better place. In 2025, support went to the Progetto Home by Trenta Ore per la Vita, dedicated to hospitality homes for families of seriously ill children; in 2026, to the La maravilla de una sonrisa project by the Sulla Strada OdV association, in favor of Maya children in Guatemala.
A festival for families
Admission is completely free, and the day is designed for families: it starts in the early afternoon, with dancing and parading until sunset, featuring final awards for the best masked group and playful contests like the Sorrisopoli pizza competition. It is a precious opportunity for those who do not know this part of Rome: Tor Sapienza is a social housing neighborhood that grew around the 1920s settlement, and the carnival is the moment it shows its most cohesive and participatory face.
When to go
The event takes place on a Sunday in February or early March, near the carnival period, generally starting at 3:00 PM. The exact dates are announced each year through the channels of the TS IdeE OdV association and the local Roman press.
Carnival in Sorrisopoli — edition 2026
Dances of the World: the 2026 edition
The twenty-sixth edition of the Carnival and More in Sorrisopoli was held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM along Viale Filippo De Pisis, in the Tor Sapienza district of Rome (Municipio V, Lazio region). The chosen theme was 'Dances of the World': each masked group brought to the streets a dance symbolizing a people, from Cuban salsa to country, from samba to tarantella, passing through hula, hip hop, flamenco, raqs sharqi, can-can, charleston, rock, and the Georgian dance of the Sukhishvili.
The masked parade was accompanied by musical ensembles including Banda La Rustica, the Bassa Musica of Molfetta, the drums of Caracca, and the Ritmania group, with clowns and stilt-walkers entertaining children along the route. The event was hosted by television presenter Maria Chiara Cimini.
As per tradition, the day concluded with the presentation of the Key to the City of Sorrisopoli, this year awarded to the president of Sulla Strada OdV for the project 'La maravilla de una sonrisa', dedicated to Maya children in Guatemala. The program also included contests for the best masked group and the Sorrisopoli pizza. In the same year, the TS IdeE OdV association received the 2026 'Cambiare' Award in the Environment and Sustainability category thanks to this project.
Programme Carnival in Sorrisopoli 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026 — Viale Filippo De Pisis, Tor Sapienza
- From 3:00 PM — Opening of the masked parade on the theme 'Dances of the World', with schools, associations, and neighborhood groups
- Dance performances: Cuban salsa, country, samba, tarantella, hula, hip hop, flamenco, raqs sharqi, can-can, charleston, rock, Sukhishvili Georgian dance
- Musical accompaniment: Banda La Rustica, Bassa Musica of Molfetta, Caracca drums, Ritmania
- Street arts: clowns and stilt-walkers along the route
- Host: Maria Chiara Cimini
- Contest for the best masked group
- Sorrisopoli pizza contest
- Presentation of the Key to the City to the president of Sulla Strada OdV — 'La maravilla de una sonrisa' project for Maya children in Guatemala
Highlights Carnival in Sorrisopoli 2026
- 26th edition of the event
- 2026 Theme: 'Dances of the World', a symbolic dance for every people
- Free masked parade with schools and associations from Municipio V
- Live bands and percussion: Banda La Rustica, Bassa Musica of Molfetta, Caracca, Ritmania
- Presentation of the Key to the City to the 'La maravilla de una sonrisa' project (Maya children of Guatemala)
- 2026 'Cambiare' Award to TS IdeE OdV for Environment and Sustainability
Prices Carnival in Sorrisopoli 2026
Practical information — Carnival in Sorrisopoli
How to get there
Tor Sapienza is located in the east of Rome, along Via Collatina. By train: Roma Tor Sapienza station on the FL2 Rome Termini–Tivoli line, a few minutes' walk from Viale Filippo De Pisis. By bus: numerous ATAC lines connect the neighborhood to Tiburtina station, Metro C (Torre Maura/Grotte Celoni stop), and Metro B (Ponte Mammolo). By car: take exit 15 of the Grande Raccordo Anulare, then Via Collatina; on the day of the parade, Viale Filippo De Pisis is closed to traffic, so it is best to park in the surrounding streets.
Prices
Free admission for everyone. Fundraising for the year's solidarity project is voluntary.
Tips
Arrive at least half an hour before the start of the masked parade to find a spot along the avenue. Outdoor event: dress in layers, as Roman temperatures in February can be chilly in the late afternoon. The event is very suitable for children, with strollers easily managed on the flat avenue.
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Where does it take place — Carnival in Sorrisopoli
Viale Filippo De Pisis, Tor Sapienza
Viale Filippo De Pisis, 00155 Roma