Carnival of the Hills — Desenzano del Garda Parade

The Carnival Lights Up on the Lake

On January 31, 2026, Desenzano del Garda, in the province of Brescia, kicks off the Carnival of the Hills with a spectacular night parade along the lakefront. It is the inaugural stop of one of the most followed carnival circuits in the region, which annually involves numerous municipalities between the provinces of Brescia and Mantua.

Floats and Participants on the Lakefront

The parade starts at 8:00 PM along the lakefront, in the Via Anelli area. Scheduled are 15 allegorical floats and hundreds of costumed participants, accompanied by music, colors, and masked groups. The evening lighting and the backdrop of Lake Garda give the event a particularly evocative atmosphere, different from classic daytime parades.

A Celebration for Families

The Carnival of the Hills is an event designed for everyone, especially families: costumed children, entertainment, and the typical joy of the carnival season fill the center of Desenzano del Garda. Admission is free, making the event accessible to residents and tourists of the southern Garda area.

The Circuit Between Brescia and Mantua

The Desenzano parade opens a circuit of 13 events that runs from January 31 to March 8, touching various municipalities in the provinces of Brescia and Mantua. The day after Desenzano, on February 1, the celebration moves to Canneto sull'Oglio, on a route that brings the Carnival of the Hills throughout the territory.