Ciampino Carnival
The Ciampino Carnival: floats, costumes, and local tradition
About Ciampino Carnival
The Ciampino Carnival: A Community Celebration
The Ciampino Carnival is the grand masquerade festival of Ciampino, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, nestled in the heart of the Castelli Romani just a few kilometers from the capital. For several days, the streets and squares of the town center are filled with confetti, costumes, music, and allegorical floats, in an event designed to engage everyone: children, families, youth, and seniors.
"On the Wings of Fantasy": The 2026 Theme
The 2026 edition chose the theme "On the Wings of Fantasy," an invitation to weave the world of dreams and imagination with the city's carnival traditions. The event, promoted by the Municipality of Ciampino - Department of Tourism and Territorial Marketing and organized by the cultural association Happy Time under the artistic direction of Alex Papitto, featured the invaluable collaboration of schools, parishes, youth centers, Pro Loco, senior clubs, and volunteer groups.
Allegorical Floats and Parades
The heart of the festival lies in the parades of allegorical floats, built by local masked groups with themes drawn from fairy tales and popular imagination: from Harry Potter to pirates, from Pinocchio to Mangiafuoco's puppet theater. The processions wind through the center of Ciampino accompanied by marching bands, performance groups, and a shower of confetti, concluding with shows and award ceremonies.
The "Gino Buna" Award
Among the highlights of recent editions is the "Gino Buna" Award, presented to the most original masked group. The honor is dedicated to the memory of Gino Buna, a historic figure in the city who was always committed to building the carnival floats, and it testifies to the strong bond between the Carnival and the collective identity of Ciampino.
A Free and Widespread Carnival
Beyond the main parades, the program features numerous events spread across the city's various neighborhoods and parishes: clown and juggling shows, creative workshops, the Carnival market, the "Mascherina" contest for children, and masquerade parties at senior centers. Participation is free, confirming the popular and inclusive nature of a festival that belongs to the entire Ciampino community.
Ciampino Carnival — edition 2026
The 2026 Ciampino Carnival, dedicated to the theme "On the Wings of Fantasy," marked a heartfelt return of the great masquerade festival in the center of Ciampino. Promoted by the Municipality - Department of Tourism and organized by the Happy Time association under the artistic direction of Alex Papitto, the event involved local schools, parishes, youth centers, senior clubs, and associations. Two main allegorical float parades took place on Sunday, February 15, and Tuesday, February 17, featuring floats inspired by Harry Potter, pirates, and traditional fairy tales. The festival concluded on Shrove Tuesday with musical performances, the "Gino Buna" award ceremony, a fireworks display, and the traditional King Carnival bonfire.
Programme Ciampino Carnival 2026
Thursday, February 12
- 5:00 PM - P. Nenni Council Chamber: "The Storyteller" show, music and transformation with paper costumes
Friday, February 13
- 4:00 PM - P. Nenni Hall: "Upside Down" creative workshop by Pro Loco
- Masquerade party at the "Gli amici della Folgarella" Senior Center (members only)
Saturday, February 14 - Widespread events
- 10:30 AM - A. Moro Park Cavea: "Storyteller at the Park"
- 4:30 PM - Sacro Cuore Parish: "Hiram Show" of juggling and clowning
- 5:00 PM - Gesù Divino Operaio Parish: Soap bubble show
- 5:00 PM - San Giovanni Battista Parish: Mago Cosetto magic show
- 5:30 PM - B.V. del Rosario Parish: "Extravaganza Show" with Clown Chapeau
Sunday, February 15
- 10:00 AM - "Mascherina 2026" contest and awards
- 10:00 AM - Carnival Market at A. Moro Park
- 2:00 PM - Participant gathering at Piazzale F. Armati (Town Hall)
- 3:00 PM - Allegorical float parade, from the Town Hall to Parco Aldo Moro
- 5:00 PM - Arrival of floats and entertainment with inflatables and face painting
Tuesday, February 17 - Shrove Tuesday
- 3:00 PM - Float parade from Largo M. L. King towards Via Parigi, along Via Bruxelles, Via Genova, and Via Milano
- Performances by the Superband of Monteporzio Catone and the Frente Murguero
- "Gino Buna" award ceremony for the best masked group
- Fireworks display and traditional King Carnival bonfire
- 4:00 PM - Masquerade party at the "Gli amici della Folgarella" Senior Center (members only)
Highlights Ciampino Carnival 2026
Prices Ciampino Carnival 2026
Practical information — Ciampino Carnival
Where it takes place
The Ciampino Carnival enlivens the center of Ciampino: the parades start from the Town Hall area (Piazzale F. Armati) and Largo Martin Luther King, reaching Parco Aldo Moro and the streets of the center. Numerous events are held in the P. Nenni Council Chamber and in the city's parishes.
How to get there
Ciampino is served by the railway station on the Rome-Naples and Rome-Albano/Frascati lines, with frequent connections from Roma Termini station. By car, it can be reached via the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) and the Via Appia. The city is also home to the Rome-Ciampino "G. B. Pastine" Airport.
Admission
All Carnival events are free of charge. Participation in the masked groups is open and free of cost.
When
The festival takes place during the Carnival season, between February and Shrove Tuesday.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Ciampino Carnival
Centro cittadino e Parco Aldo Moro
Piazzale Felice Armati, 00043 Ciampino