Fano Carnival
The oldest Carnival in Italy, beautiful to see and sweet to taste since 1347
About Fano Carnival
The Oldest Carnival in Italy
The Fano Carnival, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino (Marche), boasts a documented history starting from 1347, making it the oldest Carnival in Italy. The event takes place in the heart of the city, along Viale Gramsci, which is transformed for the occasion into a grand masked parade route for the monumental papier-mâché allegorical floats. Organized by the Ente Carnevalesca di Fano, the event combines popular tradition, satire, and the artisanal mastery of Fano's float builders.
Allegorical Floats and the Getto
The heart of the festival are the allegorical floats, imposing papier-mâché creations that ironically tackle current events, dreams, and the collective imagination. During the grand Sunday parades, the famous Getto takes place: tons of chocolates, candies, and sweets are thrown from the floats to the crowd, a delicious tradition that has made the Fano Carnival famous with its motto "beautiful to see, sweet to taste".
Musica Arabita, Pupo, and Luminaria
Accompanying the parades is the Musica Arabita, the irreverent Fano band that plays with unlikely instruments and everyday objects like pots, coffee makers, and bottles. The symbol of the festival is the Pupo, the large mask that presides over the Carnival and is set ablaze in the final Rogo (bonfire), a propitiatory ritual of renewal. Also not to be missed is the evocative Luminaria, the evening parade of illuminated floats.
A Festival for the Whole City
The Fano Carnival is not just parades: the calendar includes the Children's Carnival, shows, contests, themed dinners, masked balls, and cultural initiatives that animate the historic center of Fano for weeks. It is an event deeply rooted in the community's identity, capable of engaging both adults and children and attracting visitors from all over Italy to the Marche region.
Fano Carnival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition had cinema as its theme, with the participation of the renowned Oscar-winning set designer Dante Ferretti. The event was structured around the "Friday culture, Saturday party, Sunday parade" format, also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Children's Carnival. On display were 12 allegorical floats (6 of the first category and 6 of the second category), with the usual Getto of tons of sweets, the Musica Arabita, and collateral events in the historic center of Fano.
Programme Fano Carnival 2026
Sunday, January 25 — Children's Carnival
- 10:00 AM — Children's Carnival along Viale Gramsci, free entry
Sunday, February 1 — First Parade
- 3:00 PM — First masked parade with allegorical floats and the Getto of sweets
- Guest of honor: Dante Ferretti; presence of Harley Davidson motorcyclists
Sunday, February 8 — Second Parade
- 3:00 PM — Second masked parade with allegorical floats and Getto
Thursday, February 12 — Fat Thursday
- 4:00 PM — Carnival flag-raising ceremony
Sunday, February 15 — Third Parade
- 3:00 PM — Third masked parade, allegorical floats, and Getto
Tuesday, February 17 — Shrove Tuesday
- 6:00 PM — Rogo del Pupo (Burning of the Pupo)
- 6:45 PM — Carnival lottery drawing
Collateral events throughout the duration of the festival: Carnival Kids area in Piazza XX Settembre, children's film screenings at Cinema Masetti, "Splendida del Carnevale" contests, themed dinners and masked balls, performances by Musica Arabita.
Highlights Fano Carnival 2026
Prices Fano Carnival 2026
Practical information — Fano Carnival
How to get there
By car: A14 Adriatica motorway, Fano exit, or SS16 state road. By train: Fano station is a few minutes' walk from the historic center. During parade days, traffic changes and a free shuttle service from the Fanocenter parking lot to the center are provided.
Tickets
Access to the masked parade is ticketed on the main Sunday parades: a season ticket/pass and daily tickets (with reduced rates for multiple days and for children). Many side events, such as the Children's Carnival, are free. Information and advance ticket sales on the official website.
Tips
The main parades start in the early afternoon: arrive early to find a spot along Viale Gramsci. For the Getto, bring a bag or an upside-down hat to collect the sweets.
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 — Fano Carnival
Viale Gramsci e centro storico
Viale Gramsci, 61032 Fano