Mirabella Carnival
The finest carnival in the Calatino area, featuring spectacular floats and costumed groups
About Mirabella Carnival
The Mirabella Carnival
The Mirabella Carnival is the premier popular festival in Mirabella Imbaccari, a small town in the province of Catania known as the "city of lace" (tombolo). Every year, during the Carnival season, the town's streets fill with color, music, and joy, turning the historic center into a lively open-air stage. The event, organized by the Municipality of Mirabella Imbaccari, is considered by many to be the finest carnival in the Calatino area and attracts visitors from all the surrounding towns.
Allegorical Floats and Costumed Groups
The heart of the festival lies in the parades of allegorical floats and costumed groups, the result of weeks of hard work in the town's artisan workshops. Traditional masks, choreography, vibrant costumes, and social satire bring to life a festive procession that winds through the main streets to the Rotonda, the nerve center of the celebrations. The event concludes with awards for the best floats and groups, followed by dancing and entertainment for the public.
A Deeply Rooted Tradition in Calatino
Born as a local village festival and grown over the years into a highly anticipated event throughout the Calatino region, the Mirabella Carnival represents a significant cultural and economic investment for the community. Every year, the preparation involves hundreds of people—adults, youths, and children—in an intense month of workshops dedicated to building the floats and crafting the costumes. The event highlights the creativity and participatory spirit of the Mirabellesi and is a key feature in Sicily's rich calendar of popular festivals and traditions.
Mirabella Imbaccari and the Calatino
Situated at an altitude of about 500 meters in the province of Catania, Mirabella Imbaccari is famous for the ancient art of bobbin lace (tombolo), preserved in the local Lace Museum. The Carnival, along with the patronal feast of the Madonna delle Grazie, is one of the events that best captures the identity of this Sicilian village and the vibrancy of its community.
Mirabella Carnival — edition 2026
Mirabella Carnival 2026 - 38th Edition
The 2026 edition of the Mirabella Carnival, the thirty-eighth, was themed "The Power of Tradition" and took place from February 11 to 17. The highlight was the weekend of February 15 and 16, with colorful parades of allegorical floats and costumed groups through the streets of Mirabella Imbaccari.
The event concluded on Tuesday, February 17, Shrove Tuesday, with final celebrations at the Rotonda starting in the afternoon. The mayor and the municipal administration expressed great satisfaction with the large turnout of the public who festively crowded the town's streets, confirming the Mirabella Carnival as one of the most cherished events in the Calatino area.
Programme Mirabella Carnival 2026
General program of the 38th edition:
- Wednesday, February 11 - Opening of the Carnival week
- Sunday, February 15 - Highlight day with parade of allegorical floats and costumed groups
- Monday, February 16 - Parade and entertainment through the town center
- Tuesday, February 17 (Shrove Tuesday) - Final celebrations at the Rotonda from 4:00 PM
Highlights Mirabella Carnival 2026
- Edition theme: "The Power of Tradition"
- Parades of allegorical floats and costumed groups
- Final Shrove Tuesday celebrations at the Rotonda
- Large public participation from across the Calatino area
Prices Mirabella Carnival 2026
Practical information — Mirabella Carnival
Where
Historic center of Mirabella Imbaccari (CT), with final celebrations in the Rotonda area. The parades of allegorical floats and costumed groups travel through the main streets of the town.
How to get there
Mirabella Imbaccari can be reached by car via the SS117bis road in the Calatino territory, in the province of Catania. The nearest train stations and airports are located in the Catania area.
When
During the Carnival season, between February and the beginning of Lent. The highlight falls between the Sunday and Shrove Tuesday.
Admission
Street parades and performances are free and open to everyone.
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Where does it take place — Mirabella Carnival
Centro storico e Rotonda