Striano Carnival
Papier-mâché floats and the Histriano mask in the heart of Striano
About Striano Carnival
Four days of celebration in the heart of the town
The Striano Carnival is the signature event of Striano, a town in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, overlooking the Sarno plain at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Every year, between February and March, the town's streets fill with allegorical floats, masked groups, dance troupes, and a massive crowd arriving from across the Vesuvius area and the Agro Nocerino-Sarnese. Access to every event is free: it is a people's festival, built by the citizens for the citizens.
From the Trojan Horse to the Carnival Citadel
In Striano, the Carnival has deep roots tied to farming culture and local cuisine: this is the birthplace of casatiello strianese, the toasted bread shaped like a lontro—the traditional boat of the Sarno River—eaten on Shrove Tuesday and during Easter week. The turning point came in 1981, when a group of citizens built the first float, an imposing Trojan Horse that paraded through the town followed by a procession of masks. Since then, the floats have never stopped, and the festival has become a permanent fixture on the local calendar.
To organize the event, the town is divided into five historic districts — Arco, Marzo, Piazza, Saudone, and Troccole — each involved in building the floats. In December 2006, the Carnevale Strianese Cultural and Artistic Association was founded, and in December 2011, the Cittadella del Carnevale was inaugurated. It serves as the association's headquarters and a permanent papier-mâché workshop: one of the very few public facilities in Campania dedicated exclusively to the creation of carnival floats.
Histriano, the mask that tells the town's story
Every great carnival has its mask, and Striano is no exception: it is called Histriano and punctually opens every day of the festival. The name refers to the area's Roman origins: according to local tradition, Histrius was a 1st-century BC warrior who, after the Social War in the Sarno-Nocera area, was gifted the lands on the right bank of the Sarno River, from which the town's name is said to derive. The Histriano procession through the city streets, often scheduled in the morning, is the highlight for children and local schools.
Allegorical floats and social satire
The spectacular heart of the event remains the parade of allegorical floats, built entirely by hand by Striano's master papier-mâché artists. The themes are never purely decorative: in recent years, the floats have tackled artificial intelligence, power, technological innovation, and environmental protection, using the satirical language that is the hallmark of the Campanian school of papier-mâché. The classic circuit connects via Sarno to Parco Verde, with multiple parades throughout the days.
- Allegorical float parades along the via Sarno – Parco Verde circuit, in the afternoon and evening
- Histriano mask procession through the town center
- Dance troupe performances and local dance schools
- Entertainment and papier-mâché workshops for children at Parco Verde
- «The Most Beautiful Mask» award featuring works by primary school students
- Evening concerts and shows with musical guests
A recognized event in Campania
With over forty years of history, the Striano Carnival is considered one of the most important in Campania and attracts audiences well beyond the municipal borders. The event is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Striano and, for certain days, the Metropolitan City of Naples. With the 2026 edition, the process of transforming the organization into a Foundation was initiated, following a public-led model designed to ensure continuity and transparency for the festival in the years to come.
When to go and what to expect
The Carnival centers on the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, so the date changes every year: in 2026, the 42nd edition was held from February 14 to 17, with some events rescheduled for February 21 and 22 due to bad weather. Visitors should expect road closures during parades, large crowds along the circuit, and a loud, joyful atmosphere: it is a local town carnival, not a grandstand event. We recommend arriving well in advance, parking in areas outside the center, and following the procession on foot.
Striano Carnival — edition 2026
The 42nd edition
The 2026 Striano Carnival brought four days of celebration to Striano from February 14 to 17, under the patronage of the Municipality of Striano and, for one day, the Metropolitan City of Naples. Adverse weather conditions forced organizers to postpone some parades, which were then recovered during the weekend of February 21 and 22: the actual calendar was therefore spread over February 15, 16, 17, and the makeup dates of February 21 and 22.
The floats and the protagonists
At the heart of the event were the newly built allegorical floats, which emerged from the workshops of the Cittadella del Carnevale and were dedicated to current themes such as artificial intelligence, power, and technological innovation. Accompanying them along the via Sarno – Parco Verde circuit were choreographies by local dance schools and entertainment for families and children. The evenings were hosted by Cinzia Profita and Eduardo Castaldo.
Music and awards
The musical lineup featured the Nostalgia 90 live show, the Febbre Italiana spectacle, and, on the final evening, a performance by rapper Le One, followed by the final awards ceremony. There was also the «The Most Beautiful Mask» award, dedicated to papier-mâché works created by primary school students, accompanied by a demonstration workshop.
Towards the Foundation
The 2026 edition also marked an institutional milestone: the start of the transformation of the Carnival organization into a Foundation, with a public-led model designed to ensure continuity, transparency, and sustainability for the most iconic event of the Vesuvius-area town.
Programme Striano Carnival 2026
Saturday, February 14
- 15:00 — Grand procession of the Histriano mask through the town center, departing from via Farricella (Parco Verde)
- 17:00 — Start of the allegorical float parade, via Sarno – Parco Verde circuit
- 20:00 — Dance troupe performances
Sunday, February 15
- 09:30 — Histriano mask procession, departing from Piazza D'Anna
- 11:00-13:00 — Children's event at Parco Verde
- 16:00 — Allegorical float parade, via Sarno – Parco Verde circuit
- 20:30 — Dance troupe performances
- 21:30 — «Nostalgia 90», Carnival concert
Monday, February 16 (postponed to Saturday, February 21 due to bad weather)
- 18:30 — Allegorical float parade
- 20:00 — «The Most Beautiful Mask» award (primary schools) and papier-mâché workshop
- 21:30 — «Febbre Italiana» show
Tuesday, February 17 (Shrove Tuesday)
- 11:00-13:00 — Children's event at Parco Verde
- 15:00 — Histriano mask procession, departing from via Risorgimento
- 16:30 — Allegorical float parade
- 20:00 — Dance troupe performances
- 22:00 — Guest of the evening: rapper Le One
- 23:00 — Awards ceremony
Sunday, February 22 (makeup day)
- 15:00 — Histriano mask procession, departing from via Farricella (Parco Verde)
- 17:00 — Allegorical float parade
- 20:00 — Dance troupe performances
- 21:30 — Final float parade
Evening hosts: Cinzia Profita and Eduardo Castaldo. Free admission to all events.
Highlights Striano Carnival 2026
- 42nd edition of the event, one of the longest-running in Campania
- Newly built allegorical floats on artificial intelligence, power, and technological innovation
- Histriano mask processions from Piazza D'Anna, via Farricella, and via Risorgimento
- «Nostalgia 90» concert and «Febbre Italiana» show
- Final evening with rapper Le One and awards ceremony
- «The Most Beautiful Mask» award with primary school works
- Morning entertainment and workshops for children at Parco Verde
- Makeup dates on February 21 and 22 following weather-related postponements
Prices Striano Carnival 2026
Practical information — Striano Carnival
How to get there
Striano is located in the province of Naples, between Poggiomarino, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, and Sarno. By car: take the Sarno exit on the A30 Caserta-Salerno motorway, then follow signs for Striano; from the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway, take the Angri or Scafati exits. By train: the Striano station is served by the EAV Circumvesuviana Naples-Sarno line, just a few minutes' walk from the center.
Admission and hours
All events are free and take place outdoors, with no tickets or reservations required. The parades follow the via Sarno – Parco Verde circuit: during the passage of the floats, traffic is diverted and several streets in the center remain closed.
Useful tips
It is best to arrive at least an hour before the floats depart and leave your car in the peripheral areas. Bring warm clothing for the evening parades, and for those visiting with children, aim for the morning sessions at Parco Verde, which are quieter. In case of bad weather, some parades may be postponed: it is advisable to check for updates on the official channels.
Contacts
Carnevale Strianese Cultural and Artistic Association — Cittadella del Carnevale, via Poggiomarino, 80040 Striano (NA). Official website: carnevalestrianese.com. Municipality of Striano, via Sarno 1, tel. 081 8276202.
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Where does it take place — Striano Carnival
Centro cittadino e Parco Verde
Via Sarno, 80040 Striano