Termini Carnival

The longest-running Carnival on the Sorrento Peninsula

The Termini Carnival is the longest-running Carnival celebration on the Sorrento Peninsula. Born in 1981 in the hillside hamlet of Termini, in the Municipality of Massa Lubrense (province of Naples, Campania), it has grown to become the premier carnival event for the entire territory between Sorrento and Punta Campanella. In 2025, the event reached its 40th edition, and in 2026 it celebrated its 41st: a rare continuity for an event built entirely on local volunteer work.

Allegorical floats, works of art crafted by the village

The heart of the festival is the allegorical floats, handcrafted by dozens of people who spend months working on the designs. Papier-mâché, iron, paint, and moving mechanisms bring to life true works of art that offer an ironic take on the major current events of the past few months: politics, pop culture, and viral trends all end up under the satiric lens of the builders. Each float parades accompanied by masked groups, choreography, and music through the streets of the village.

• Allegorical floats built entirely by local groups
• Masked groups and choreography by local dance schools
• Satire on current events as the common thread of the designs
• Hundreds of floats created over more than forty years of history

A program that goes well beyond the parade

Alongside the parades, the Termini Carnival offers a Carnival Village with inflatables and activities for children, aerial dance performances, cabaret nights with well-known guests, entertainment, and food stalls featuring local street food from the coast. In 2026, the Carnival Palio was added, a challenge between village teams that sparks friendly rivalry between the districts. The closing is entrusted every year to a spectacular pyromusical performance.

The association and the community

The organization is managed by the association «Termini... non solo Carnevale», with the support of the Municipal Administration of Massa Lubrense. The Carnival is not just a show: it is a moment of collective identity where the village comes together, passes on float-building techniques to the younger generation, and strengthens neighborhood ties. Visitors from outside immediately perceive this participatory dimension, which is very far from large-scale tourist events.

Termini, a natural balcony over Capri

Termini is the highest hamlet of Massa Lubrense, the last inhabited area before the Bay of Ieranto and Punta Campanella. Its panoramic square looks straight toward the island of Capri and the Gulf of Naples, and some of the most famous trails in Campania start from the village. Experiencing the Carnival here means combining the festivities with a landscape that, on clear February days, offers one of the most beautiful views in the entire region.

When to go and what to expect

The event is traditionally concentrated in the days leading up to and following Shrove Tuesday, between late February and early March depending on the year, and spans four days. The float parades are held in the early afternoon, while the evenings are dedicated to cabaret, music, and shows. Admission to all initiatives is free: you only pay for what you consume at the stalls. It is advisable to arrive early, as the village fills up with visitors from all over the Sorrento Peninsula during the parade days.