Verbania Carnival
The Carnival of the Paciàn da Intra featuring parades, masks, and traditional dishes in Verbania
About Verbania Carnival
The Verbania Carnival, the heart of Intra's identity
The Verbania Carnival is one of the most cherished winter events in Verbania, the capital of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province, overlooking Lake Maggiore in Piedmont. It is organized by the historic Paciàn da Intra association, which has spent decades enlivening the district of Intra and the entire city with a program that blends lighthearted fun, culinary traditions, and community spirit.
The symbolic heart of the festival is the investiture of the Console Pacian, the mask who officially opens the Carnival with a satirical speech about city life, and the figure of Re Ciod, the historic mask of the San Vittore Oratory. Around them, youth centers, schools, groups, and neighborhood committees gather for days, filling the squares and social clubs of Intra, Pallanza, Trobaso, Possaccio, and other hamlets.
Two weeks of events across squares and hamlets
The program goes beyond the parade: it begins with festive neighborhood lunches and continues with theater evenings at the Centro Eventi Il Maggiore in Pallanza, shows, cabaret, and activities dedicated to children. It is a widespread Carnival that spans all of Verbania, with traditional cuisine as one of its hallmarks: tripe, polenta and sausage, pork ribs, and cod with onions are served in various districts according to a tradition renewed every year.
The grand parade
The highlight is the parade of floats and masked groups that winds through Intra starting from Piazza Martiri di Tarrego, accompanied by local marching bands. At the end, prizes are awarded to the best groups, and chiacchiere (carnival fritters), hot chocolate, and mulled wine are distributed. Youth centers, schools, and associations compete every year with themed displays in a friendly rivalry that has become part of the Verbanese identity.
A popular Carnival on Lake Maggiore
Experiencing the Verbania Carnival means discovering the most authentic side of Verbania and the Verbano area: a lakeside city that, during the festivities, rediscovers its neighborhoods, social clubs, and traditions. It is a free event open to everyone, ideal for families and those wishing to experience Piedmontese folklore away from the major tourist circuits.
Verbania Carnival — edition 2026
The 2026 Verbania Carnival enlivened Verbania from February 7 to 21 with a program spread across Intra, Pallanza, and the surrounding hamlets. After the gastronomic preview of the first weekend, the official opening took place on Thursday, February 12, at the Centro Eventi Il Maggiore with the investiture of the masks and a theatrical performance, followed on Friday, the 13th, by the "Masks and Magic" evening featuring music and cabaret. The climax arrived on Sunday, February 15, with the grand parade, accompanied by local marching bands.
Programme Verbania Carnival 2026
Preview — February 7 and 8
- Saturday 7, 12:00 PM — Polenta and sausage, Suore Rosminiane Kindergarten (Intra), organized by the Sassonia Neighborhood Committee
- Sunday 8, noon — Tripe, polenta, and pork ribs
Thursday, February 12
- 12:00 PM — Tripe lunch, ARCI Trobaso Club
- 8:30 PM — Official opening at the Centro Eventi Il Maggiore (Pallanza): investiture of the masks and theatrical performance
Friday, February 13
- 9:00 PM — "Masks and Magic" at the Centro Eventi Il Maggiore, with music and cabaret
Saturday, February 14
- 12:00 PM — Polenta and local specialties, Piazza Città Gemellata (Pallanza), organized by the Alpini of Possaccio
- 2:30 PM — Children's party in the square
- 7:30 PM — Dinner and party, ARCI Trobaso Club
- 8:45 PM — "Corrida di Mattinanti", San Vittore Oratory (Intra)
Sunday, February 15 — The grand parade
- Morning and lunch — Free distribution of traditional dishes in the hamlets
- 2:15 PM — Grand parade of floats and masked groups from Piazza Martiri di Tarrego (Intra), with the Verbania Marching Band and the Ghiffa Band; followed by awards ceremony and distribution of chiacchiere, hot chocolate, and mulled wine
Tuesday, February 17
- Distribution of tripe in various hamlets and children's game afternoons at the oratories
Saturday, February 21
- 12:00 PM — Cod and onions, Piazza Fasana (Intra)
Highlights Verbania Carnival 2026
Prices Verbania Carnival 2026
Practical information — Verbania Carnival
Location
Events take place in Verbania, primarily in the Intra district (Piazza Martiri di Tarrego for the parade) and in Pallanza, with various events spread across the hamlets (Trobaso, Possaccio, and others). The main evening events are held at the Centro Eventi Il Maggiore in Pallanza.
How to get there
Verbania is accessible by car via the A26 motorway (Verbania exit) and by train to the Verbania-Pallanza station on the Domodossola-Milan line. Boats and ferries connect the city to other towns on Lake Maggiore.
Information
Verbania Tourist Office (IAT), tel. +39 0323 503249, email [email protected]. Detailed program available on the Municipality's event portal.
Admission
Events in the squares and parades are free. Some neighborhood dinners and lunches in social clubs may require a small contribution.
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Where does it take place — Verbania Carnival
Intra e frazioni di Verbania
Piazza Martiri di Tarrego, 28921 Verbania