Zagarolo Carnival
Float parades, masks, and confetti in the historic village of Zagarolo
About Zagarolo Carnival
The Carnival of Zagarolo village
The Zagarolo Carnival is a major popular festival that, every year between Carnival Sunday and Shrove Tuesday, paints the streets of Zagarolo's historic center with color. Located in the Monti Prenestini area near the Castelli Romani, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, Lazio, the village turns into an open-air stage for a few days. Floats with detailed scenery and sound systems, groups of masked dancers, and clouds of confetti fill the streets, all leading to the grand arrival in Piazza Indipendenza.
A community-built celebration
The event is promoted by the City of Zagarolo together with the Pro Loco Association, with the collaboration of the Pitartima Business Network and the entire local community. Local associations are the true protagonists: for months, they design and build the floats, each dedicated to a specific theme, involving volunteers, families, and children. In recent editions, the festival has featured up to a dozen floats, around twenty associations, and hundreds of masked citizens, confirming its deep roots in the life of the town.
Parades and the school procession
The heart of the program consists of the Sunday parades of floats and masked groups in the old town, starting in the early afternoon and arriving in Piazza Indipendenza amidst music and entertainment. A highly anticipated event is the school parade: students from Zagarolo's comprehensive schools, dressed in costume, walk through the village to Piazza Santa Maria, accompanied by teachers and parents. The hamlet of Valle Martella also has its own dedicated day, "Valle Martella in Mask," with a party at the Rita Levi Montalcini Comprehensive Institute park. Shrove Tuesday concludes the event with a grand finale and, in recent editions, the announcement of the float most voted for by the public via a contest on the Municipality's social media channels.
Masks, competitions, and workshops
Alongside the parades, the Zagarolo Carnival offers competitions for the best individual and group costumes and, in some editions, creative workshops for children at Palazzo Rospigliosi, home to the Toy Museum, where little ones prepare costumes and decorations. This formula makes the festival a family-friendly event, capable of attracting visitors from across the Castelli Romani area and the province of Rome.
Why attend
- The parades of floats built by local associations, featuring elaborate scenery and music.
- The Shrove Tuesday grand finale in Piazza Indipendenza, with a popular vote for the most beautiful float.
- The children's school parade, the most heartwarming moment of the festival.
- The authentic atmosphere of a village carnival in Lazio, free and open to everyone.
- The opportunity to discover the historic village of Zagarolo and Palazzo Rospigliosi.
Zagarolo, a village to discover
Attending the Zagarolo Carnival is also a great chance to visit Zagarolo, a medieval village perched on a tuff spur, known for Palazzo Rospigliosi and its popular traditions. The Carnival, reintroduced after a few years of absence, is now one of the town's signature events, alongside the food festivals and exhibitions that animate the municipal calendar throughout the year.
Zagarolo Carnival — edition 2026
Zagarolo Carnival 2026: colors and creativity in the village
The 2026 edition of the Zagarolo Carnival, promoted by the City of Zagarolo with the Pro Loco and the Pitartima Business Network, was spread over several days between February 8 and 17. On Sunday, February 15, the main parade crossed the historic center with floats, masks, and meticulously crafted costumes, attracting hundreds of families with music and color all the way to Piazza Indipendenza. The floats, built in the preceding months by local associations, each developed a specific theme with dedicated scenery and sound systems.
The week also included the 'Valle Martella in Mask' party at the Rita Levi Montalcini Comprehensive Institute park and the school parade in Piazza Santa Maria, featuring students from Zagarolo's comprehensive schools. On Shrove Tuesday, February 17, the grand finale, from Via del Caravaggio to Piazza Indipendenza, closed the festival with the announcement of the float most voted for by the public via the contest on the Municipality's social media channels. Participation was free and open to all.
Programme Zagarolo Carnival 2026
The days of the 2026 Zagarolo Carnival
- Sunday, February 8 — First day of masked festivities in the historic center of Zagarolo.
- Thursday, February 12, 9:30 AM — School parade in Piazza Santa Maria with students from local comprehensive schools (according to the official post-event report, the school parade took place on Monday, February 16 at 9:30 AM).
- Saturday, February 14, 3:00 PM — 'Valle Martella in Mask', party at the Rita Levi Montalcini Comprehensive Institute park.
- Sunday, February 15, from approx. 3:10 PM to 6:30 PM — Main parade of floats and masked groups in the historic center, arriving in Piazza Indipendenza.
- Shrove Tuesday, February 17, from approx. 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM — Grand finale: parade from Via del Caravaggio to Piazza Indipendenza and announcement of the float most voted for by the public (online contest on the Municipality's social media channels, voting open until 12:00 PM on February 17).
Highlights Zagarolo Carnival 2026
- Parades of floats built by Zagarolo associations, each with a theme, scenery, and music.
- Shrove Tuesday grand finale with arrival in Piazza Indipendenza and popular vote for the best float.
- School parade for children from local comprehensive schools.
- 'Valle Martella in Mask', the festive day dedicated to the hamlet.
- Free, family-friendly event with confetti, masks, and entertainment in the historic village.
Prices Zagarolo Carnival 2026
Practical information — Zagarolo Carnival
How to get there
Zagarolo is located about 35 km east of Rome, along the Via Casilina. By car: A1 Rome-Naples motorway, take the Valmontone or San Cesareo exit, then follow signs for Zagarolo. By train: Zagarolo station on the FL6 regional line (Rome-Cassino), with frequent connections from Roma Termini; from the station, take local buses or taxis to the historic center. The parades take place in the historic center, ending in Piazza Indipendenza.
Admission
Participation in the Zagarolo Carnival is free and open to all. On parade days, the historic center is closed to traffic: it is advisable to arrive early and park in the areas outside the village.
Tips
The festival is designed for families: costumes and masks are welcome for both adults and children. Information and program updates are published on the website turismozagarolo.com and on the City of Zagarolo's social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Zagarolo Carnival
Centro storico di Zagarolo
Piazza Indipendenza, 00039 Zagarolo