Zungoli Carnival

Carnival in the tuff stone village of upper Irpinia

The Zungoli Carnival is the local festival of Zungoli, a small village of just over a thousand inhabitants perched on a tuff hill overlooking the upper Ufita valley, in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region. It is not a carnival of large allegorical floats: it is a community celebration, designed primarily for the children and families of the village, which for a few afternoons transforms alleys, stairways, and small squares into an open-air stage.

The format follows the tradition of southern inland carnivals: afternoon workshops, street entertainment, shows suitable for all ages, plenty of confetti, and a grand finale in the square with cotton candy and street food. Visitors from outside will find an authentic way to step into the daily life of a village deeply connected to its collective rituals.

How the festival unfolds

The program is spread over three consecutive afternoons, leading up to Shrove Tuesday. The venues are those of the village: the former middle school, the headquarters for workshops and the gathering of masked participants, and Largo Fontana, where the finale takes place.

• Creative workshop for children — an afternoon dedicated to making decorations and masks, led by the oratory's entertainers.
• Confetti Party — entertainment, group games, and dancing, with juggling shows and street performers.
• Comedy magic and cabaret — a live performance moment designed to make both adults and children laugh.
• Masked parade — the procession of costumed participants winds through the historic center and converges in the square.
• Cotton candy and street food — the convivial closing of the festival, with food stalls and kiosks.

The 2025 edition, the documented one

The last edition for which a program was published is that of 2025, which took place from Sunday, March 2 to Tuesday, March 4. It opened with the "Color the Carnival" workshop at 4:00 PM, continued on Monday with the "Confetti Party" featuring juggling and fire shows by Mr. Matti and comedy magic by Mago Pepe, and concluded on Shrove Tuesday with the masked performance, the parade, and the lighting of the Carnival in Largo Fontana. Admission to the events was free: they were open to everyone and accessible to people with mobility issues.

Who organizes it

The event is born from the collaboration between the Municipality of Zungoli and the Oratorio Anspi San Nicola Zungoli, which provides entertainers and volunteers. This is a typical structure for towns in Irpinia, where the parish, oratory, associations, and municipal administration share the organization of the calendar's festivities. Official information is provided through the Municipality's channels and the oratory's social media pages, as well as the Sistema Irpinia portal of the Province of Avellino, which aggregates local events.

Zungoli, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy

It is worth arriving a few hours early, as the village is a destination in its own right. Zungoli is part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy circuit and displays the Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club; in the spring of 2026, it ranked third in the "Village of Villages" television competition. The Norman castle, dating back to the 11th century and later transformed into a noble residence by the Susanna family, dominates a historic center of cobbled alleys, arches, and "bridge houses" that span the narrow streets.

Beneath the houses lies a network of tuff caves from the Byzantine era, on several communicating levels: used for centuries as shelters and cellars, they are now partially open to visitors and are still the environment where the local Podolico caciocavallo cheese is aged, along with extra virgin olive oil from Ravece olives. The village is located along the Regio Tratturo, the ancient transhumance route between Abruzzo and Puglia: a pastoral heritage that often returns in events promoted throughout the year.

What to know about the 2026 edition

At the time of our verification, the dates and program for the 2026 Zungoli Carnival have not been published: neither the Municipality's website nor the Province of Avellino's events portal reports the appointment. Until the official announcement arrives, it is not possible to indicate days and times. We recommend checking the channels of the Municipality and the Oratorio Anspi San Nicola in the weeks leading up to the festival: in towns of this size, the program is often released with only a few days' notice, via posters and social media pages.