Greece Celebrates Carnival with Spectacular Parades
As Greece bids farewell to the carnival season, cities countrywide have come alive this Sunday with vibrant parades, music and wonderful celebrations.
The grand spectacle of the Patras Carnival and the cultural richness of places such as Xanthi, Rethymno, Lamia and Naoussa mean that the 2026 carnival celebrations are expected to draw millions of locals and visitors.
Patras Carnival: Greece’s Largest Celebration
The Patras Carnival has been Greece’s biggest and most popular carnival celebration for decades. The western Greek port city attracts people from every corner of the country and even abroad, who wish to enjoy the Carnival festivities of Patras. Many foreigners even plan their trips to Greece around this time of year to experience the festivities, despite the country not being globally known for its carnival season.
This year was no exception, as Patras has had many visitors. Despite the cloudy weather, the grand parades have been spectacular, with thousands of people already celebrating, dressed in elaborate costumes, with dancing and drinking expected to last late into Sunday night.
The festivities in Patras began weeks ago with events such as treasure hunts, children’s parades, and street performances. The Sunday night parade is expected to illuminate Patras with glowing floats and electrifying music, setting the stage for this year’s grand finale. The celebrations will conclude late Sunday night with the traditional burning of the King Carnival float at the central pier, accompanied by a breathtaking fireworks display and live music performances—a fitting end to Greece’s largest and most extravagant carnival while promising an even grander celebration next year.
Carnival in other cities of Greece
In northern Greece, Xanthi offers a blend of tradition and creativity, blending folklore from the wider Thrace region with contemporary topics. The city has hosted various events, from traditional dances to modern art exhibitions. Xanthi has the longest-standing local tradition in the broader Thrace region, with a history spanning nearly 60 years. This annual event offers residents and visitors of the picturesque city unique experiences of entertainment, culture, and joy. Its origins date back to the mid-1960s when imaginative locals introduced the idea of community celebrations during the pre-Lenten carnival season.
The first official “Thracian Carnival Festivities” were organized in 1966, marking the beginning of a vibrant cultural institution that continues to thrive today. Sunday’s grand parade in Xanthi will include thousands of costumed participants celebrating the city’s history and culture as a multicultural hub where Christians and Muslims have lived in harmony and peace for centuries.
While Patras and Xanthi are standout destinations during the Carnival season in Greece, celebrations have occurred throughout the country. In Athens, festive events transformed the city’s squares and streets into hubs of music, dance, and theatrical performances over recent weeks, despite the ongoing grief due to the anniversary of the Tempi tragic train crash.
Other regions like the island of Skyros, Rethymno in Crete, Lamia in Central Greece and the Macedonian town of Naoussa have also embraced their distinctive traditions, offering beautiful spectacle to their lucky visitors Skyros’ bell-clad “Geros” figures have roamed the streets in their folkloric costumes, while Naoussa has celebrated its historic “Genitsaroi and Boules” custom with disciplined processions that honor local legends.
The Greek Carnival season is known as Apokries in Greek, and it is a period deeply rooted in both Orthodox Christian traditions and ancient Dionysian festivals. It represents a time for indulgence before Lent while celebrating spring’s arrival through music, dance, and masquerade.
As Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) approaches—marking the start of Lent—Greeks will transition from this weekend’s extravagant and uncontrollable celebrations to kite-flying picnics and traditional Lenten meals, including lagana bread, halva, and taramosalata.
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