Gozo Carnival 2026: Dates, Parades & Nadur Spontaneous Guide

Gozo Carnival: A Rich Tradition:

Carnival festivities on Gozo are deeply rooted in Maltese folklore, with the tradition dating back to the arrival of the Knights of St. John in 1530. The Knights, known for their elaborate feasts and celebrations, introduced Carnival to Malta, and it quickly spread throughout the islands, blending with existing local customs. These early carnivals often involved masked balls, street processions and satirical performances.

Over the centuries, Gozo has developed its unique Carnival traditions, distinct from those of Malta. While both islands share the core spirit of pre-Lenten revelry, Gozo’s Carnival has a more intimate and community-focused feel, with a strong emphasis on local participation and creativity. Especially when it comes to the Spontaneous Carnival in Nadur.

Carnival Floats: A Labour of Love:

The elaborate floats that feature in the organised Carnival parades are a testament to the dedication and creativity of local communities. The construction of these floats is a months-long process, often involving entire families or groups of friends. Applications to be part of the Carnival close in August, which should give you an idea of how much time and effort goes into their creation.

The float-building process typically begins with the design phase, where themes are chosen and sketches are drawn. A wooden or metal frame is then constructed as the float’s base. This frame is covered with papier-mâché, chicken wire, and other materials to create the desired shapes and figures. Finally, the floats are painted in vibrant colours and adorned with decorations, lights, and sometimes even moving parts, before emerging to be displayed in Victoria and other villages.

It’s astonishing to consider that these works of art have been painstakingly created behind closed doors since the previous summer. One of the more entertaining aspects of the early Carnival period is spotting the floats as they make their way from the villages to the main display areas. On one occasion, we even had to help a local float navigate a particularly narrow road. The builders had wisely accounted for height restrictions along the route but had overlooked the width of some of the narrower streets. We spent a good few minutes helping to carefully manoeuvre a twenty-foot serpent past the corner of a traditional balcony!

The Unique Nadur Spontaneous Carnival

Among the many Carnival celebrations, Nadur’s “Spontaneous Carnival” stands out as a truly unique experience. Unlike organised events, this celebration has no set rules or official committee. After sunset, from February 13th to 17th in 2026, the streets of Nadur transform into a stage for masked and hooded figures in often satirical, grotesque, or macabre costumes. This unscripted, organic street party is a must-see for those seeking an authentic and unforgettable taste of Gozo Carnival.

Historically, this event was known as the “Silent Carnival.” Due to Gozo’s small size, people feared being recognised even in disguise. Therefore, participants maintained silence to protect their identities. In 2005 Nadur was even the World Carnival Capital, hosting international dignitaries for the global Carnival City summit.

Gozo Carnival Dates 2026

Gozo offers a full week of Carnival fever, with events happening all across the island and the main parades taking place in Victoria. You can download the full guide at Events in Gozo.

Main Carnival in Victoria (Rabat):

Gozo Carnival 2026 will see seven(!) parades in the capital of Victoria, all featuring dancers, floats, grotesque masks and merriment.

Date	Event	Time
Sat 7 Feb	Opening Parade	19:30–23:00
Fri 13 Feb	Parade	17:00 onwards
Sat 14 Feb	Morning Parade	10:00–14:00
Sat 14 Feb	Evening Parade	17:00 onwards
Sun 15 Feb	Parade	14:00 onwards
Mon 16 Feb	Parade	17:00 onwards
Sun 22 Feb	Grand Finale	17:00–23:00

Village Celebrations:

Outside of Victoria, many villages across Gozo also host their own Carnival celebrations. Here are some potential events for 2026, we’ll update them with dates and times as soon as we can.

Date	Village	Location	Time
Sun 8 Feb	Għarb	Visitation Square	10:00 onwards
Sun 8 Feb	Nadur (Organised)	St Peter & St Paul’s Square	12:30–19:30
Mon 9 Feb	Sannat	St Margaret’s Square	19:00 onwards
Tue 10 Feb	Fontana	Local Council Hall	10:00 onwards
Tue 10 Feb	Żebbuġ	Assumption Square	19:00 onwards
Thu 12 Feb	Munxar	Church Square	17:00 onwards
Fri 13 Feb – Tue 17 Feb	Nadur (Spontaneous)	St Peter & St Paul’s Square	18:30–Late
Sat 14 Feb	Għajnsielem	Our Lady of Loreto Square	14:00 onwards
Sat 14 Feb	Xagħra	Nazzarenu Square	19:00 onwards
Sun 15 Feb	Xewkija	St John the Baptist Square	09:30 onwards
Sun 15 Feb	Xagħra	Nazzarenu Square	11:30 onwards
Sun 15 Feb	San Lawrenz	San Lawrenz Square	13:00 onwards

Carnival Parties

Carnival isn’t just about partying in the streets, there’s also plenty of events taking place in Gozo’s nightclubs, bars and other places.

Wild West

G7 & District Present: Gozo Carnival Friday 2026

World Cup Gozo Carnival 2026

Top Tips for Enjoying Gozo Carnival 2026:

• Embrace the Costume Spirit: Whether you opt for a humorous, grotesque, or traditional costume, dressing up is a key part of the Carnival experience, especially for Nadur’s Spontaneous Carnival.
  
  
• Experience Nadur After Dark: The Spontaneous Carnival in Nadur, from February 28th to March 4th after sunset, is a truly unique and unforgettable event. Don’t miss it!
  
  
• Dress for Crowds and Comfort: Wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking and potentially standing in crowded areas.

• Sample Prinjolata: Be sure to try Prinjolata, the traditional almond and citrus Carnival cake. This rich, dome-shaped treat is made with sponge cake, crushed biscuits, pine nuts, almonds, candied citrus peel, and glace cherries. It’s often decorated with whipped cream and extra cherries.
  
  
• Plan your Journey: The Carnival on Gozo is extremely popular and attracts a number of visitors from Malta and beyond. Expect the ferries to be busy, and for their to be traffic delays at peak times. There might also be road closures that impact the buses. Although, Malta Transport usually provides free shuttle buses to and from Nadur. We recommend downloading and checking the Tallinja App. If you’re planning on using taxis, expect to have to wait a little longer than usual and for the rides to be more expensive due to demand.
  
  
• Check Local Listings: While Victoria and Nadur are the main hubs, many other villages also host Carnival celebrations. Check local listings closer to the date for specific events and times.
  
  
• Where to stay: If you want to be close to action, then obviously you want to stay in Nadur. Be warned though, it’s a very busy weekend and accommodation will get booked up quickly. You might also want to consider staying on the outskirts to avoid the late night noise.