Bratislava Carnival are returning to the streets. Already on Saturday 7. February 2026 will be brought to the Main Square, Franciscan Square, the courtyard of the Old Town Hall and the premises of the Bratislava City Museum 4th year of the popular city festival, which BKIS has been organizing since 2023.
Mardi Gras they were long ago cheerfulness a community celebration before the Lent period. Laughter, music, dance and masks belonged to the village, but also to the city. Bratislava's carnivals are inspired by this tradition and bring it to the streets all-day program aj carnival parade in masks.
The day will start with a program especially for families with children, in the afternoon a large carnival parade in masks will take place through the city. The evening continues on the Main Square with concerts, dancing and festivities. Food and drink stands will also be available throughout the day.
The heart of carnival has always been maskThis year's challenge is simple: disguise, carnival, celebrateWe invite individuals, families, schools, neighborhoods, friends, and various communities to make a simple mask and join the carnival parade.
If you want to make a mask but don't know where to start, they will help creative workshops a week before the festival (for example, making Mexican masks).
During Carnival Day, there will be competition for the best masks pre individuals and groups. Anyone can participate with their own mask, whether it was made at home or in workshops. They will compete for interesting and original prizes.
The symbol of Bratislava Carnival 2026 is the White Snake, a large community-made carnival puppet. In Slavic tradition, it is associated with protection, renewal, and good energy, and it is with this message that it will lead the procession. It will be created in joint workshops before the festival and everyone can participate in the creation.
Program and partners
Daily program
Hlavné námestie
9:00 Radio Junior: What if... we wore masks every day?
Working in radio is a bit "masked". Everyone can hear the editors or actors, but no one can see them. And the radio elf Breptík has one more mask. Today, however, the entire Radio Junior will throw off their masks and reveal what is hidden behind them. Masks are not just for "showing off", but often help us survive difficult life situations or, conversely, avoid them.
10:00 From Three Kings to Ash Wednesday
A cheerful Slovak carnival performed by traditionally non-traditional and children's folklore groups full of dance, music and funny stories. The performers will be: DFS Kobylka, DFS Vienok, DFS Gerulata and FS Poleno.
12:00 Masks in motion
Move your mask! Come to a dance workshop and learn dance elements, master hip-hop choreography and compete for prizes in a dance battle. The dance workshop will be led by dancer and choreographer Dano Antálek.
13:00 International Carnival
Let yourself be carried away and inspired by the colorful carnival traditions of foreign cultures similar to Fašiangas. Experience "Fašiangas" from Mexico to India.
Big carnival parade
Let yourself be carried away by the motto of this year's Carnival Mask up, have a carnival, celebrate! Let's revive the collective joy of creation in the name of traditions and show off our creativity in the parade. Let's make Bratislava's carnival a unique city carnival!
Before the parade you can look forward to ritual revival of the White Snake, which as Snake city guardian will put on the front The Great Carnival Parade.
16:30 parade meeting – Main Square
17:00 Big carnival parade through the city
Route of the Great Carnival Parade
Open the route map of the Great Carnival Parade (PDF, 172 kB)
Franciscan Square
10: 00 - 15:00 BSK performing arts zone
Join the performative workshops and let loose in the parade!
10:00 Fairytale Carnival I.
Join a movement workshop for children led by Nikola Kozáková, which is interwoven with a carnival story full of fairy-tale creatures. Together we will experience the joy of movement, a sense of belonging, and thanks to various fantastic characters, a taste of otherness.
12:00 DiversAbility Circus
...these are circus games for people with special needs. Together we will create a magical and inclusive world where everyone shines thanks to circus activities. Aids adapted for specific manipulation, adapted activities and a supportive approach of guides and lecturers. The project is co-financed by the European Union.
Due to capacity reasons, this workshop is free registration required.
13:00 Fairytale Carnival II.
Join a movement workshop for children led by Nikola Kozáková, which is interwoven with a carnival story full of fairy-tale creatures. Together we will experience the joy of movement, a sense of belonging, and thanks to various fantastic characters, a taste of otherness.
14:00 Music playground with Rytmika
Visit the music playground with rhythmics: a lively space full of rhythm, movement and energy, where body and mind naturally connect through music. Rhythmics will teach you how to play rhythms, technique and play together. If you dare, bring your own homemade percussion and your newly acquired skills to perform in the accompaniment.
The Performing Arts Zone was financially supported by the Bratislava Self-Governing Region.
Evening program
Hlavné námestie
18:00 Music
The evening carnival festivities will be kicked off by the Muzička group with folk music in its original forms and rugged beauty.
19:00 Mask competition
We will award the most original carnival mask, whether individual or collective. Don't hesitate, join the parade and the award for the best mask could be yours.
19:30 The Sendrei family
Don't miss the concert of the Sendreiovci music group, which will bring unbridled energy, lively rhythms, and emotion to the carnival evening.
20:30 Duo SlaNina
The evening party will be accompanied by the Duo SlaNina, consisting of Lasky and Nina. They will play Dirty Dancing in the rhythm of Lambada through Diridonda, disco vibes and Balkan rhythms to your ears and mood.
Accompanying program
Courtyard of the Old Town Hall
9:30 Wolf in the Moon
How much lying do we have to do to achieve our goals, and is it really true that lies have short legs? A cult production by Houže Theatre is coming to revive the Bratislava Carnival! The main character – the Wolf, is obsessed with the desire to get to the Moon. Therefore, he leaves his pack and sets off on a harrowing journey into the unknown, on which he meets many strange creatures, strikingly resembling the old acquaintances Kozliatka or Little Red Riding Hood. The creators of the production made the stage and puppets from materials intended for disposal (old clothes, PET bottles, old furniture).
11:30 About Janko and Marienka or Krutohustý forest
Who doesn't know the story of Janek and Marienka? Houze Theatre However, this time it brings you an incredible, detective adventure in which both young and old viewers will find their way. It will be told to you by none other than the forester himself – Peter Martinček, a caring forester who suddenly has to quickly solve why the Egg never went on a hike and a large, cruel shadow fell on the fairy-tale landscape! Dear viewer, dear viewer, prepare your attentive eye, the journey through the fairy-tale forest begins!
13:00 Singing workshop with Bratislava sings gospel
We invite not only choral singing enthusiasts to a workshop open to everyone, regardless of singing experience.
Bratislava City Museum, courtyard of the Old Town Hall
10:00 Old Town Hall
Biographies of people and things
Come and see the Biographies of People and Things exhibition during Carnival, which captures a record of a diverse mosaic of cultural exchanges. If you miss the exhibition during Carnival day, you can do so until April 26, 2026.
Workshops
January 31 and February 7
Get in the right carnival mood in advance. Join in making a carnival puppet or come create your own mask.
January 31st 10:00 – 15:00 Nová Cvernovka, Ateliér Svetlík
Collective workshop Snake Guardian of the City. Join us in creating a community puppet, the symbol of this year's carnival. Free entry, no registration required.
January 31st 10:00 – 15:00 Nová Cvernovka, Ateliér Pes Press
Carnival mask workshop – screen printing. We invite you to a creative workshop on making carnival masks, where we will give space to imagination, colors and traditional carnival playfulness. Free admission, no registration required.
January 31, 15:00 PM and February 7, 13:00 PM Old Town Hall, Faust Hall
Traditional Mexican Masks Workshop. Make a Mexican mask. Making a mask has 2 phases, lasts both workshop days. Free admission, registration required.
February 7, 9:00 AM – 14:00 PM French Institute in Slovakia
French carnivals. Create a mask, see the exhibition and try a sample French language lesson. Admission is free and no registration is required.
February 7, 13:00 PM – 13:40 PM, Old Town Hall courtyard
Singing workshop with Bratislava sings gospel
We invite you to a singing workshop for the public, open to all singing experience. Under the guidance of the conductor of the Bratislava Sings Gospel community choir, you will try simple vocal and rhythmic exercises, singing tips, and singing together. Admission is free, no registration required.
Partnerships
Organized by: Bratislava Cultural and Information Center in cooperation with the Bratislava City Museum
Partners: Bratislava - the capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava - Old Town, Bratislava Self-Governing Region, French Institute, Nová Cvernovka, OLO, Bratislava Transport Company, Radio JUNIOR, Pess Press, We Enjoy Singing
Photo gallery 2026
Photo: Lucia Benediková
