The Corfu Carnival: A Timeless Celebration of Elegance and Satire

Through the fascinating history of Corfu and its precious blend of Greek and Venetian cultural heritage, the Corfu Carnival emerges—witty yet refined, satirical yet artistic!

Parades featuring Venetian costumes, waltzes, and quadrilles unfold against the backdrop of the baroque buildings of the Old Town, making you believe that at any moment, Casanova might reappear, searching for Siora Adriana Foscarini, the unfulfilled love that left its mark on him in Corfu. Or perhaps, from the hill of Porta Remounta, you might witness the portantina, the gilded sedan chair with a velvet-lined interior, carried by four young Corfiots eager to attract the attention and favor of the prima donna inside, as she makes her way to San Giacomo, the first theater in Southeastern Europe.

Joy overflows, laughter spreads, blending seamlessly with the wild rhythms of the music. The cosmopolitan mambo blasting from the speakers competes with the unmatched sound of the philharmonic orchestras, vibrating through the air and making you feel Music coursing through your very being!

And amid this unique—yet, at its core, still deeply Dionysian—celebration, Sior Karnavalos, with his signature Ionian sarcastic humor, heads toward Spianada Square for the reading of his will, before the grand "lampata", the ceremonial burning that will inevitably consume him in all his glory—only for him to be reborn the following year, in the eternal cycle of life, in the never-ending journey of the Corfu Carnival!

Corfu is ready to welcome its visitors, eager to experience this one-of-a-kind Carnival, with the following events:

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16
📍 City Center, 12:00 PM
The Town Crier announces the beginning of the Carnival, accompanied by horsemen, trumpeters, and drummers from the Old Philharmonic of Corfu and the Mantzaros Philharmonic Society.

Parade Route: Georgiou Theotokis (Kourkoulos Optics), Eugenios Voulgareos, Pentofanaro, Liston, Kapodistriou, Nik. Theotokis, Spilia, Ag. Sofias, Pentofanaro.

📍 Annunziata Square, 12:00 PM
Festive welcome to the Corfu Carnival, featuring "Venetians" from the Lyceum Club of Greek Women and "Dia tis Afis".

📍 Municipal Theatre Studio, 5:30 PM
Laodamas (Gaitanaki) – Dance performance by the Gastouri Philharmonic Dance Department & the Kavalouri Cultural Association.

Corfu Municipal and Regional Theatre (DIPETHE)
Theatrical performance: "No Matter What, Cristobita, You Won't Get Rosita!"

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

📍 Historic Town Hall, 5:00 PM
The Corfu Cultural Dance Club presents "Now the Fun Begins, Now It’s Carnival!", with dances and songs from across Greece. Featuring the Lefkimmi Dance Club "Phaethon".

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

📍 Historic Town Hall, 7:00 PM
Dances and songs by the Ecology Club.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 (Tsiknopempti – Greek Smoky Thursday)

📍 Lemonia Square, 7:00 PM
"Let’s Grill Together!" – A barbecue event with live music.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21

📍 Historic Center - Plakada, 5:30 PM
Children’s activity by the “O,TI AGAPO” Nursery. The Venetians of “O,TI AGAPO” will participate in the Corfu Carnival festivities with the performance "Behind the Masks".

📍 Annunziata Square, 6:30 PM
Lyceum Club of Greek Women: Choral evening featuring carnival and festive songs.

📍 Historic Town Hall, 7:30 PM
Satirical Carnival Group: "The Wine Court", featuring the Giannades Choir.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

📍 Annunziata Square, 11:00 AM
STUDIO "Step to Step" – Carnival performance.

📍 Historic Center
"Corfiot Masquerade" Club: "Treasure Hunt" (Start: 2:00 PM at Kofineta, End: 8:30 PM at the Historic Town Hall Square).
Dia tis Afis Parade, 6:00 PM.

📍 Historic Town Hall, 6:45 PM
Opera Night: A gala featuring beloved arias from opera, operetta, and Italian canzonettas. Organized by the Municipality of Central Corfu & D.I.

📍 Historic Center - Plakada, 7:00 PM
Dance event featuring the Lefkimmi Cultural Association ("Quadrilles, Garoufalies") and the Argolida Cultural Association “Methexis”.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

📍 Historic Center, 11:30 AM
Lyceum Club of Greek Women: "Peratzada", a grand parade through the Historic Center in period costumes. (Route: Eugenios Voulgareos, Annunziata, Liston, Palaces).

📍 Historic Center, 12:30 PM
Dia tis Afis: "Peratzada", a parade in period costumes through the Historic Center.

📍 Annunziata Square, 11:45 AM
Cultural Association "Heraklis": Gaitanaki dance (traditional maypole dance).

📍 3:00 - 5:30 PM
Grand Carnival Parade
Starting Point: Mitropolitou Methodiou
Ending Point: Kofineta

📍 Plakada Agiou Spyridona, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Women’s Choir of the Epirus Association: Traditional dances and songs.

📍 Historic Town Hall, 7:00 PM
Opera Night: Gala with beloved opera arias, operettas, and Italian canzonettas.
Organized by the Municipality of Central Corfu & D.N.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

📍 Municipal Theatre, 8:00 PM
Kapodistrias Philharmonic Band: Carnival Concert.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

📍 Plakada Agiou Spyridona, 7:30 PM
"Petegoletsa" – Traditional Corfiot satirical street theater by the Corfu Events Organization.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

📍 Scout Hall, 3:30 PM
Children’s Carnival Party.

📍 Historic Town Hall, 7:00 PM
Opera Night: Gala with beloved opera arias, operettas, and Italian canzonettas. Organized by the Municipality of Central Corfu & D.N.

📍 Plakada Agiou Spyridona, 8:00 PM
Carnival Sounds by the San Giakomo Choir.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

📍 11:30 AM
Lyceum Club of Greek Women: Peratzada & period dances throughout the city, accompanied by drummers from the Old Philharmonic of Corfu.

📍 12:30 PM
Dia tis Afis: Peratzada in period costumes.

📍 2:30 PM
Grand Carnival Parade
Starting Point: Mitropolitou Methodiou
Ending Point: Kofineta

📍 6:00 PM
"Dancing at Kofineta": Carnival party with the band BOOMBOX.

📍 7:00 PM
"Burning of Carnival King (SIor Carnavalos")"
Organized by the Municipality of Central Corfu & D.N.

📍 Historic Town Hall Square, 8:00 - 10:00 PM
Carnival Celebration with the band Ricci Project.

🎭 Corfu is ready to welcome you to a spectacular Carnival full of music, laughter, and tradition!