62nd Međimurje Carnival in Čakovec: a three-day feast of tradition, masks, and great atmosphere in the very center of the city
The Međimurje Carnival (Fašnik) returns this year to where it feels best – the center of Čakovec, among the squares and streets that turn into a large stage open to all generations during the carnival season. According to the announcement by the Tourist Board of the City of Čakovec, the 62nd edition of the manifestation will be held from February 13 to 15, 2026, and the program is concentrated into three key days with clear logic: Friday is dedicated to the youngest and "entering" the carnival mood, Saturday brings content for children and families, while Sunday traditionally gathers the largest number of participants and visitors for the central event – the Traditional Carnival. For those planning to come from outside Međimurje, it is worth thinking about logistics in time, especially if you want to stay the whole weekend and experience the city under masks firsthand, with
accommodation offers in Čakovec near the very center of the events.
Dates and program: three days, three different audiences – but the same carnival energy
The official program for the 62nd Međimurje Carnival brings three main slots in the city center, with an emphasis on masking, dancing, music, and socializing. The organizers invite citizens and guests to "save the dates" and join the carnival story in Čakovec, and in the announcement, they also note that they reserve the right to change the program and that the events are photographed and recorded as a public program. For visitors, this means in practice that it pays off to follow official notices and arrive earlier, especially on Sunday when the largest crowds are expected.
- Friday, February 13, 2026, at 16:00 – Little Carnival, city center
- Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 10:00 – Children's Carnival, city center
- Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 15:00 – Traditional Carnival, city center
In practical terms, all three programs are located in the center of Čakovec (the organizers state the location as the city center at the address Ulica kralja Tomislava 1), which makes it easier to arrive on foot, but also increases the need for earlier planning if you are coming by car. For those who want to experience the whole weekend without rushing, a good option is to consider
accommodation near the center of Čakovec in advance, so that the program can be followed without constant traveling and searching for parking.
Why Sunday is key: Traditional Carnival as the central moment of the manifestation
The Sunday Traditional Carnival is generally the peak of the Čakovec carnival season. The Croatian National Tourist Board points out in its announcement that the largest number of visitors and masked groups are expected in the city center at that time, with music, dance, and entertainment content for all generations. This part of the program, in addition to the colorful costumes, usually carries a recognizable Međimurje note – a meeting of traditional masks, local groups, and more modern, imaginative interpretations that often comment on everyday life, local topics, or broader social phenomena. This is the reason why the carnival is not just about fun: in its best edition, it is a public space where tradition and today's life intertwine without pretentiousness, through humor and collective participation.
Precisely because of this, the Sunday term also attracts those who do not otherwise participate in masking but want to see "what people have come up with" and how the city looks when, at least briefly, the rules of everyday life are turned upside down. If you are coming for the first time, it is useful to plan your arrival earlier and leave yourself time for a tour of the center, photography, and spontaneous socializing, and if you want to stay even after the main program, practical solutions include
accommodation for visitors in Čakovec within walking distance of the events.
From children's creativity to "big" masks: how the carnival connects generations
The peculiarity of the Čakovec carnival is that the program is not designed as a single parade for everyone, but as a three-day structure that "builds up" gradually. The Little Carnival on Friday at 16:00 introduces the youngest to the atmosphere of masking and public performance, with content adapted for children and families. The Saturday Children's Carnival at 10:00 further expands this part of the story and, according to announcements, focuses on games, workshops, and creative content, putting children's imagination and participation at the center. This is not just a cute detail: children's programs create continuity, as they show that the custom is not "preserved" only as a folklore display, but as a living practice that is passed on, changed, and adapted to the times.
Sunday then takes on the role of a large joint gathering. On one hand, there are traditional masks that carry local identity, and on the other, modern groups and individuals who often use masking as a form of satire or creative play. This combination is also the reason why the carnival is perceived as an event for the whole family: while some come for tradition and recognizable characters, others come for humor, music, and the atmosphere that creates a sense of community in the city center.
Traditional masks of Međimurje: "scarecrows" of winter and a craft looking for successors
When talking about the Međimurje carnival, it is hard to avoid the story of the indigenous masks that were formed in this region as part of carnival customs. Media and expert records often mention figures and groups of masks such as "pikači", "lafre", and "čaplje" (herons), whose role in traditional understanding is related to driving away winter, the turning of the seasonal cycle, and the symbolic "cleansing" of the community from the bad. The texts about Međimurje carnival customs testify to this dimension of the carnival days, emphasizing that masks in local tradition were not just fun, but also a social ritual with clear symbolism.
In more recent times, an important part of the story becomes the question of preserving the skill of making traditional masks. HRT, for example, reported on the making of "čaplje" – wooden, handmade masks that are held and "clatter", and the fact that it is a craft that is slowly disappearing but is being passed on to younger family members where there is interest and time for learning. Such examples remind us that tradition does not maintain itself: behind every mask stand hours of work, knowledge of materials and local patterns, as well as communities that give these masks meaning when they appear on the streets and squares.
Museum collections also confirm that masking in Međimurje is part of a wider set of customs related to the annual cycle. The Museum of Međimurje Čakovec, in its description of ethnographic material, states that wooden, handmade traditional masks testify to the tradition of masking and carnival actions in the area of Međimurje, thereby placing the carnival in the context of cultural heritage, not just seasonal fun.
Institutions and organization: carnival as the reason for founding the tourist board
The Međimurje Carnival in Čakovec is not a manifestation that arose "along the way". According to earlier publications conveying information from the Tourist Board of the City of Čakovec, the tourist board was founded in 1964 specifically with the intention of organizing the Međimurje Carnival – in order to preserve traditional masks and the tradition of masking in Čakovec and Međimurje. This fact well describes how much the carnival, with all its changes through the decades, has remained important as an identity event and as a gathering place that crosses the boundaries of one municipality or one generation.
Today, when talking about the 62nd edition, it is clear that it is a continuity that is maintained not only by numbers but also by a recognizable format: the program in the city center, the emphasized presence of traditional groups, and openness toward modern masks. In this sense, the carnival functions as both a cultural event and a tourist motive – not necessarily through "big" numbers, but through the experience of a city that turns into a place of meetings, photographs, spontaneous music, and street energy for a few days.
What it means for the city and region: public space as a stage and opportunity for the local economy
When a manifestation takes place in the very center, its benefits are not only symbolic. Catering, small crafts, local producers, and services generally feel increased traffic when a larger number of visitors arrive, especially during the weekend. Although organizers do not come out with concrete estimates of tourist effects in this year's announcements, the logic is clear: events that attract families and groups of visitors increase interest in day trips, and for those staying the whole weekend, they open the need for food, transport, and overnight stays. For guests from outside Čakovec, this often means a simple question: will I return the same day or stay? In this context, it is useful to check
accommodation offers in Čakovec in advance, especially if you want to arrive without stress, have time for a tour of the city, and experience both Friday and Saturday before the Sunday peak.
Equally important is the social effect: the carnival, as a public feast, creates a space where people meet outside of usual routines. This is especially visible in programs for children, where masking often becomes the "first public performance" and an opportunity to show creativity without competitive pressure, but also in Sunday groups that preserve local motifs and Međimurje variants of carnival characters in masks.
Practical information for visitors: arrival, duration, and behavior at a public event
The official announcement states that the programs take place in the center of Čakovec, and the location highlighted is Ulica kralja Tomislava 1. The range of duration of the events is also published on the organizer's page, with a note that by arriving, visitors consent to photography and video recording as participants in a public event, and that the materials are used for organizational and media purposes, in accordance with data protection rules. In addition, the organizer reserves the right to change the program, which is a standard note for outdoor events with a large number of participants.
Visitors are therefore recommended to arrive earlier, especially on Sunday, to count on a larger number of people in the center, and to follow any announcements from the organizers about changes in the schedule or location details. If you are coming with children, it is useful to agree on a meeting place and clear rules of movement in advance, because the crowd is part of the atmosphere but also requires a little extra attention. For those who want a calmer pace and more time in the city, a practical choice is
accommodation near the event venue, especially during the weekend when programs follow one after another.
Sources:- Tourist Board of the City of Čakovec (Visit Čakovec) – official announcement of the 62nd Međimurje Carnival with dates and location ( link )
- Croatian National Tourist Board (Business HTZ) – publication about the 62nd Međimurje Carnival with emphasis on the expected largest number of visitors on Sunday and basic program points ( link )
- Museum of Međimurje Čakovec – description of ethnographic material confirming the tradition of wooden, handmade carnival masks in Međimurje ( link )
- HRT Magazin – feature on traditional carnival masks "čaplje" from Međimurje and the production of wooden masks ( link )
- Međimurski.hr – publication conveying information from the Tourist Board of the City of Čakovec about the historical context and the founding of the tourist board in 1964 for the organization of the carnival ( link )
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