Opatija Carnival 2026 from 17 January: the Children’s Corso and Balinjerada bring masks and adrenaline in February

Opatija Carnival 2026 begins on 17 January: the “fifth season” brings masks back to the streets, with the highlight delivered by the Children’s Corso and Balinjerada

Opatija enters its most cheerful time of the year, known as the “fifth season”, in which everyday life is deliberately turned upside down: masks become the rule, and the town turns into an open-air stage. Opatija Carnival 2026 officially runs from 17 January to 18 February, and this winter the programme is again designed to combine the tradition of the Liburnian region with modern, more urban content that brings both domestic and foreign visitors to the town. For Opatija, which is often quieter in winter than in summer, carnival events are one of the key impulses for life in the centre, hospitality and short weekend trips, which is why increased traffic and crowds are expected around the most attractive dates. accommodation offers in Opatija for carnival weekends

Carnival in Opatija is much more than a series of events on a calendar: it is a social ritual that connects neighbourhoods and generations, from children in their first costumes to veteran masked groups who know every local custom. In that “upside-down world”, there is room for both humour and satire, and part of the atmosphere is made up of symbolic elements such as the “pust”, the scapegoat for all the misfortunes of the past year, and the “key(s) to the town” which, in the carnival story, pass into the hands of the masked revellers. The town lives to a different rhythm in those weeks: the seaside promenade is not just a backdrop, but a meeting place, and the central streets become an audience space. For visitors planning to stay several days, it is important to think about logistics in time, especially around the first weekend of February and Balinjerada Sunday, when the town is at its busiest. accommodation close to the centre and events

Carnival kick-off: Antonja and the raising of the carnival flag

The season of Opatija’s masked revellers traditionally starts on the feast day of St Anthony the Abbot, and this year the opening is scheduled for Saturday, 17 January 2026 at 11 a.m. in front of the Opatija market. In the official programme, this item is highlighted as “Antonja, raising of the carnival flag and the pust”, thereby publicly marking the beginning of the carnival period and introducing the symbolism that will accompany the town until the final events. Organisers stress that this date marks the entry into the “fifth season”: the streets fill with masks, and carnival energy gradually takes over the town, first through local customs and gatherings, and then through events that attract visitors from the wider region.

For Opatija, this start is also important for a practical reason: already from the first Saturday, a larger number of day-trippers is expected in town, which is directly reflected in traffic towards the centre, parking and the load on promenades. Thus, already in the first carnival weekend, the “winter” tourist picture of Opatija is formed – different from summer crowds, but just as intense in experience. Visitors coming from more distant parts of Croatia or from abroad often choose to arrive with an overnight stay, precisely to combine carnival content with gastronomy and a seaside walk. accommodation for carnival visitors in Opatija

Children’s carnival corso: more than a parade, a school of the masked spirit

One of the most attended and most photographed events in the programme is the Children’s Carnival Corso, which will be held on Sunday, 1 February 2026 from 12 to 3 p.m. According to the programme, the children’s parade starts along the route from the central square in front of the market towards the main city beach Slatina, and the culmination takes place on the Slatina plateau, where children socialise with refreshments and an entertainment and animation programme. Organisers emphasise the creativity and engagement of the youngest participants: masks are often the result of joint work in schools and kindergartens, but also family effort, which gives the entire event a special emotion and local stamp.

The Children’s Corso in Opatija also has a social dimension: children learn public performance and togetherness, and parents, educators and the audience become part of a big, unobtrusive celebration that is at the same time fun and educational. This format especially attracts families planning a day trip or a weekend in Kvarner, because it offers content that requires no special preparation beyond good will and a costume. For the town, it is also an indicator of the continuity of the carnival tradition: when children take over the streets, it is clear that carnival is a living practice, not a folkloric ornament. In the days around the Children’s Corso, increased crowds are expected in the centre and on promenades, so visitors are advised to arrive earlier and plan to get around on foot wherever possible. family accommodation in Opatija for the Children’s Corso weekend

Balinjerada 2026: speed, satire and “Taxi balinjera” for the audience

If the Children’s Corso is the most colourful, Balinjerada is the most adrenaline-filled part of the carnival. This year it takes place on Sunday, 8 February 2026, and the programme includes training sessions and “TAXI balinjere” from 10 a.m. and the official race start at 12 noon. According to the event plan, at 12:30 a parade of carnival groups is scheduled, and at 1 p.m. “Kukalka”, a special attraction that takes place in the sea. In official descriptions, Balinjerada is emphasised as a race of vehicles on ball bearings – “balinjere” – that descend at high speed down Opatija’s main street, while thousands of gathered spectators cheer on the competitors. However, an important element is not only speed: Balinjerada also showcases carnival irony, because the constructions and masks of carnival groups often serve as commentary on current social topics.

One of the reasons for Balinjerada’s popularity is its openness to the audience. “Taxi balinjera” is conceived as an experience for visitors: instead of only watching the race, many want to feel the “karić” from the inside and experience the descent as part of the story. Such a concept, which combines sporting discipline, fun and a tourist experience, makes Balinjerada recognisable beyond the local context. For organisers, it is also a way of managing crowds: when the audience has additional content, the event becomes an all-day festival, not just a short race.

Balinjerada also affects traffic and the organisation of the town. In the days around 8 February, the highest number of visitors in the carnival cycle is expected, so crowds in the centre are practically certain. In practice, this means it is important to arrive in time, count on limited parking options and prepare for closures of certain traffic routes. Opatija is most pleasant on foot on such days, because most of the events take place along a relatively compact city axis from the market towards Slatina. accommodation near Balinjerada and Slatina

“Kukalka”: a sea version of the alka in a carnival rhythm

As part of Balinjerada, the programme provides for “Kukalka” at 1 p.m., which is one of the most recognisable local specialities. It is a competition that is often described in public as a sea version of the alka: instead of horses, competitors “ride” in the sea, and everything is permeated with the carnival spirit, humour and an audience that experiences the event as the final “icing on the cake”. Precisely this combination – a high-speed race on balinjere on asphalt, followed by a carnival competition in the shallows – creates a spectrum of experiences that is rare in European carnival calendars. For Opatija, “Kukalka” is also a symbol of identity: the town faces the sea, but in carnival it turns it into a stage, just like its streets.

Masked klapa marathon: when tradition is sung in a polka

Carnival is not only a visual story, but also a musical one, and in Opatija this is best seen at the Masked Klapa Marathon. This year it is held on Friday, 6 February 2026 starting at 8 p.m., in the Marino Cvetković Sports Hall. Organisers describe it as a competition in which traditional vocal groups, known klape, enter a carnival format: with their voices they create a polka rhythm and perform carnival ditties, while the audience and the expert jury evaluate not only the performance, but also the quality of the mask and the accompanying choreography. The revue part also features well-known musicians, “pusna” societies and bell-ringer groups, which gives the whole evening breadth and a sense of a “big carnival gathering”.

This combination of klapa tradition and carnival humour is particularly interesting for an audience that is not necessarily from the coastal region. Klapa singing is often perceived as a serious, “ceremonial” format, and here it is given freedom: it is carnival, so jokes, costumes and improvisation are allowed. That is precisely why the klapa marathon grows year after year as an event for those who want to experience something authentic, but also different from standard concerts. Tickets are, according to the organisers’ information, available in the mojekarte.hr system, which is relevant for visitors planning to come from other cities and want to secure a place in advance.

Wider context: why the carnival matters to Opatija

Opatija Carnival 2026 is not an isolated “weekend event”, but a multi-layered manifestation that operates on several levels. On the cultural level, it is about preserving local customs and identity, in which the symbolism of the “pust” and the temporary “rule of the masked revellers” represents a valve for social criticism and shared laughter. On the social level, carnival is a space of encounters: in the same parades and at the same events you find children, youth, families, the elderly, locals and guests. On the economic level, the carnival season fills cafés, restaurants and accommodation capacities in a period of the year that is outside the main summer season, and gives local entrepreneurs an opportunity for additional turnover.

For visitors, the carnival in Opatija also has the advantage of location. The town is easy to reach, and the programme is concentrated, so in one day you can experience several events, but also a classic Opatija seaside walk. Many come precisely because of the combination: morning at a manifestation, afternoon on the Lungomare or in the parks, evening in hospitality venues. In such plans, it is good to keep in mind that the key dates – 1, 6 and 8 February – are the most attractive and that capacities fill up the fastest then. accommodation offers in Opatija for February

What else the carnival period brings: accompanying programme and local initiatives

In addition to the central events from the official programme, the carnival period in Opatija is traditionally accompanied by a series of smaller gatherings, themed evenings and programmes in hospitality venues and cultural spaces. Some announcements also mention concert evenings and exhibition content connected with local carnival groups, which is a logical continuation of the practice of carnival “stepping out” of the parade framework and moving into clubs, pavilions and halls. As such content can be supplemented or changed depending on organisers and dates, visitors are advised to follow official information and the event calendar, especially in the weeks after the opening on 17 January.

Opatija does not treat carnival as a one-off attraction, but as a “season”. This is also evident in the way the official programme is scheduled: from the ritual start on Antonja, through the family focus of the Children’s Corso, to the weekend of big adrenaline at Balinjerada and the musical peak of the klapa marathon. Ultimately, the carnival weeks in Opatija create a specific winter image of the town: instead of silence, you hear carnival songs; instead of uniform walks, the streets turn into a stage; and instead of watching, the audience often becomes part of the performance. That is also why many return year after year, seeking precisely that feeling that – if only briefly – everything is allowed, as long as it is under the sign of masks.

Sources:
- Opatija Tourist Board – overview of the duration and programme descriptions of Opatija Carnival 2026. ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board – Antonja, raising of the carnival flag and the pust (17/01/2026 at 11:00, Opatija market) ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board – Children’s Carnival Corso (01/02/2026, 12:00–15:00, market–Slatina route) ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board – 17th Masked Klapa Marathon (06/02/2026 at 20:00, Marino Cvetković Sports Hall; tickets in the mojekarte.hr system) ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board – Balinjerada (08/02/2026; training and TAXI balinjere 10:00, start 12:00, parade 12:30, Kukalka 13:00) ( link )