Rijeka enters the finale of the Rijeka Carnival 2026: international parade on Sunday at noon, humanitarian actions and concerts in the richest weekend of the season
Rijeka is living its “fifth season” in the full sense of the word these days: the final program of the Rijeka Carnival 2026 was presented at a press conference on Botel Marina, and the culmination arrives on Sunday, February 15, 2026, when the International Carnival Parade starts exactly at 12:00 PM and turns the city center into a large stage of imagination, satire and tradition. The organizers announce about 11,000 participants and a hundred carnival groups that will pass through the city with allegorical floats, lavish costumes and messages that, in the spirit of the carnival, are spoken loudly and without hesitation.
The weekend before the grand finale also brings a strong humanitarian emphasis: along with music, dance and traditional “tance”, actions such as the masked maneštra and masked jota have been announced, as well as the Humanitarian Carnival Gala Party at Exportdrvo. Rijeka thus confirms what its carnivalists have been pointing out for years: the carnival is not just a mask and fun, but also a city mechanism of solidarity, meeting and togetherness.
For visitors who are coming to the city these days or plan to stay until the parade, Rijeka will be liveliest precisely on Korzo and in the wider center, so the logistics of travel often revolve around one topic:
accommodation for carnival visitors in Rijeka.
Announcement of the finale jointly presented by the City, the Tourist Board and carnival associations
The finale was, according to available information from the program presentation, announced by the Mayor of Rijeka Iva Rinčić, Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka Petar Škarpa, Master Sandi, the current Queen of the Rijeka Carnival Pia Vujović, President of the Carnival Association Čiket Ivana Hajdinjak Banov, representative of the Association of Craftsmen Rijeka Andrea Marinac and President of the Rotary Club Rijeka – Sveti Vid Radenka Kuzmanić Šamija.
In the statements, a common message runs through: carnival energy is not a one-day spectacle, but a multi-week cycle in which Rijeka and its surroundings connect through a series of events – from working on costumes and masks to socializing in neighborhoods and performances by carnival groups. At the heart of this concept is the idea that the carnival gathers different generations and different worldviews, and gives space to both humor and criticism, which is especially seen in the satirical messages on the allegorical floats.
The Tourist Board emphasizes the tourist dimension of the manifestation: the Rijeka Carnival has been one of the most recognizable winter brands of the city for years, and the final weekend traditionally brings the largest concentration of visitors and events. For guests coming from other parts of Croatia or abroad, it is often crucial to be close to the center, which is why
accommodation near Korzo and the places of carnival events is often sought before the parade and evening programs.
Humanitarian carnival gala party: the golden twenties and help for the Association SOS Rijeka
One of the most recognizable events of the finale is the Humanitarian Carnival Gala Party, which takes place at Exportdrvo on Saturday, February 14, 2026, starting at 9:00 PM. This year's theme was announced as “Golden 20’s Glow”, with a clear aesthetic of the glamour of the twenties of the last century and a “Great Gatsby” atmosphere.
However, it is not just the scenography in the foreground: the funds collected from this year's gala party are intended for the non-profit Association SOS Rijeka – Center for Nonviolence and Human Rights, which provides help and support to victims of domestic, partner and sexual violence. Rotary Club Rijeka – Sveti Vid highlights the charitable purpose of the event in the announcement and states that the ticket is linked to a humanitarian contribution (at least 60 euros) and is valid for two people. This continues the practice that the carnival celebration is also a channel of concrete support to the community, especially to those for whom institutional and psychosocial help is key to getting out of the cycle of violence.
Precisely such programs in recent years shape the impression that Rijeka in the carnival period combines what seems incompatible at first glance: glamour and the street, humor and a serious message, the mask and social responsibility. As the number of visitors traditionally increases on Saturday night, some guests are already planning to arrive earlier and are looking for
accommodation offers in Rijeka for the carnival weekend.
Humanitarian Saturday on Korzo: maneštra and jota as a city tradition of solidarity
Saturday, February 14, 2026, is reserved from the morning for humanitarian actions in the very center of Rijeka according to the program. In Bazarigov prolaz, the Humanitarian Carnival Maneštra is announced (from 10 AM to 1 PM), a traditional action where maneštra is cooked and sold to collect funds for those in need. The organization is linked to local actors and a carnival group, and the Animal Shelter of the Society for the Protection of Animals Rijeka is listed as the beneficiary of the collected funds. According to the program, journalists, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs participate in the cooking, with a schedule that includes the gathering of teams, the start of cooking, judging and the announcement of winners.
On the same day, on Korzo, at the Republic of Croatia Square, the 19th Masked Jota of the Association of Craftsmen Rijeka takes place (from 11 AM to 2 PM). The manifestation is designed as a combination of gastronomy, tourism and humanitarian work of craftsmen, and this year funds are being collected for the “Jako srce” association from Rijeka. The announcement emphasizes that the goal is to equip the association's premises with medical equipment related to the prevention and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, with a reminder that cardiovascular diseases are one of the biggest public health challenges. Visitors are invited, in accordance with the tradition of “Daj ča daš” (Give what you can), to take a portion of jota, polenta, fritule and a glass of wine for a symbolic amount, with the possibility of additional donations.
These actions also have a wider social impact: an atmosphere is created in the city that the sense for the common good is not lost in the “carnival bustle”. Saturday's program on Korzo is therefore, year after year, also a kind of lobby for Sunday's parade: people come earlier, stay in the center, follow the cooking and announcements, and some of them plan to stay until the evening. In such circumstances, interest in
accommodation in Rijeka near the center and carnival points grows.
Friday marked by music and dance evenings: Čiket, Silente and dances “va Pašcu”
The carnival weekend formally heats up on Friday, February 13, 2026, when the program offers several recognizable points for different audiences. The carnival association Čiket announced a Retro party at Caffe bar Iskra, and the Tourist Board through the official program highlights that Čiket's parties are held on February 13 and 14 and start at 9 PM. This is an event with more than twenty years of tradition, which has become a kind of “warming-up station” in the Rijeka carnival calendar before the parade: a place where masks are tested, groups gather and the city's energy shifts into a higher gear.
In addition, a concert by the group Silente was announced at Exportdrvo, which gives Friday a concert backbone, while the traditional Masked Dances va Pašcu (Maškarane tance) are held at the Pašac Hall, as part of the program that preserves the continuity of customs in suburban areas. This range – from a club atmosphere to traditional dances – is one of the reasons why the Rijeka Carnival is often perceived as a manifestation that belongs both to the center and the neighborhoods at the same time.
Saturday afternoon for children, Saturday night for adults: reduta in Kozala and parties in the center
In addition to the humanitarian morning, Saturday also offers content for families: a Children's Reduta in Kozala is announced, which traditionally gathers the youngest masqueraders and their parents and shows that carnival culture is not “reserved” only for large allegories, but is transmitted through play, costumes and local communities.
When evening falls, the program moves in several directions. At Exportdrvo, the Humanitarian Carnival Gala Party begins, while Čiket at Caffe bar Iskra continues with a Pajama Party (also starting at 9 PM, according to the event announcement), and Masked Dances are held at Zamet. For the city, this means that the audience will be distributed over several locations, but the center of gravity remains the wider center – especially Exportdrvo and Korzo – which is why it is realistic to expect increased pressure on traffic and parking and earlier arrival of visitors this year as well.
Sunday: parade at 12 PM, afternoon open air and evening continuation at Exportdrvo
The peak of the celebration comes on Sunday, February 15, 2026. The International Carnival Parade starts at 12 PM, and according to announcements about 100 groups will parade, with approximately 11,000 masqueraders and bellringers from Croatia and abroad. The parade is, in Rijeka tradition, the most visible moment of the carnival: in a few hours what has been prepared for weeks passes by – from handmade costumes to large allegorical floats and satirical messages that often comment on the current social moment.
After the parade, the program continues. At Kont (Tito Square) from 2 PM, the Masquerade Open Air starts, designed as an afternoon musical gathering with DJs. In the evening, carnival energy moves back to Exportdrvo, where the start of the program is announced from 6 PM, in which the club concepts Taking the Trash Out and KPP merge, and the celebration in the program ends with a concert by Koktelsi. This closes the circle: from the family and traditional part of the day, through the open-air atmosphere, to the night out which for many represents a symbolic “dot” on the carnival period.
On the same day, the premiere screening of a film about the Rijeka Carnival produced by the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka was also announced. According to available information, the film is broadcast on Sunday, February 15 at 6:15 PM and on Monday, February 16 at 3:25 PM on HTV 3, moving the carnival story from the street to the television screen.
Carnival as a mirror of the city: satire, identity and “permission” for different speech
In Rijeka announcements, it is often repeated that the carnival is not just a tourist product but part of the city's identity. In this sense, the parade is also a social valve: in carnival language, exaggerated metaphors, more direct comments and cheeky satire are allowed, and all this remains within the framework of tradition. Precisely because of this, carnival groups often choose themes that reflect the mood of society: from local communal problems to the wider political and economic reality, with an emphasis that the message is transmitted through humor, not through moralizing.
It is also important for Rijeka that the carnival creates a sense of safe space where people can “transform” without fear of judgment. The invitations of Master Sandi and Queen Pia Vujović for citizens and guests to mask themselves and come to the city are not just a marketing message, but also a confirmation of carnival logic: participation is more important than observing, and the energy is best experienced live, in the crowd, with the sound of drums, music and laughter.
For those who want to feel that atmosphere firsthand – especially visitors from outside Rijeka – a practical question is often where to stay and how to be close to the main route of the parade and evening events. Therefore, in the finale, the same recommendation returns:
accommodation in Rijeka for the days of the parade and carnival parties.
Where to find official information and how to prepare for the carnival weekend
The official program of the Rijeka Carnival 2026 is published on the pages of the Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka, where dates and key points – from parades to accompanying events – are unified. Visitors are recommended to plan their arrival earlier, especially for Saturday and Sunday, due to the expected crowds in the center, and to follow the organizer's notices about the movement of the parade and eventual traffic adjustments.
Rijeka Carnival thus confirms its dual role again this year: on one hand it is a large manifestation that carries tourist and cultural significance, and on the other it is a strong social event that mobilizes the local community, volunteers, associations and numerous participants. In its finale, Rijeka, at least for a few days, becomes a place where it is normal to be someone else – and in doing so, through humanitarian actions, stay firmly on the side of the common good.
Sources:- Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka (Visit Rijeka) – official program and event announcements of the Rijeka Carnival 2026. (link)- Torpedo Media – report from the presentation of the final program: parade on February 15 at 12 PM, number of participants and weekend program announcements and film broadcast on HTV 3 (link)- Novi list – announcement of the grand finale, estimate of the number of participants and groups and information about the gala party at Exportdrvo (link)- Visit Rijeka – announcement of “Čiket” Retro and Pajama Party (February 13 and 14, 2026, starting at 9 PM) (link)- Visit Rijeka – Humanitarian Carnival Ball (gala party): date, time, theme “Golden 20’s Glow” and purpose of funds for the SOS Rijeka Association (link)- Rotary 1913 Croatia – announcement of charitable purpose and ticket/donation model for the gala party (link)- Visit Rijeka – Humanitarian Carnival Maneštra: location, schedule and purpose of funds (Animal Shelter of the Society for the Protection of Animals Rijeka) (link)- Visit Rijeka – 19th Masked Jota of the Association of Craftsmen Rijeka: time, location and purpose of funds for the “Jako srce” association (link)
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