Rijeka enters the “fifth season”: Rijeka Carnival 2026 brings parades, charity programs, and “the people who make the carnival”
Rijeka has entered the carnival period that in the city has for years been called the “fifth season” – a time when streets fill with masks, satire gains its public space, and everyday life is deliberately turned upside down. According to the organizers’ program, the 2026 carnival season runs from January to early March, with a series of events on Korzo and other locations, from introductory customs on Antonja to the big parades that regularly attract participants and visitors from Croatia and abroad. The announcements emphasize that this is an event with a tradition longer than four decades, which relies on local customs, but at the same time lives from contemporary interpretations and the creativity of carnival groups. For guests planning to come to the city during the main weekends and parade dates, organizers and the tourism sector remind that this is a period of heightened interest, so in practice people increasingly seek
accommodation for visitors in Rijeka in the immediate vicinity of the center and the parade route. The focus is also on the message that the carnival is not just a few dates on the calendar, but a long preparation and joint work – from making costumes and floats to logistics, security, and volunteer engagement.
Who stands behind the program and what the organizers say
The program was presented at the announcement conference by representatives of the City of Rijeka, tourist boards, and carnival associations, along with carnival roles that have become a recognizable part of Rijeka’s identity. Rijeka Mayor Iva Rinčić emphasized that the carnival period, as the city experiences it, opens a space of freedom, satire, and creativity and that Rijeka remains recognizable precisely in that more “open” face. The Director of the Rijeka City Tourist Board Petar Škarpa pointed out that the carnival goes beyond the framework of a single event and that it combines the identity, character, and attitude of the city, with each mask carrying its own story and invested effort. The Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board Irena Peršić Živadinov emphasized that such events attract guests who seek authenticity and an experience of local identity, which gives the carnival season additional value outside the summer months. An important role in the program and organization is held by the Rijeka Carnivalists Association, and the association’s president Maja Stepančić presented part of the activities that lead carnivalists into the central part of the season, including ceremonial moments such as the handover of the key. From the stage, messages of support were also sent to the “people behind the masks” – from the youngest participants to those who prepare costumes and floats for months, and Meštar Sandi invited citizens and guests to come to Korzo and feel the energy by which Rijeka is recognized during the carnival.
Start of the season: Antonja and the handover of the City Key on 17 January
The carnival period is traditionally linked to Antonja, a date which in the Rijeka and Kvarner area symbolically marks the beginning of the masked days, with customs such as raising the Pust in certain parts of the city. According to the officially published program, on Saturday 17 January 2026 the handover of the City Key on Korzo is scheduled, with the protocol at noon, while the organizers in the announcements also highlighted the introductory program that begins earlier, which in practice means that the city center starts filling with masks even before the official act. The announcements particularly stressed that this year part of the ceremony also takes place in the City Hall, which gives additional symbolism to the “handover of power” to the masked – a moment in which the carnival in Rijeka also receives its official confirmation. For visitors from outside Rijeka, that day is often the first “signal” that the season has started in full force, so already in mid-January people seek
accommodation near the event location so that the program can be followed on foot and without pressure about parking and crowds. The organizers also remind that the carnival in Rijeka is unique not only for the parades, but also for a series of smaller neighborhood and thematic events that take place in parallel, creating an atmosphere in which the “fifth season” is felt day by day.
Queen Selection: 23 January at the Hall of Youth and tickets on presale
One of the most important introductory points of the season is the Queen Selection of the Rijeka Carnival, which in 2026, according to the official program, is held on Friday 23 January at 8 p.m. at the Hall of Youth. It is an event in which candidates present themselves accompanied by their carnival groups, and the emphasis is not on a “classic” beauty contest, but on charm, wit, knowledge of tradition, and stage performance that represents the group they come from. The organizers as a rule also reward the best stage performances of carnival groups, so the evening is conceived as a kind of carnival stage before going out into the streets. According to information from the announcements, tickets can be bought in presale at the Tourist Information Center on Korzo and via the Tourist Board’s online store, with the presale price lower and the price on the day of the event higher, with the possibility of buying also in front of the hall. For many visitors, this is also a practical reason to turn the carnival trip into an extended weekend, so in that period interest increases in
accommodation offers in Rijeka, especially in the central zone, Sušak, and transport-accessible neighborhoods. The announcements also emphasize that the Queen Selection is part of a broader story in which carnival roles and symbols are passed on from year to year, and each new Queen becomes a kind of ambassador of the carnival period.
“The people who make the carnival”: a campaign that brings attention back to carnivalists, bell-ringers, and families who live the tradition all year
A special emphasis in the 2026 season is placed on the communication campaign “The people who make the carnival”, which brings participants and guardians of tradition to the forefront. In Rijeka, in the first half of January, a photo exhibition was also set up on Korzo bearing the same name, and according to announcements it can be viewed until 16 January 2026, thus creating an introductory “scenography” in the city before the key weekends. The faces of the campaign this year are carnivalists from well-known local groups: Dora Pilepić (Siti i pijani), Sandra Picco (Draške maškare), Leo Rudan (Lumber klub Opatija) and Dino Dolušić (Zametski zvončari), and the message of the campaign is that the carnival does not last only one day, but is “built” for months through work, preparation, and togetherness. In such a concept, the emphasis is on continuity – on families in which masks are part of growing up, on groups that pass on the know-how of making costumes and floats, and on bell-ringer traditions which are a strong symbol in the Rijeka ring and surroundings. For the city and the tourism sector, this is also a way to show that the carnival is not an “instant” event, but a cultural and social practice that connects neighborhoods, associations, schools, and generations, creating content that outside the season is often decisive for the identity of the destination.
Crinoline Night on Botel Marina: elegance under masks and a charitable character
The program also highlights Crinoline Night on Botel Marina, which in 2026 is held on Saturday 24 January. It is an event that for years has combined carnival play with the ambience of a “historical ball” – costumes inspired by crinolines and the elegance of bygone times give the Rijeka carnival a different rhythm from street parades and loud satire. The organization is traditionally signed by the Veseli oldtimeri association, and the announcements also emphasize the charitable note of the event, with the collected funds directed toward local charitable initiatives. For Rijeka, which in the carnival combines different styles and “genres” – from children’s imagination to evening dances – Crinoline Night is an example of how the program expands to an audience that seeks a different experience. Since it is a date that follows on from the Queen Selection and the handover of the key, visitors often plan several days in the city, so in that period people seek
accommodation for carnival weekends in Rijeka in order to catch more events without rushing. The organizers say that this further strengthens the international dimension, because precisely such thematic programs often attract guests from carnival cities and associations outside Croatia.
Children’s Carnival Parade on 31 January: Korzo as the stage of the youngest
One of the highlights of the season is the Children’s Carnival Parade, which according to the official program is held on Saturday 31 January 2026 starting at 12 noon on Korzo. It is a day when the center of Rijeka belongs to the youngest – schools, kindergartens, children’s groups, and families who traditionally come to watch the parade or participate in it. The children’s parade in the Rijeka context is not a “smaller version” of the international parade, but a special event with its own character: more emphasis on imagination and playfulness, less on satire, with an atmosphere in which the city turns into a big stage of children’s ideas. For the citizens of Rijeka, it is also a reminder that the carnival tradition is passed on generationally, while for guests from outside the city it is often the first encounter with the Rijeka carnival “from the inside”, without the need to know local jokes and allusions. Due to the daytime schedule and expected crowds, visitors are advised to plan their arrival earlier, and those coming from more distant areas increasingly choose
accommodation offers in Rijeka to welcome the parade morning without travel stress. In the same period, neighborhood events also take place in parallel in the program, which makes the city “alive” beyond Korzo itself.
Carnival on Platak and running Rijeka: sport as part of the carnival story
In recent years, the Rijeka Carnival has also been developing a line of events that combines masks and sport, and the 2026 program further confirms that direction. According to official announcements, on 1 February the Carnival Snowboard Session is held on Platak, which extends the carnival period beyond the city center and introduces it into a winter sports backdrop. A week later, on 7 February, Carnival run is planned on Molo Longo within the winter league, thus transferring carnival energy to the running community as well, in a format that is accessible to recreational runners too. Such programs also have a tourism logic: visitors get a reason to spend an extra day in Rijeka, combining the city program with an excursion or active отдых in the surroundings. For the local community, it is also a way for the carnival to be experienced not only as “watching the parade”, but as participation in a city that changes, opens up, and plays. At the same time, the organizers emphasize that other content also joins the carnival calendar – from theatre programs within the Days of Laughter to neighborhood redutas and dances – which makes the “fifth season” layered and diverse.
February brings charity programs and themed parties, and 15 February the climax: the International Carnival Parade
In the second half of February, the program enters the most intensive part, with events that combine fun and a charitable dimension. According to the official program, on 14 February in the city center the charity carnival maneštra and charity masked jota are held, while in the evening themed parties such as the Čiket program also take place, along with additional carnival dances and events at various locations. The climax of the season is the International Carnival Parade on Sunday 15 February 2026 at 12 noon on Korzo, an event that in Rijeka is experienced as the “crown” of the carnival. The organizers emphasize in the announcements that a large number of participants from numerous carnival groups is expected, including guests from abroad, thereby confirming the international status of the event. In practice, that day a strong logistical pressure is felt in the city: road closures, reinforced public transport, and the density of visitors in the center, which is why many plan their arrival as a multi-day stay and in advance seek
accommodation near Korzo and the parade route. The season slogan “Be what you want” in that context gets its most visible face: in the same place meet satire, traditional masks, contemporary pop costumes, and floats, and the city for a few hours becomes a shared space of creativity.
Tradition and controversies: organizers say the fundamental customs are not changing
Ahead of the season, public discussions also appeared about the organization and alleged changes in tradition, which prompted the organizers to respond officially. In a joint statement of the City of Rijeka and the Rijeka City Tourist Board, it was emphasized that the tradition of the Rijeka Carnival is not changing in the way speculated on social media and that key elements – such as the Queen Selection and the role of the Meštar – are not being abolished nor abandoned. That message in the context of the Rijeka carnival scene is not only administrative, but also socially important: the carnival in Rijeka rests on the trust of carnival associations, on continuity, and on the feeling that the event belongs to the community. Precisely for that reason, in the season announcements gratitude is often emphasized to volunteers, associations, services, and partners who enable the city to function under conditions of a large number of visitors. Long-standing sponsors and partners, as highlighted at the program presentation, see the carnival as a regional project that affects the image of the city and Kvarner, but also the economy – from hospitality to services. In such a framework, the year 2026 brings a message of continuity: the carnival remains a space of play and freedom, but also an organized event that is planned, secured, and built in cooperation of numerous actors.
Sources:- Visit Rijeka – official program of the Rijeka Carnival 2026 with dates and event locations (link)
- Visit Rijeka – Rijeka Carnival page with the main events highlighted (International and Children’s Parade, Queen Selection) (link)
- City of Rijeka – post about the campaign and exhibition “The people who make the carnival” on Korzo (link)
- City of Rijeka – official response by the mayor and the director of the Tourist Board to claims about changes in the carnival tradition (link)
- Visit Rijeka – announcement of the event “Crinoline Night on Botel Marina” and its highlighted charitable character (link)
- Novi list – report on the exhibition “The people who make the carnival” and the announcement of the main dates of the 2026 carnival (link)
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