Rijeka closed the carnival peak: more than 11,000 masqueraders in 100 groups filled Korzo
On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Rijeka concluded the central part of its most famous city event: the 43rd International Carnival Parade was held, the crown of the Rijeka Carnival, which citizens and guests traditionally follow along the route through the very heart of the city. Over 11,000 participants, distributed into a hundred masked groups, paraded through Korzo with dozens of allegorical floats, confirming Rijeka's status as the carnival capital of Kvarner and one of the most recognizable carnival stages in the region.
This year's parade, as well as the programs that preceded it, showed what Rijeka builds year after year: the carnival is not just a one-day event, but a month of a living city, in which tradition, satire, music, costume design, and volunteer work merge into a common identity. For numerous visitors who arrived in Rijeka for the carnival, the organizers and hosts once again reminded them of the practical side of coming to the city, so during the event, interest in
accommodation in Rijeka and the surrounding area increased, especially during the dates of the most visited events.
International character and guests from several countries
The international dimension of the parade remained one of its recognizable features again this year. Along with local participants, foreign guests who follow the Rijeka Carnival traditionally and continuously joined the Rijeka carnival river. According to available information, among them were groups and representatives from Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, which further emphasized the regional importance of the event and its appeal beyond the borders of Croatia.
It is precisely this blend of local and international that is often the key to the Rijeka model: Rijeka opens up space on Korzo for both its own carnival customs and for carnival interpretations brought by guests. Because of this, one can see both a traditional element and a modern mask commenting on pop culture, film, music, or daily politics, but also broader social issues, in the same place. Visitors who planned a multi-day stay in the city most often sought
accommodation near Korzo and the parade route, so they could follow more events without crowds and logistics.
Diversity of masks: from tradition to film and literary characters
The diversity of costumes and themes was once again one of the most noticeable features of the parade. In about a hundred groups, ideas could be seen ranging from simple but effective collective masks to complex performances with choreography and set design. Certain groups, as they announced themselves, decided to become Mexicans, Vikings, or chimney sweeps for a day, while others sought inspiration in literature and film. Thus, among the motifs, masks like “Alice in Wonderland” and interpretations of characters recognizable to a wide audience stood out, for example, “Cruella,” known from the story of “101 Dalmatians.”
In such a range of approaches, the difference in the “philosophy” of masking is also recognized: some participants choose a visually strong identity that is easily read from a distance, while others move towards detail, message, and layered symbolism. Allegorical constructions following the chosen theme are particularly noticeable because in the Rijeka Carnival, allegorical floats are often not just decor, but a “mobile stage” that carries the group's story, and sometimes a satirical comment.
The most numerous groups and logistics of a large parade
A large parade is necessarily a logistical feat: thousands of participants, organized into a hundred groups, require a precise sequence, coordination on the route, and safety and traffic adjustments in the city center. Within this framework, the Kampus Carnival Group attracted special attention with the mask “Kampus Worldwide Tour,” which organizational announcements highlighted as the largest by the number of participants. In part of the announcements and group lists, a figure of around a thousand participants was mentioned, while in some estimates and earlier announcements, slightly lower estimates appeared. In any case, it is an extremely massive group that left a strong visual impression in the parade and further emphasized the student and younger energy in Rijeka's carnival fabric.
Precisely the massiveness of some groups is one of the reasons why visitors often choose to arrive earlier during the day and plan their movement through the city in advance. For guests from other parts of Croatia and the region, especially those who arrived in Rijeka with their families, interest was again recorded in
accommodation offers in Rijeka that allow arriving on foot to the center and avoiding traffic restrictions during the parade.
Zvončari as the traditional finale: the sound that marks the end of the parade
The end of the parade traditionally belonged to the zvončari (bell-ringers), keepers of coastal customs and carnival heritage. Their ringing in Rijeka has symbolic weight: besides the attractiveness for the audience, it is also a kind of message about the continuity and depth of carnival customs in Kvarner. The audience was again delighted by the performances of the Zamet zvončari, Grobnik dondolaši, and Halubje zvončari, whose passage through Korzo usually marks the end of the parade and introduces the finale of the Shrovetide period in Rijeka and its surroundings.
The Halubje zvončari, with their recognizable equipment and rhythm, are particularly prominent in the regional cultural picture, and the tradition of bell-ringers in this area is often interpreted as a ritual “driving away of winter” and summoning of spring, with an emphasized common rhythm and group energy. In the Rijeka context, their performance further connects the city carnival stage with the customs of suburban and nearby areas, reminding us that the Rijeka Carnival is not an isolated city party, but a broad cultural network of Kvarner.
A month of programs: sports, music, dance, and humanitarian actions
The International Carnival Parade is the highlight, but not the only reason why the Rijeka Carnival attracts an audience. The programs that took place in the city and surroundings during the previous weeks offered, according to the organizers, content for different generations: from sports and music events to concerts, masked dances (tanci), and humanitarian actions. Such a schedule over several weeks is important for the local community, as the carnival becomes a platform where cultural life, entertainment, catering, and civic engagement meet simultaneously.
Besides the main parades, carnival dynamics in Rijeka traditionally include events such as the handing over of the city key to the masqueraders, the election of the Carnival Queen, and the children's parade. This builds a story that lasts, in which every event is a “chapter” in the carnival season, and not just a passing announcement for one big day. For visitors who came to the city for multiple events, the need for
accommodation for carnival visitors in the wider center was often emphasized, especially due to crowds and temporary traffic regimes.
Broadcast and media coverage: carnival also for those who could not be on Korzo
For years, carnival events have been going beyond the framework of streets and squares and spreading through broadcasts and digital channels. This year as well, a broadcast of the International Carnival Parade was provided via the website of the Rijeka Tourist Board, making the manifestation available to those who could not come to the city. Such an approach is also important for expanding the reach of the carnival, as Rijeka shows in this way that it does not keep its tradition only “for locals,” but presents it as an open event that can be followed from other parts of Croatia and abroad.
In the local media picture, the carnival is also a topic that transcends the reportage itself: retrospectives, photo galleries, and special supplements usually follow the finale, and according to announcements available in the local information space, the carnival atmosphere and an overview of key moments should be further processed in a special supplement of the daily newspaper in the edition of Monday, February 16, 2026.
Broader effect on the city: identity, tourism, and the “fifth season”
The Rijeka Carnival is often described as the “fifth season,” and this phrase is not just marketing: it speaks of how the event changes the everyday life of the city. During the carnival, Rijeka changes its rhythm, transforms visually, and gains a different social tone. The local community gets space for creativity, satire, and togetherness, and tourism gets one of the most recognizable winter motives for arrival. For caterers and landlords, the carnival season is regularly among the most important winter dates, which is also seen by the increased interest in
accommodation in Rijeka during the carnival, especially in the days of the large parades.
At the same time, the carnival is also a kind of “valve” for society: satire and masks allow commenting on reality without direct conflict, and the public space becomes a stage where the community recognizes and retells itself. Rijeka maintains a balance between the tradition of bell-ringers and modern masks coming from pop culture, internet trends, or current social topics, retaining the recognizable Rijeka signature: openness, irony, and a strong sense of community.
Sources:- Rijeka Tourist Board (Visit Rijeka) – official page of the Rijeka Carnival and information about the International Carnival Parade ( link )- Rijeka Tourist Board (Visit Rijeka) – official program of the Rijeka Carnival 2026 (PDF) ( link )- City of Rijeka – announcement of the final carnival weekend and key dates ( link )- Novi list – announcements and information related to the finale and organization of the carnival weekend ( link )- Visit Rijeka – list/order of groups for the International Carnival Parade 2026 (PDF) ( link )- House of the Halubje Bell-ringers – informative page about the tradition of the Halubje bell-ringers ( link )
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