Let’s all dress up together at the Bratislava Carnival

Carnival has long connected folk entertainment with feasting, breaking out of the everyday monotony and enjoying time spent together, along with live music and merriment, of course. Bratislavské fašiangy (Bratislava Carnival) has for four years now been enriching the city’s community life with old traditions and a diverse programme, and year after year it also creates new ones.

Said Katarína Hulíková, director of BKIS:

“Bratislava Carnival is our invitation to everyone – young and old – to return to their carefree childhood. We use this opportunity for joy, laughter and having fun together, which show many of the beautiful things from our customs. We’re looking forward to international participation in the carnival parade and traditional masks from different corners of the world, which we have not seen here before."

Added the mayor of the capital, Matúš Vallo:

“I’m convinced that this year, like previous years of the Bratislava Carnival, will also be wonderful and will again confirm that together we can create a colourful, diverse community; we can dance and have fun, present a vibrant parade and a lively city and be together. I’m always greatly pleased when, thanks to the Bratislava Carnival, the city comes to life even during the often grey days of February, and we can see smiling streets, fantastic masks and an incredibly friendly atmosphere. In short, an exceptional cultural experience. Bratislava has always been and will continue to be a city of colourful cultures, of respect and connection, a city where various associations, clubs and communities feel good; where, in short, everyone feels good. I’m also glad that our Bratislava Carnival is about that, too."

Starting at 9:00 a.m. we’ll welcome the first visitors to Hlavné námestie, where the live broadcast of Radio Junior will show us how a radio newsroom operates. The cheerfulness of carnival customs and traditions will then be brought to the square by children’s folklore groups Kobylka, Vienok, Gerulata and the Poleno Folkloric Ensemble. At 12:00 p.m., you’ll learn at a workshop how to dance in a mask. There will also be International Carnivals, which will present traditions from Mexico to India, about movement, music and spoken word.

On Františkánske námestie a BSK zone of performative arts will be set up offering a music and movement programme. The workshop Fairytale Carnivals, led by Nikola Kozáková, will convey the spontaneous joy of movement starting at 10:00 a.m. Visitors will also enjoy the carnival atmosphere at the DiversAbility Circus with the association CirkusKus. People with special needs can also try out circus tricks and games thanks to specially adapted equipment. Starting at 2:00 p.m., Františkánske námestie will be transformed into a musical playground thanks to a drumming workshop, to which you can also bring your own homemade percussion instruments.

Joint production of masks for the parade

Preparations for the Great Carnival Parade will begin a week before the event, i.e., on 31 January 2026. In the premises of Nová Cvernovka, a multi-hour collective workshop led by Vlastimír Štefík will take place, where the symbol of this year’s Bratislava Carnival – a White Snake – will be created. The screen-printing studio Pes Press invites you to its premises to help with the preparation of the mask. The Bratislava City Museum invites you to make your own Tecuán mask during a two-phase workshop of traditional Mexican masks led by lecturer Yanella Rosales. The masks made will then come to life in a movement workshop with theatre director Guillaume Pigé. Those who don’t have time to register will be able to make a traditional Carnival mask at the Bratislava City Museum on the day of the festival. You’ll find creative workshops for making textile masks, together with sample French lessons and an exhibition, on the day of the Bratislava Carnival at the French Institute. Children will be delighted not only by the creative programme, but also by merry theatrical performances in the courtyard of the Stará radnica (Old Town Hall). For the youngest visitors, Divadlo Houže theatre has prepared a performance – Vlk na Mesiaci [The Wolf on the Moon] – starting at 9:30 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m. children can watch the well-known story O Jankovi a Marienke a Krutohustý les [Johnny and Mary and the Deep, Dark Forest]. The programme will end with a workshop for lovers of choral singing, which is open to everyone regardless of singing experience.

On Hlavné námestie – mainly in masks

The opportunity to break out of the usual routine and pull out a carnival costume has arrived once again. The big carnival parade will set off from the Hlavné námestie at 5:00 p.m. and go to Hviezdoslavovo námestie before continuing to Ventúrska ulica, Michalská ulica, Námestie SNP and then returning to Hlavné námestie. This year’s symbol of the parade is the White Snake, which symbolises protection and abundance and also brings a new tradition of making a parade mascot. The parade will again grow and bring crazy community fun with an international impact by involving several embassies and communities. Anyone can join the parade – homemade and purchased masks, banners, dance or theatre groups and families with children are all welcome.

Diversity in the streets and musical genres

Dancing in masks will be the highlight of the main musical programme – the Carnival party on Hlavné námestie. The band Muzička will perform first, after which the winners of the competition for the most creative and original masks will be announced. At 7:30 p.m. the Sendreis Roma folk band will perform, and the last musical guest will be Duo SlaNina with a repertoire ranging from disco to Balkan beats.

The event is organised by the BKIS in cooperation with the Bratislava City Museum. The event partners are Bratislava – the capital of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava – Old Town, Bratislava Self-governing Region, Bratislava Transport Company, French Institute, Pes Press Studio, Nová Cvernovka, OLO and Rádio Junior.