Carnevale is Venice's biggest annual event by both attendance and hotel-price impact, and it doesn't fall on a fixed date — which trips up a lot of first-time planners.
How the dates are set
Carnevale always ends on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday), which is set by the date of Easter and therefore moves every year. The festival itself typically runs for the roughly two weeks leading up to that Tuesday, meaning Carnevale can land anywhere from early February to early March depending on the year. Always check the current year's official dates before booking, rather than assuming last year's calendar.
What to book first
- Accommodation, as far ahead as you can — this is Venice's highest-demand period alongside the Biennale opening, and central hotels sell out months in advance.
- Masked balls, if you want one — many of the grand historic-palazzo balls are ticketed separately, expensive, and limited-capacity.
- Restaurant tables for the festival's opening weekend and final weekend (Shrove Tuesday itself), when demand peaks hardest.
What doesn't need booking
Simply walking around and watching costumed participants in Piazza San Marco and the surrounding campi is free and unticketed — most of what makes Carnevale visually spectacular (elaborate costumes posing for photos in quiet corners) costs nothing to watch.
Realistic expectations
Expect the densest crowds and highest prices of the Venetian year, concentrated around Piazza San Marco. If Carnevale's crowds aren't for you but you love the idea of the masks and costumes, the Museo del Settecento Veneziano at Ca' Rezzonico has a strong permanent collection related to 18th-century Venetian carnival life, viewable any time of year.