Following the entry into force of the law on the modernisation of territorial public action and the affirmation of metropolises, known as the MAPTAM Law, the “tourism” competence was transferred to the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. The Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau, the former organiser of the event, became the Metropolitan Tourist Office on 1 January 2019. The City of Nice has therefore taken over the organisation of the Carnival directly from 2019. In order for the whole city to join in this great popular event, many festive venues are organised in the City of Nice.
Veglione Ball
Nice Opera House
Saturday 25 February at 7pm
The world of baroque opera, favourable to disguises and cross-dressing of all kinds, fits in well with the carnival tradition.
The vocal ambiguity that characterises it accentuates the games of masks and questions the respective roles of each sex.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Nice Opera was the preferred setting for masked balls organised for Carnival.
Let’s revive this tradition and meet again during Carnival on 25 February for a masked ball on stage.
A great party for young and old, until the end of the night through the history of the ball, the costume and the music.
During this ball, different sessions will follow one another, and we invite you to take your place in the time machine: the classic Viennese ball – the “musette” ball – the disco, pop and rock years, as well as electro music with a DJ.
Only one condition: come in costume!
A free event, on reservation at the Nice Opera box office from Tuesday 7 February 2023.
For more information: 04 92 17 40 79 or on opera-nice.org
Grand Bal Veglione Sénior
Nice Opera House
Sunday 26 February from 2 pm to 6 pm
The Veglione Ball will be dedicated to senior citizens in costume or costumed in the magnificent Opera House. They will dance for 4 hours to disco, madison, bachata, 80s, etc.
Registrations will be open from Wednesday 15 February in the senior citizens’ homes and at the Nice municipal senior citizens’ office.
Big Band concert
Nice Opera House
The City of Nice’s Big Band Interdirections (made up of musicians from the Municipal Guard Band, the Opera and the Conservatory) will give a concert in the colours of “world music” at the Opera on Wednesday 22 February at 8.30pm. An operation labelled “Nice European Capital of Culture”.
Free concert upon reservation, free seating. Reservation: bigband-protocole@ville-nice.fr
In my Territory
Musical entertainment, confetti battle, competition for the most beautiful costumes, balloon sculpture, face painting for children, creative workshops, catering on site from 1.30 pm to 5 pm.
Nice Ouest – Jardin des Arboras
Wednesday 8th February
Opposite the ” Les Arboras ” tram stop
Cœur de Nice – Square Wilson
Monday 13 February
Collines Niçoises – Jean Gabin Garden
Thursday 16th February
211, boulevard de la Madeleine
Nice Historique – Charles Caressa Garden
Monday 20 February
Next to Place Saint-Roch
Hauts de Nice – Parc Paradisio Garden
Thursday 23rd February
Rives du Paillon – Parc Général Lecuyer
Friday 24th February
13, avenue Émile Ripert
Eco Carnival
The House of the Environment
The Nice Carnival will be celebrated on Wednesday 15 February from 2pm to 5pm.
On the programme: mask-making workshops, cardboard hats, mat-making, etc. will be offered.
For more information: 04 97 07 24 60 and Nice.fr
Maison de Nice store
Don’t forget your Nice Carnival souvenirs!
The Maison de Nice store opens its doors during the Carnival, a 100% Nice shopping address with many products for all tastes: mugs, posters, pens, tea towels, tote bags and umbrellas.
Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm
Nicetoile Shopping Centre, level -1
Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm
Le Goût de Nice shop
34, boulevard Jean Jaurès
Carnival in AnimaNice
The AnimaNice centres offer a multitude of activities on the theme of Carnival in order to spread the carnival spirit to the young and old of Nice.
Centre AnimaNice FABRON
235, avenue de la Lanterne – 04 93 21 17 25
Wednesday 1 February from 2pm to 4pm
Creative workshop on Nice carnival traditions.
Wednesday 8 February from 3pm to 5pm
Masked ball for children.
Centre AnimaNice NOTRE-DAME
18, rue d’Angleterre – 04 97 14 83 80
Thursday 2 and Thursday 9 February from 5 to 6.30 pm
Creative workshop on the theme of Carnival.
From 13 to 17 February from 9 am to 5 pm
Carnival Art’s” discovery course. 8/12 years old.
Wednesday 15 February from 7 to 9.30 pm
Zumba class on the theme of Carnival open to all.
Centre AnimaNice PASTEUR
12, rue Maccario – 04 97 13 49 13
Friday 3 February to Thursday 9 February from 9.30am to 10.30am and from 2pm to 3.30pm
Mask creation workshop (with the pupils of the Pasteur school).
Centre AnimaNice COSTANZO
Wednesday 8 February from 2pm to 4.30pm
Carnival afternoon – Activities, face painting followed by a snack.
From 13 to 17 February from 9 am to 5 pm
Discovery workshop with making of heads, masks and Carnival costumes. 8/12 years old.
Centre AnimaNice GORBELLA
63, boulevard Gorbella – 04 92 07 86 50
From 13 to 17 February from 9 am to 5 pm
Discovery course ” The treasures of Carnival “. 8/12 years old.
Wednesday 15 February at 2.30pm
Show ” Carnaval es arribat ” by the Fée des rêves company (reserved for children from the discovery courses).
Centre AnimaNice SAINTE-MARGUERITE
71, avenue Sainte-Marguerite – 04 92 07 86 50
13 to 17 February, 9 am to 5 pm
Discovery course “Masks with treasures”. 8/12 years old.
Centre AnimaNice LAS PLANAS
1, rue Jean Henri Fabre – 04 92 09 50 89
Wednesday 15 February from 3pm to 5pm
Mask and disguise making workshop.
Centre AnimaNice SAINT-PANCRACE
465, route de Pessicart – 04 92 09 50 89
From 20 to 24 February from 9 am to 5 pm
Carnival of the world of little treasures” course. 8/12 years old.
Wednesday 22 February at 3pm
Show ” Carnaval es arribat ” by the Fée des rêves company.
Information, prices and registration at the relevant AnimaNice centres.
Carnival mask-making workshop
Raoul Mille Library
15 February from 2.15 pm to 4.30 pm
A workshop led by Félix Macri, President of the Remembraça nissarda.
Public: 7 to 17 years old.
Skate in disguise
Jean Bouin Ice Rink
Friday 10 February from 9.15 pm to 12.15 am
Election of the most beautiful costume, entertainment and playlist on demand.
Saturday 11 February from 2 pm to 5.30 pm and from 10 pm to 1 am
Entertainment and playlists.
Sunday 12 February from 9 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm
An ice garden with an educational trail and a decoration workshop with Carnival heads on ice for children and families.
On the programme: Sleds in the shape of animals, blind test, election of the most original costumes and gifts for the luckiest ones.
Friday 24 February at 8 pm
Ice hockey match.
Carnival quiz during the first break.
A duel of mascots and a puck game animated by a speaker for the second period.
Merchants and craftsmen in the spotlight
Nice Carnaval Days
February 9th, 10th and 11th
3 exceptional days for the people of Nice to take advantage of local commerce.
Exhibition “Nice and the Fabulous Rio Carnival
Exhibition “Nice and the Fabulous Rio Carnival
Villa Masséna
From February 2nd to March 5th
The City of Nice wishes to honour the Rio Carnival, inspired by that of the Côte d’Azur capital. Indeed, at the end of the 19th century, kings and princes came to spend the winter in Nice, including Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.
In 1888, a year before his abdication, accompanied by his entire family, including Princess Isabelle, he attended the Carnival and the Battle of the Flowers twice.
On his return to Rio, he suggested a parade with flowered carriages in Flamengo, the chic place of the time, and to structure the existing Carnival.
From Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, March 5, 2023, the Musée Masséna will celebrate this filiation by presenting in the villa’s salons, documents and historical archives retracing the Carnival of Nice, and will host on the second floor, the official exhibition “Nice and the fabulous Carnival of Rio”. A unique collection of authentic costumes from the great samba schools of Rio de Janeiro from the Alain Taillard collection, curator of the exhibition.
Admission Carnival Offer: 8€ (upon presentation of your ticket for the day at one of the official paying events of the Carnival).
Crossed Portraits
Promenade des Anglais
at the Lido and Sporting pergolas
From 22 February
Open-air exhibition, with the support of Cultura. “Portraits croisés” is the crazy idea of a unique series of funny and moving photos, created by Sacha Goldberger, who transforms personalities from the cinema, song, theatre or literature into emblematic figures of culture, real or fictional, current or historical.
The artists have a big head
25 artists from Nice draw on the theme “Artists have big heads”.
Cap 3000 Galerie Corso, level +1 From 1 to 28 February
Carnival Village From 10 to 26 February
A thousand treasures from here and elsewhere
Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
33, avenue Malausséna
From 4 February to 2 March
Let yourself be surprised by the treasures of His Majesty Carnival. A real cabinet of curiosities, the exhibition brings together local treasures: costumes, scores, objects, posters, carnival banners. But also wonders from elsewhere: jewels, jackets, masks and other precious objects from private collections and the reserves of the Romain Gary Heritage Library.
40 years of posters of his majesty Carnival
Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
33, avenue Malausséna
From 4 February to 2 March
A private collection of King Carnival and Pantai, accompanied by works by Annie Sidro, as well as objects from Michèle Benvenutti and the Musée du Carnaval de Contes.
Around the exhibition, personal memories of the Nice Carnival
Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
Friday 3 February at 5 pm
Conference by Gérard Albarelli
In collaboration with the Nice Language, Culture and Tradition Department of the Heritage Department.
Cardboard Carnival
Bibliothèque Raoul Mille
33, avenue Malausséna
Wednesday 8 February at 2pm
Creative workshop to create a 100% recycled Carnival costume! From 7 years old.
Thursday 9 February at 9 am
Writing workshop.
Wednesday, February 15 at 10 am
20 minutes of stories and songs from around the world: a conference for children aged 5 and over.
Wednesday 15 February at 2.30 pm
Carnival School” workshop. Introduction to the making of Carnival masks and the traditional method of carta pista (papier-mâché) with Félix Macri, Carnival artist and President of the Remembrança Nissarda.7 to 17 years old. Duration: 2 hours.
Thursday 16 February at 10 am
Creative workshop “The little world in wool” to create animals and characters with balls of wool. For young people. From 8 years old.
Friday 17 February at 3 pm
Creative workshop “Bracelets of the World” for children aged 9 and up.
Friday 24 February at 3 pm
Carnival dances. Introduction to dancing with Mimi. For all ages.
Friday 24 February at 10 am
Creative workshop “Dolls of the World” for children aged 6 and over.
Saturday 25 February at 10 am
“The Niçois region”. Lecture by Jean Emelina on daily life in the Niçois region, its worries, its relationship with nature, its transformations…
Saturday 25 February at 2.30 pm
“Rapa Nui: the island at the end of the world”.
Conference by photographer Jacques Drouin.
Les Moulins-Alain Lefeuvre Library
29, boulevard Paul Montel
Wednesday 15 February at 3pm
Creative workshop on the theme “King of the Treasures of the World”. From 5 years old. Registration required.
Leonardo da Vinci Library – L’Ariane
20, chemin du Château Saint-Pierre
Friday 17 February at 10 am and 11 am
Carnival mask-making workshop. Creative workshop from 7 years old.
Louis Nucera Library
1, place Yves Klein
Saturday 11 February at 10.15 am
Creation of video animations. Workshop from 6 years old. Limited number of places.
Thursday 23 February at 3pm
“The Nice Carnival is 150 years old”. This conference by Annie Sidro, President of “Carnaval sans Frontières” will bring back to life the great moments of the Carnival thanks to beautiful anecdotes!
Saturday 25 February at 3 pm
“The Music of the Nice Carnival”. A conference by Pascal Giordano, a composer from Nice, who, through his history, will evoke the evolution of Carnival songs and music. Attracted by traditional and world music, he regularly collaborates with the Nice Carnival. In 2022, for the City of Nice, he co-organised the competition for the official Carnival song “La Marche du Roy”.
Conferences and meetings
Special Carnival Conference by Annie Sidro
Théâtre L’artistique
Friday 24th February
- From 10 am to 6 pm: in the presence of many specialists.
- From 10 am to 10:30 am: Annie Sidro, “Introduction, 150 years of Carnival in Nice, its contemporary issues”.
- From 10:30 am to 11:00 am: Laurent Sébastien Fournier, “Festivals and resilience after the Covid”.
- From 11:00 to 11:30: Jean-Pierre Triffaux “Carnival, staging and performing arts”.
- From 11:30 to 12:00: Antonin Chabert “Technological innovations in the Nice Carnival”.
- From 12:00 to 12:30: Maria Laura Viveios de Castro Cavalcanti (in video) “Evolution of floats over the last few decades in the Rio Carnival”.
- 12:30 to 13:00: Discussion with the mediator Jean-Pierre Triffaux.
- 2.30 to 3.30 pm: Presentation of Monika Salzbrunn’s feature film “Create, resist, exist” (with images from the Carnivals of Nice and Viareggio) with the collaboration of Federica Moretti. Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- From 3:30 pm to 5 pm: Round table – Mediator: Laurent Sébastien Fournier. With Jean-Pierre Triffaux, Federica Moretti, Monika Salzbrunn, Anais Vaillant, Annie Sidro and people in charge of the Nice festival.
- From 5 to 6 pm: Synthesis – Laurent Sébastien Fournier and Jean-Pierre Triffaux.
Mediterranean University Centre (CUM)
Monday 6 February at 4 pm
By Annie Sidro. Historian of the Carnival, and José Maria, a great collector of postcards ” Retrospective of the Carnival through Postcards “, with anecdotes about the Nice Carnival as seen by its people.
Louis Nucéra Library
Thursday 23rd February at 3pm
By Annie Sidro. 150 years of Carnival and the vision of the Nice Carnivalers over the years.
Their relationship with the current events of their time.
Providence Cultural Centre
Saturday 25 February at 3 pm
Carlo Boso, a graduate in Dramatic Art from the Piccolo Teatro in Milan and creator of the International Academy of Performing Arts, will talk about the Commedia Dell’Arte.
Carnival in the Cinemas
A Carnival rate of €6.50 is available in the Rialto and Variétés cinemas throughout the carnival period.
One condition: come in disguise or with an accessory.
Cinéma Rialto
4, rue de Rivoli
15 February at 3.30 pm
“Louise et la légende du serpent à plumes”.
Mexican short film, followed by a typical Nice snack.
From 4 years old.
Prices: €4.50/child, €6.50/adult.
19 February at 5 pm
“Waiting for Carnival”, Brazilian documentary.
The screening will be preceded by a Brazilian musical show.
22 February at 3:30 pm
“Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo. Animated film for children aged 6 and over, followed by a snack and an activity.
Cinéma le Variété
5, boulevard Victor Hugo
24 February at 7pm
An evening of “Spanish Treasures”. On the programme: sangria, flamenco performed by the guitarist Quino Mallen and a tribute to Almodovar with the screening of the film “Volver” in VOSTFR.
Prices: 8€/adult, 5€/children.
26 February at 10:45 am
Morning “Treasures of Ukraine and the Magic World” with the preview of the film “Naya’s Kingdom”, an animated Ukrainian film with a heroine who highlights the importance of nature.
The morning’s programme includes breakfast, magical activities and a screening of the new film.
Prices: €6.50/adult, €5/child.
Other highlights
The flowery naval battle
Villefranche-sur-mer honours the treasures of the world
Port de la Santé – Quai Amiral Courbet
06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer
Monday 13th February 2023
1.30 pm: Carnival parade on the quays
the quays, Port de la Santé.
2 p.m.: Naval combat with flowers in the Port de la Santé, and entertainment by folk groups, Place Amélie Pollonais.
Flower walk in the city and quiz with prizes to be won.
Free of charge, without reservation. Information: 04 93 01 73 68
