The annual carnival season in the western port city of Patras, the biggest of its kind series of events in Greece, commences this Saturday with a grand opening day celebration.

This year’s celebration of the opening of the Patras carnival is part of a three-day program of events organized by the municipality, with the aim of creating a festive atmosphere over the coming weekend.

Among others, a handover of the carnival flag will take place at the Town Hall.

The last day of carnival in Greece – based on the Orthodox ecclesiastical calendar – is Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, with Meat Thursday on Feb. 12, 2026. Monday, Feb. 23, is Clean Monday, marking the beginning of the Great Lent before Easter Sunday.

The Patras Carnival Greece’s largest and oldest carnival, features parades, masquerade balls, treasure hunts, music, and elaborate floats, culminating in a grand parade, the burning of the “Carnival King”, and a closing ceremony, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Patras, Achaia prefecture, Greece – FEBRUARY 2018: Streets of Patras city decorated for the famous Patras Carnival (Patrino karnavali), the largest event of its kind in Greece and one of the biggest in Europe.