Cologne, Germany

When: February 16 - February 20, 2023 + November 11, 2023
Web: koeln.de

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Kumm loss mer endlich widder fiere (translated: "Let's finally party again") - Cologne is not only known for its own dialect but also for its 5th season, the original carnival. Every year from Old Fat Thursday to Rose Monday, the city is transformed into THE party city par excellence. If you want to party, dance, and bop to typical Cologne music, you've come to the right place. No other German city celebrates the carnival as exuberantly as Cologne. Highlights are the many carnival parades with elaborately designed floats, confetti and lots of sweet Kamelle (candy). So, shed your the everyday clothes and jump into a creative costume - you have got to experience this.

Venice, Italy

When: 04 February to 21 February 2023
Web: viva-italia.it

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Get incognito! The Carnival in Venice is quite mysterious and magical. Unlike Cologne, the celebration in the Italian port city is characterized by Venetian masks. Revelers enjoy using the ornate, colorful trademarks to hide their own identities and have fun in a whole new role. Costumes are less crazy, more pompous, elaborate, and baroque-inspired. Carnival in Venice dates back to a centuries-old tradition and you can feel it as soon as you set foot in the city every year in February. It is like experiencing a real life fairy tale.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: February 17 - February 25, 2023
Web: riocarnaval.org

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It is a spectacle that no other region can match. Probably the most colorful and elaborate carnival festival in the world is celebrated in Rio de Janeiro. Mardi Gras attracts around 2 million visitors to the country every spring. Colorful feathered dresses, glittering sequins, lightly clad samba dancers and loud summery sounds are the hallmarks of Carnival in Rio. A special highlight is the big parade on the last day. If you want to watch it, you should be quick, tickets are highly sought after. 

Tenerife, Spain

When: January 20 - February 26, 2023 
Web: guidetocanaryislands.com/tenerife-carnival/

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Hard to believe but true: The second largest carnival hotspot in the world is located in the Atlantic Ocean, on the beautiful volcanic island of Tenerife. Under the motto "New York - the city that never sleeps", the port cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz will be transformed into a real party oasis in 2023 - inspired by the great carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The carnival days begin with the traditional election of the carnival queen, before glittering and colorful parades with dressed up Jecken move through the cities. Enjoy the unique feel-good event with music, color and lots of lightness. 

Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean

When: February 15 - February 22, 2022

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The festivities on the Caribbean islands are similarly colorful, pompous, and revealing as the carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and Tenerife. Trinidad and Tobago are known for their exuberant celebrations in Port of Spain. Particularly the local women show lots of skin and are decorated with colorful feather dresses and sequined belts. Under the Caribbean sun, people dance and celebrate to loud music. The carnival celebration in Trinidad and Tobago is shorter than in other cities but it is absolutely worth it.