Nice Carnival: A record-breaking 2025 and “Long live the Queen” in 2026

Christian ESTROSI, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region:
“His Majesty, the King of the Oceans, has left after an exceptional 2025 edition, marked by a major new feature: the Carnavalina, and by record crowds: 400,000 Nice residents and visitors turned out to enjoy our famous Carnival throughout the city.

With Graig Monetti, my deputy for Events, Youth and Equal Opportunities, we’ve come up with a rich and varied programme, with the Carnival Village breaking all attendance records this year with 140,000 visitors, and a host of events for everyone: the great Richelmi charivari, the Veglione ball, the Carnavalina, the café boys’ race, the Frenchy carnival, Queernaval, which celebrated its 10th anniversary, and our neighbourhood carnivals.

A magical edition that beckons a new and historic one. In 2026, I wanted Carnival to reinvent itself. After decades of male domination, the time has come to celebrate femininity with an ambitious and symbolic theme: “Long live the Queen”. From 11 February to 1 March 2026, Nice will vibrate to the rhythm of this carnival metamorphosis, rich in powerful messages and a tribute to the great heroines of history and fiction, the great female figures who have shaped the world. In 2026, in Nice, a single proclamation will echo through the streets: Long live the Queen! The King is dead. Long live the Queen!

The 2025 edition in figures

• 400,000 locals and visitors took part in the Nice Carnival
• 240,000 spectators for the Corsi, Flower Battles and Queernaval
• 140,000 visitors to the Carnival Village (60% more than in 2024)
• 32,000 people at the Carnavalina on 15 February
• Thousands of people from Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolitan area take part in carnivals in their neighbourhoods and in the towns and villages of the metropolitan area.
• 1,000 international artists taking part