Carnival Festivities

It's one of the highlights of Madeira's festival calendar. A wave of joy that spreads throughout the archipelago.

Carnival

Events Programme

An explosion of euphoria

From famous parades such as 'Cortejo Alegórico' and the satirical 'Cortejo Trapalhão' to the festivities that take place during these days in multiple locations, Madeira's Carnival fills the entire archipelago with a unique liveliness.

from February 26th to March,9th 2025

Life is two days and Carnival is three! In fact, in Madeira it's two weeks. Look out for the troupes and revellers that make Madeira's Carnival live up to its fame.

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Experience Madeira's Carnival

Colour, dance, music, costumes and broad smiles: enjoy this iconic party!

Would you like to participate in the revelry and parade in our Carnival?

Masks, colour and joy

Madeira's Carnival is an itinerant festival and revelry arrives in each municipality in an original way. Although Funchal steals most of the attention, there are plenty of streamers and confetti spreading magic across the entire archipelago. Here's where the main events will take place:

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Music

Compadres Feast

The ‘Festa dos Compadres’ marks the opening of the Carnival season in Madeira, a tradition going back to more than 50 years, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Santana, an event to be held on February, 20th to 23rd.

Music and Dance

Carnival Allegoric Parade

The highlight of the Carnival Festivities takes place on Saturday night with the exuberant Allegoric Parade. Approximately 1 500 extravagantly dressed revelers and more than a dozen cheerful floats form part of this parade.

Music and Dance

Slapstick Parade

On Carnival Tuesday, another parade known as “Cortejo Trapalhão”, takes place in Funchal and which can be classified as a satirical one based on cultural heritage.

Music and Dance

Children’s Carnival

Downtown is once again graced with yet another entertainment initiative which stands out for its originality and creativity. With much contagious energy, hundreds of revelers from the Funchal Community Development Association, parade along Avenida Arriaga to the Municipal Garden where a show is to take place.