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Corfu Carnival

Corfu Carnival — second largest in Greece, famous for Venetian tradition, konfeti confetti, political satire floats and celebrations in the UNESCO-listed old…

Corfu Carnival (Apokries) — Venetian Tradition in Greece's Most Distinctive Island City

The Corfu Carnival is the second largest carnival celebration in Greece — surpassed only by the Patras Carnival — with a distinctly Venetian character reflecting Corfu's four centuries under Venetian rule (1386–1797). The three-week Apokries period features konfeti (coloured confetti — a tradition unique to Corfu), elaborate satirical floats, masked parades, and street celebrations centred on the Liston arcade (modelled on Paris's Rue de Rivoli), the Spianada square, and the winding streets of the UNESCO-listed old town.

The Corfu Carnival ends on Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) and its dates vary annually according to the Orthodox Easter calendar. Corfu International Airport (CFU) has year-round flights from Athens (50 min) and seasonal European connections. Confirm the carnival dates through the Corfu municipality each year.

Konfeti and the Carnival Tradition

The Corfu konfeti tradition — coloured paper confetti thrown in enormous quantities throughout the carnival period — has no direct equivalent elsewhere in Greece. Venetian carnivals used confetti as small sugar-coated almonds thrown by the wealthy; the Corfu tradition evolved its own form using paper, and the volume used during the Grand Parade creates a surreal snowstorm effect in the narrow streets of the old town. The Liston arcade — built by the French in 1807 on the model of Paris's Rue de Rivoli — is one of the best viewing points for the parade.

The Corfu old town (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007) is the permanent backdrop for the carnival. Two Venetian fortresses — the Old Fortress and the New Fortress — frame the town. The Spianada square, one of the largest in the Balkans, becomes the central gathering point. The lanes between the Venetian buildings narrow to 2–3 m in places, creating an extraordinary carnival atmosphere when filled with masked participants. Accommodation in Corfu Town fills quickly for carnival weekend — book as soon as the annual dates are confirmed.

Carnival Logistics

The Corfu Carnival Grand Parade runs on the Sunday before Clean Monday (the final day of Apokries). The parade route covers the main streets of Corfu Town, passing through the Garitsa area, along the Alexandras Avenue, and through the Liston arcade. Grandstand seating with tickets is available near the parade start; free viewing positions along the route fill from 1–2 hours before the parade begins. The Saturday night before the parade features masquerade balls at several venues in the old town — these are separately ticketed events run by the carnival societies. Confirm the current year's programme and dates through the official Corfu Carnival website or the Corfu municipality.

The carnival season in Corfu is a genuinely local festival — the largest and most elaborate in Greece — with roots in the Venetian occupation of the island from 1386 to 1797. The island's Catholic community, a legacy of Venetian rule, participates alongside the Orthodox majority, giving Corfu's carnival a cultural complexity absent from mainland celebrations.