Nice Carnival 2025: Side Events Across the French Riviera

From February 12 to March 2, 2025, the Nice Carnival will engage the entire French Riviera with numerous events.

1. Nice Carnival Village
   Each year, the Carnival Village becomes the heart of the celebrations. Located at Square Leclerc, Promenade du Paillon, just steps from Place Masséna, this festive space offers an experience for the whole family. On February 15, 2025, at 11:00, the village will open its doors and stay open throughout the Carnival. Visitors can explore food stands, buy themed items, watch street performances, and enjoy interactive activities for children. The Village will also host pre-Carnival activities, where local groups perform dances and artistic shows, warming up the atmosphere before the big parades.
   From February 15 to March 2, 2025
   Open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

New: Carnival Nights
Thursday, February 20 & 27 – Evening opening until 10 PM:
On the program: sardine grilling, musical nights, and unconventional performances.
Free entrance.

2. Community Carnivals in Nice
   Spend an afternoon of fun in your neighborhood during the 6 dates of the Community Carnivals! On the agenda: musical atmosphere, a grand dance party, confetti battles, and a children’s costume parade. There will also be dance and percussion group performances.
   For the most creative, various workshops await, along with a makeup stand, balloon artists, and a magician. Costumed mascots and stilt walkers will further liven up these festive moments. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some sweets!
   Free entrance.

Saturday, February 8, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Collines Niçoises area, Jean Gabin Garden
Monday, February 10, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Heart of Nice area, Wilson Garden
Tuesday, February 11, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Upper Nice area, Chambrun Park
Wednesday, February 12, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Historical Nice area, Saint Jean d’Angely Garden
Thursday, February 13, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – West Nice area, Arboras Garden
Friday, February 14, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Rives du Paillon area, Lecuyer Garden

3. “Through the Eyes of Nice Carnival” Exhibition by Valentin Donato
   From February 11 to March 2, 2025
   Opening: Tuesday, February 11 at 6 PM
   Galerie Babazouk 2 – 5 rue Benoît Bunico, Vieux-Nice
   Discover the Nice Carnival through the photos of Valentin Donato, a content creator and passionate photographer. The exhibition features 30 photographs taken between 2018 and 2024 during various editions of the Nice Carnival. Each shot reveals moments, smiles, gazes, and emotions shared, testimony to this legendary event.

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4. Nice Children’s Masquerade Ball
   Thursday, February 13 at 2 PM
   In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Nice Opera was the ideal venue for the masquerade balls held during the Carnival. Nice revives this tradition and brings it to children! The only condition to participate in this masquerade ball at the Opera stage and discover traditional Nice dances is to come in costume!

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5. Lecture “The Niçoise Costume: What’s the Link with the Nice Carnival?”
   Monday, February 20 at 2:30 PM
   Mediterranean University Center, 65 Promenade des Anglais
   Free entrance
   Lecture by Dominique Veux-Rocca, author of the book “Le costume niçois”

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6. La Ciamada Nissarda Celebrates its Carnival
   Saturday, February 22 at 10 AM
   La Maison de l’Artisanat et du Goût de Nice – 34 boulevard Jean Jaurès
   Free entrance
   Dance and songs by the folkloric group La Ciamada Nissarda, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Tasting of Nice culinary specialties.

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7. Balèti After Work at the Opera “Special Carnival Edition”
   Wednesday, February 26 at 7 PM
   Nice Opera (Foyer Hall) 4-6 rue Saint-François-de-Paule
   Free and reservation required at 04 97 13 45 96
   With Xavier Borriglione, in costume.

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8. Eco-Carnival at the House of the Environment
   Wednesday, February 19, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
   Maison de l’Environnement, 31 avenue Castellane, 06100 Nice
   Free entry for all
   To celebrate the Nice Carnival, the Maison de l’Environnement offers a rich program of activities: mask-making workshops (using recycled materials), makeup stands, donuts, and much more.

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9. Ice Skating Rink
   The Jean Bouin rink invites you to celebrate the Carnival on ice with two festive events:
   Saturday, February 15, from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM
   Sunday, February 16, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Ice Garden with educational activities)

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10. At the AnimaNice Centers
    Activities for All
    Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – AnimaNice Costanzo Center
    Carnival makeup workshop: “Kings of the Oceans”. Free.

Wednesday, February 26, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – AnimaNice La Madeleine Richard Scoffier
Carnival afternoon: makeup workshops and creating a “Giant Head”. Urban dance performance by the students, followed by a confetti battle. Open to all.

Wednesday, February 26, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM – AnimaNice Saint-Antoine Center
Festive afternoon “Kings of the Oceans” theme: entertainment with DJ, costume contest, makeup workshop. On-site catering options available.

AnimaNice Workshops during February Holidays
From Monday, February 10 to Friday, February 14, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Creative workshops – Musical comedy, Zumba (Ages 7-12).
Self-defense – Creative arts – Gymnastics (Ages 8-12).
Jazz dance – Musical comedy – Creative arts (Ages 8-12).

From Monday, February 17 to Friday, February 21, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Outdoor games – Creative arts – Musical comedy (Ages 8-12).
Sewing – Zumba (Ages 8-12).
Theater – Gymnastics – Creative workshops (Ages 8-12).
Hip hop dance, classical dance, Latin dance – Visual arts (Ages 7-12).
Basketball – Intro to fighting – Visual arts – Intro to DJing (Ages 7-12).

11. At the Cinema
    Pathé Masséna
    Friday, February 21, 7:30 PM – And the Ship Sails On by Federico Fellini
    Friday, March 7, 7:30 PM – Das Boot by Wolfgang Petersen
    Pathé cinemas in Nice participate in the Carnival, offering the public the chance to discover or rediscover maritime-themed films. During these screenings, Vincent Jourdan, a professor at the University of Cannes, will introduce the films and lead a discussion session.

Rialto
Saturday, February 22, Morning
For children from 3 years old.
Cinema session with a snack for children, ocean-themed, with the film “Little Stories Under the Ocean.”

Variétés – Special Carnival “À Court de Récré”
Sunday, February 23, 10:00 AM
Price: €5
For children from 3 years old.
A program of three animated short films designed to introduce young children to the underwater world. The session includes a breakfast and a carnival-themed activity.

12. In the City
    Nice Carnival Days Sales
    Thursday, February 20 to Saturday, February 22, 2025
    In collaboration with Nice Shopping, take advantage of three exceptional days of unmissable deals and the best offers from Nice merchants.

NICETOILE
From Saturday, February 8 to Sunday, March 9, 2025
Creative workshops
NICETOILE highlights the creativity of young people with playful and educational activities on the themes of the oceans and the environment.

“Draw a Fish” (February 8 – 23, every day from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM)
Activity: Draw your best fish, and thanks to augmented reality, watch it come to life in a virtual aquarium with one mission: clean the seas and oceans.
Location: Level 1 – Creative workshop space.
For ages 4 and up.
Free, no registration required.

“Recycle Me” (February 26 – March 9, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
Activity: Create a Carnival souvenir using recycled materials.
Location: Level 1 – Creative workshop space.
For ages 6 and up.
Participation: Pre-registration required on www.nicetoile.com, funds will be donated to the protection of Mediterranean seabeds.

Artistic and Educational Immersion
Exhibitions and Live Painting
Level 1, discover the Carnival Aquatic exhibitions.
Exhibition “The Marine Odyssey”: Explore unique works by Côte d’Azur artist Patrick Moya and street artist ArtMakeOneRight, celebrating the beauty of oceans.
Exhibition “Tracing the Turtles”: Created with the Natural History Museum of Nice, raising awareness about the protection of sea turtles and their habitats.
Live Painting (Saturdays, February 8, 15, and 22): Watch local artists paint live works inspired by the sea and Carnival.

Level 2, discover behind-the-scenes of the Nice Carnival with an exhibition revealing the secrets and history of the event.

New
The great costume contest for young carnival goers returns on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM.
For children aged 5 to 12 years – Program: Welcome masked and made-up children, parade in front of a jury that will award the most beautiful costumes, with prizes for all participants!

Cap 3000
Cap 3000 is happy to renew its collaboration with the Nice Carnival, reflecting the festive spirit with a joyful atmosphere throughout the center’s corridors.

Hotels Join the Festivities
As tradition dictates, the seven Summer Hotels in Nice participate in the celebration with costumed receptions, culinary activities, and a photo booth with large heads and accessories available to guests, adding a touch of magic to the Carnival. Here is the list of participating hotels.

Best Western Plus Hôtel Masséna: 58, rue Gioffredo, 06000 Nice
Best Western Plus Hôtel Brice Garden: 44, rue Maréchal Joffre, 06000 Nice
Best Western Hôtel Lakmi: 44, avenue Maréchal Foch, 06000 Nice
Hôtel Florence: 3, rue Paul Déroulède, 06000 Nice
Hôtel Byakko: 4-6, rue Miron, 06000 Nice
Hôtel Locarno: 4, avenue des Baumettes, 06000 Nice
Hôtel Khla: 31, rue Paganini, 06000 Nice

Carnival in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Monday, February 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Villefranche-sur-Mer and Mediterranean pointus invite you to their traditional flower battle on water: The Naval Flower Battle. Over 20 decorated fishing boats adorned with thousands of carnations and mimosa will parade at Port de la Santé!

Carnival in Clans
Saturday, March 15, 2025

Carnival in Belvédère
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Place Pavy

Carnival in Drap
Friday, February 21, 2025

Carnival in La Tour-sur-Tinée
Saturday, February 22, 2025

Carnival in Levens
Sunday, March 9, 2025

Carnival in Aspremont
Sunday, February 16, 2025

The Nice Carnival 2025 is not just an event to experience during the parades, but a full-fledged festival that embraces the city in all its facets. From art exhibitions, concerts, and children’s parties to a range of gastronomic delights, there’s something for everyone, making this an unforgettable experience. Join the party!