The Theme of the 2026 Nice Carnival will be “Vive la Reine!”
The words of Christian Estrosi, delivered at the conclusion of the record-breaking Carnival, were highly anticipated and marked the end of an extraordinary edition. “His Majesty the King of the Oceans has left us, after an unforgettable 2025 edition, defined by an absolute novelty: the Carnavalina. Additionally, unprecedented participation saw 400,000 people gather to experience our Carnival, which brought the entire city to life.”
“We presented a rich and varied program,” Estrosi continued, “with the Carnival Village breaking records by attracting 140,000 visitors, and a series of events for all audiences: the Grand Charivari de Richelmi, the Bal du Veglione, the Carnavalina, the Course des garçons de café, the Carnaval des Frenchy, the Queernaval, which celebrated its tenth anniversary, and our beloved neighborhood carnivals.“
Then came the announcement that will go down in history for the great event on the French Riviera: “This edition was magical and laid the groundwork for the 2026 edition, which will be even more historic. In 2026, the Carnival reinvents itself. After decades of male dominance, the time has come to celebrate femininity with an ambitious and symbolic theme:“ Vive la Reine!”
From February 11 to March 1, 2026, Nice will be pulsating with the rhythm of this carnival metamorphosis, conveying powerful messages and honoring the great heroines of history and fiction, as well as the women who have shaped the world. “In 2026,” Estrosi concluded, “one proclamation will echo through the streets of Nice: Viva la Regina! The king is dead. Long live the Queen!”
2025 Edition in Numbers:
- 400,000 participants, including locals and visitors
- 240,000 spectators for the Processions, the Battles of the Flowers, and Queernaval
- 140,000 visitors to the Carnival Village (+60% compared to 2024)
- 32,000 participants at the Carnavalina on February 15
- 2,500 participants at the Charivari de Richelmi
- Thousands of locals and residents from the Métropole at neighborhood carnivals
- 1,000 international artists
