Every year in the weeks leading up to Lent, Italy explodes in a joyful celebration of Carnevale, a festive season filled with masks, parades, music, food, and centuries-old traditions. In 2026, this period of merrymaking runs around late January through mid-February, culminating on Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday) on February 17, 2026, the last day before the start of Lent.