Carnival in Senj – summer and winter
Senj has celebrated carnival since 1658, making it one of the oldest carnival towns in Croatia, and it does so twice a year.
The summer carnival in early August is the highlight, held for the 53rd time from 6 to 8 August 2026:
• Thursday: small parade and opening on Cilnica Square, then concerts
• Friday: kids foam party on Škver town beach, costume show in the evening
• Saturday: the great international parade starting at Nehaj Fortress, with floats and masked groups from Croatia and abroad, then concerts into the night
The winter carnival (Mesopust) runs from January to Shrove Tuesday, for the 366th time in 2026. Sveti Juraj has its own Mesopust too.
Tips: book accommodation early, find a spot on the parade route in good time, bring swimwear for the kids foam party, and a costume, since many visitors join in dressed up. The current programme is on visitsenj.com.