Carnevale Astigiano

Why it's special

It's a carnival run by the people who run the Palio: the Collegio dei Rettori and the borough committees put the masked groups on the street and cook in the square, and the city's traditional masks, Barberina and Spumantin, lead the parade. Free, short and very much for families.

Programme · 2026

Organised by the Comune di Asti with the Collegio dei Rettori, the Palio committees and the J'Amis d'la Pera flag-wavers and musicians.

• The parade sets off at 14:30 from the Torre Rossa end of Corso Alfieri and finishes in Piazza Alfieri, where the music, games and food stands carry on through the afternoon.
• Corso Alfieri and Piazza Alfieri close to traffic and parking from early afternoon (the inner square from the early morning), so arrive on foot.
• Schools and anyone in costume can join the parade.
• In 2026 the carnival funfair in Piazza Campo del Palio was still open on parade day.

Asti's carnival is a one-day city party on a Sunday around Carnival. In the late morning the Famiglia delle Maschere Astigiane, the city's traditional carnival characters, meet the mayor and the Collegio dei Rettori, the body that runs the Palio di Asti. The masks are led by Barberina and Spumantin.

The parade starts at 14:30 by the Torre Rossa, at the western end of Corso Alfieri, and makes its way along the main street to Piazza Alfieri: the town band first, then the masks, guest masks from other Italian carnivals, the costumed groups of the Palio boroughs, dance groups, vintage scooters and lots of schoolchildren in costume. In the square the afternoon goes on with music, folk dancing, bouncy castles, pony rides and food from the Palio committees.

Carnival weeks in Asti also bring the Luna Park di Carnevale to Piazza Campo del Palio, the borough carnival of the Polentone Torrettese and, in the hill frazione of Castiglione, Cisi, Tripa e Carvè.