Villach Carnival 2027

In January and February, the Drau town of Villach is affectionately known as the “stronghold of fools” by its inhabitants. And it is known for this throughout Austria. Why? It’s carnival time and Villach is famous for its “Villacher Fasching”. Have you ever dreamed of immersing yourself in a world full of color, music and carefree merriment? Then you shouldn’t miss the Villach Carnival! Experience Villach as a pulsating stronghold of fools and create an unforgettable experience. Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of this special time.

The carnival season in Villach is rich in varied events that offer something for every taste. The festivities will kick off with the presentation of the Prince and Princess, which is due to take place on 14 November 2026 and will reveal the identity of the new rulers of the carnival. The popular carnival sessions of the Villach Carnival Guild take place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Congress Center and are an absolute must for all those who enjoy being infected by humor and good humor. You can easily reach the Congress Center on foot from our hotel . We also offer special carnival packages every year.

The carnival sessions of the Villach Carnival 2027 will take place on the following dates:

• January 08, 2027: Premiere
• January 09, 2027: 2nd meeting
• January 15, 2027: 3rd meeting
• January 16, 2027: 4th meeting
• January 22, 2027: 5th meeting
• January 23, 2027: 6th meeting
• January 28, 2027: 7th session – ORF recording
• January 29, 2027: 8th session – ORF recording
• January 30, 2027: 9th session – ORF recording

The little revellers will also have a great time at the children’s carnival. As soon as the date has been confirmed, we’ll be sure to let you know.

Carnival Saturday, 6 February 2027, marks the highlight of the carnival celebrations and transforms Villach’s town centre into a huge stage during the grand parade. The members of the Villach Carnival Guild parade through the festively decorated streets, visit stores and pubs and create an exuberant atmosphere with their music.

The official highlight of the day is undoubtedly the grand parade with hundreds of masked groups, numerous floats and tens of thousands of spectators. The most beautiful masks and floats will once again be judged and awarded prizes by a jury in 2027. The carnival parade is led by the prince and princess and the children’s prince and princess, who hand out sweets and candy to the children. It starts at 2 pm.

A special feature of Shrove Saturday is that many employees in the stores and restaurants are also dressed up, contributing to the cheerful atmosphere.

The Villach Carnival also has a lot to offer for the little jesters. The children’s sessions at the Villach Congress Centre are a real highlight. Around 160 young talents present a varied program of dance, music, sketches and acrobatic performances. The children’s carnival sessions are not only great entertainment for the little ones, but also an opportunity to celebrate the up-and-coming artists. The children’s prince and princess lead the little jesters and add to the fun. There is also a special children’s program on Carnival Saturday, so that even the youngest visitors get their money’s worth.

On 14 November 2026, the time will come once again: that is when the new prince and princess for the Villach Carnival will be announced. Last year, this honour went to Anna Sophie Petschar and Andreas Ferlan. Anna Sophie is studying history in Vienna and commutes between the capital and Carinthia, whilst Andreas runs a business specialising in tiles and natural stone. The new prince and princess who will succeed them will be confirmed in mid-November 2026.

Last year’s children’s carnival also saw a new prince and princess: Lena Taurer and Linus Leeb took up their reign at the 60th Villach Children’s Carnival.

The jester’s call of the Villach carnival jesters is “Lei Lei!”. This exclamation is a traditional part of carnival and has no deeper meaning. It is simply an expression of joy and exuberant celebration. “Lei Lei” means “just, just” and is therefore an important part of the Villach carnival tradition.

The roots of the Villach carnival go back a long way, with the first mention in 1867. On Shrove Tuesday of that year, the season ended with a “successful corso ride”, which probably corresponds to a parade.

What began as a loose tradition developed over time into an integral part of the town’s cultural life. From 1910, the Villacher Bauerngman organized an annual farmers’ ball, the proceeds of which were used for charitable purposes.

The actual transformation to the modern Villach carnival began in 1955, when the idea arose to turn the traditional farmers’ ball into an exuberant, foolish event. This idea was very well received, and just three years later over 50 bars and restaurants in the town center took part in the celebrations – the birth of “Fasching in ganz Villach”.

In 1961, the first “Villach Carnival Session” was held in the Chamber of Labor, which focused on the humorous and satirical elements of carnival. In 1964, the “Villacher Faschingsgilde” emerged from the Villacher Bauerngman. And the carnival guild finally took over the professional organization of the carnival. A milestone in history.

Another milestone was in 1972, when the events were moved to the Congress Center Villach, which offered greater capacity and better opportunities for staging the shows. In 2001, the carnivalists moved into their own, newly built guild house, which serves as the clubhouse.

The election of the first prince and princess in 1955 and the first children’s prince and princess in 1967 consolidated today’s traditions.

Since 1963, the highlights of the carnival sessions have also been broadcast on Austrian television (ORF) during prime time on Shrove Tuesday. For a long time, the Villach Carnival was one of ORF’s most popular entertainment programs.