Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate during the month-long festivities. Credit: AMNA
The port city of Patras is once again vibrating to the rhythm of Carnival following Saturday night’s official 2026 launch ceremony at Georgiou Square. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate during the month-long festivities.
The festivities kicked off early with the traditional arrival of the Carnival banner, which traveled by sea from Molos to Agios Nikolaos, escorted by a flotilla of local sailing clubs.
After a ceremony at Trio Symmachon Square, a parade marched to the Town Hall, where the banner was presented to Mayor Kostas Peletidis. In keeping with local tradition, chocolates were handed out to children as a celebratory party erupted in the Town Hall forecourt, where the banner will hang until the festivities conclude on February 22.
Patras Festival: “Get off the screen.”
The energy shifted to Georgiou Square later that evening for the official opening ceremony, themed “Get off the screen.” Organizers emphasized that the Patras Carnival is not a spectator sport but a communal celebration; the theme serves as a call for human connection and shared, physical experience over digital distraction.
The ceremony unfolded in three acts, beginning with a narrative and musical history of the Carnival and culminating in a high-energy finale that blurred the line between performers and the public. With over 300 participants—including acrobats, actors, and musicians—the show transformed the square into a living theater.
The night ended in classic Patras style: the traditional “chocolate war,” where throwers showered the crowd with sweets, followed by a party that lasted late into the night.