Carnival festival · Maastricht
14–17 February 2026
2026
14–17 February 2026
2027
Dates confirmed later — moveable feast
Where
Maastricht
What it is
Three days when the city hands its keys to Prince Carnival: brass bands in every café, the Vrijthof in costume and the Boonte Störrem parade on Sunday.
Dates can shift by a day or two when a local council moves the programme to a weekend, so confirm with the town hall before booking non-refundable travel. Accommodation in Maastricht tends to sell out weeks ahead of the festival and prices rise sharply on the main night.
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Asked by first-time visitors
The twenty questions people put to an AI assistant before a first visit, answered here in full — logistics, itinerary, food, etiquette and the details guidebooks skip.
Carnival (Vastelaovend), explained
Three days when the city hands its keys to Prince Carnival: brass bands in every café, the Vrijthof in costume and the Boonte Störrem parade on Sunday. It's a carnival event held in Maastricht.
Carnival (Vastelaovend) runs 14–17 February 2026 in Maastricht. Councils can move the exact days by a day or two to land on a weekend, so confirm with the town hall before booking non-refundable travel.
Yes — like the great majority of Spanish town festivals, Carnival (Vastelaovend) is free and open-air; you only pay for food, drink and any seating the town sells for a parade or firework display.
Book a room in Maastricht itself as early as you can: accommodation for this kind of festival sells out weeks ahead and prices climb sharply for the main night. A base in Maastricht also means you're not relying on late transport home once the celebrations run past midnight.
Prompt pack
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Editorial summary produced with AI support and reviewed by a human editor. Facts are as reported by the sources linked in the text. Verify anything important before you act on it. Spotted an error? Use the contact form and we will correct it.
Last reviewed · 30 July 2026
Prices & times
All prices and times on this page are estimates and change often. They are a starting point from an independent editor, never official or guaranteed figures. Always check the final price and the opening hours with the official venue or operator before you book or travel.
Checked · 30 July 2026