Carnival for Kids 2026

Athens hits full festive mode during Apokries, Greece’s carnival season, when the city swaps routine for colour, music, and joyful chaos. From 1 to 22 February 2026, neighbourhoods across the capital come alive with parades, live music, street parties, dance performances, and hands-on activities that spill out into squares, markets, and main thoroughfares.

Expect traditional carnival routes winding through the historic centre and linking up with local communities hosting neighbourhood carnivals filled with folk rituals, costumes and spontaneous street events. 

Families are well catered for, too, with a packed Carnival for Kids programme bringing games, performances, workshops, and face painting to parks and squares across the city, including Zappeion, Kypseli, Goudi, and Neos Kosmos, making it easy to dip in wherever you’re based.

The celebrations reach their peak on Sunday, 22 February, with a grand carnival parade through the city centre, finishing in Kotzia Square with music, dancing, and a city-wide party atmosphere. The festivities then roll seamlessly into Clean Monday (23 February), when Athenians traditionally head outdoors for kite flying, music, and a relaxed communal feast, a time-honoured tradition.

Get the little ones involved with fun-filled celebrations featuring music, mascots, face painting, crafts, and plenty of games:

Saturday 7/02 at 11 am: Gyzi Square & Pinelopi Delta Square, Ellinoroson
Sunday 8/02 at 11 am: Sepolia Metro & Agios Thomas Square, Goudi
Saturday 14/02 at 11 am: Prompona Park & Plyta Square
Sunday 15/02 at 11 am: Zappeio (“Carnival of the World”) & Athanasios Diakos Square (Thymarakia)
Friday 20/02 at 10 am: Oriou Park, Ano Kypseli
Saturday 21/02 at 11 am: Nathanael Park (opposite Agios Eleftherios Church)
Sunday 22/02 at 11 am: Dimitris Beis Mayor’s Park, Neos Kosmos

For your own convenience, we suggest checking directly with the event organiser or host venue for confirmation or with Culture is Athens.