Home

Carnival 2024, 2025 and 2026

Carnival season in Argentina comes each year in February or March, as in many other Roman Catholic countries. The date varies, but it always immediately precedes Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of a 40-day Lenten fast leading up to Easter.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	12 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	13 Feb	Tue	Carnival
2025	3 Mar	Mon	Carnival
	4 Mar	Tue	Carnival
2026	16 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	17 Feb	Tue	Carnival
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

In Argentina, both the Monday and Tuesday just preceding Ash Wednesday are public holidays for Carnival.

Carnival was brought over to Argentina, then the colony of “La Plata”, by Spanish and other settlers from Europe in the 1600’s. The Spanish Carnival traditions later were influenced by African and other traditions, making Argentine Carnival a unique celebration.

The biggest, wildest Carnival events in Argentina occur in Gualeguaychu, where there are parades every weekend from January till March. And throughout the whole northern region of Argentina, Carnival is much celebrated.

In some parts, on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, the relationship between mothers and grandmothers is celebrated as a kind of Carnival tradition. It is called “tincunaco ceremony”. A line of mothers will meet with a line of grandmothers under a willow-branch arch that is decked out with candy, fruits, cheeses, flowers, and lanterns. They will exchange dolls as a part of the ceremony as well.

In Argentina, much feasting and revelry takes place just before the Lenten fast begins. During Lent, all meat and certain other pleasures are abstained from by devout Roman Catholics.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2023	20 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	21 Feb	Tue	Carnival
2022	28 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	1 Mar	Tue	Carnival
2021	15 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	16 Feb	Tue	Carnival
2020	24 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	25 Feb	Tue	Carnival
2019	4 Mar	Mon	Carnival
	5 Mar	Tue	Carnival
2018	12 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	13 Feb	Tue	Carnival
2017	27 Feb	Mon	Carnival
	28 Feb	Tue	Carnival