Carnival 2027: Venice or Rio? Dates, Planning and Staying Connected

Carnival is the last party before Lent, and two cities do it better than anywhere: Venice, with its masks and masked balls, and Rio de Janeiro, with the biggest street party on earth.

In 2027 both build towards Carnival Tuesday, 9 February. Here is how they compare.

Venice: masks, canals and costume balls

Venice's Carnival runs for around two weeks, from late January to 9 February. Sources disagree on the exact opening day, so check the official Carnevale di Venezia programme before you book.

• What it's like: elegant and theatrical. Costumed figures pose in Piazza San Marco, there are boat parades on the Grand Canal, and the private masked balls in palazzi are the highlight, booked months ahead.
• Getting around: on foot and by vaporetto (water bus). Venice's alleys are a maze, so offline maps help, and so does a phone that works.
• Book early: hotels in Venice fill up for Carnival weekends.
• Your HOAM eSIM connects to Vodafone and Iliad in Italy. Italy eSIM

Rio de Janeiro: samba, blocos and the Sambadrome

Rio's Carnival is enormous.

• The Sambadrome parades: the top samba schools compete in the Special Group parades on the Carnival nights, 7–9 February 2027, with the Champions' Parade on 13 February. Tickets range from grandstands to boxes; book well in advance.
• The blocos: free street parties all over the city, starting weeks before Carnival. Each has its own route, time and music.
• It's summer: hot and humid, with long days.
• Your HOAM eSIM connects to TIM in Brazil. Brazil eSIM

Your phone in a Carnival crowd

Both cities pack huge crowds into small spaces. Two things to plan for:

The network slows down. When a bloco gathers tens of thousands of people, or San Marco is shoulder to shoulder, the local cell towers are overloaded. Agree meeting points with your group, and upload your videos later.

Keep your phone safe, especially in Rio. Phone theft is common in crowded street parties.

• Carry it in a front or zipped pocket, or a pouch under your clothes.
• Leave expensive extras at the hotel, and take only what you need.
• Write key phone numbers and your hotel address on paper.

Going further

• From Rio, many travellers continue to Buenos Aires or Iguazú Falls: Brazil + Argentina.
• From Venice, an Italy plan covers the rest of the country. Add more countries if you're continuing, such as Italy + Spain.

A multi-country plan costs the same as the most expensive country in it.

Before you fly

Install your HOAM eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. Your plan starts on first use abroad, not on installation. When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line.

Related reading: A romantic couples' holiday in Italy and Spain · Mexico, Colombia and Brazil: staying connected