Kotor Summer Carnival
Masked parades, concerts and balls take over Kotor's Old Town on the first weekend of August.
This event has ended
It returns every year — dates for the next edition haven't been announced yet.
August in Kotor is the year at full volume: café terraces busy past midnight, the fortifications floodlit against the dark mountainside, the bay glittering with anchored boats. The summer carnival leans into that energy rather than fighting it — masks and brass moving through lanes already crowded with summer life, confetti settling on marble polished by centuries of footsteps.
The centrepiece is the grand evening parade: international masked groups winding through the gates and lanes of the walled town, met by crowds that pack the squares and café terraces. Concerts follow on the main square — the 2025 edition brought Tap 011, Toć and Polkafoliki — and the party continues with masked balls and street performers scattered around town.
By day the carnival belongs to the youngest, with a dedicated children's programme that turns the squares into a daytime stage, so families can enjoy it as much as the night crowd. The mix of costumes, brass, confetti and Venetian stone gives Kotor a theatrical energy unlike any other August weekend on the coast.
Carnival runs deep in the Boka calendar — masked processions are one of the oldest customs of this coast, and the summer edition extends the tradition to visitors who would never otherwise see it. The costumes and the satire change from year to year; the instinct to take over the streets in disguise does not.
Everything is free and open. August is peak season in the Bay of Kotor, so arrive early on parade evening to find a spot along the route, and expect the Old Town squares to stay lively well past midnight. If crowds are not your thing, the warm-up days offer the same costumed spirit at a gentler pace.
What to expect
Grand evening parade
International masked groups parade through the marble lanes and squares of Kotor's UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Concerts on the main square
Free open-air concerts follow the parade — Tap 011, Toć and Polkafoliki headlined in 2025.
Children's programme
A daytime carnival for the youngest makes the weekend family-friendly.
Masked balls and street performers
Beyond the parade, the whole town turns into a stage for balls and performances.
Peak-season energy
The first weekend of August is Kotor at full volume — arrive early on parade evening to claim a spot along the route.
Free and open to all
No tickets anywhere: parade, concerts and street programme are all free in the Old Town.
What happens when
August 1 – 2, 2026
- Days before the main weekendOpening programme with street performers and warm-up events in the Old Town
- Saturday eveningGrand parade of international masked groups through the Old Town, followed by concerts on the main square
- DaytimeChildren's carnival programme in the squares
- NightsMasked balls and free concerts by regional bands on the main square
Where it takes place
Where to Eat in Kotor
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Plan your stay
Kotor — where to stay and how to get around
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More events
What else is on in Montenegro around the same time.
Kotor Carnival
Traditional winter carnival in Kotor Old Town, with masked balls, parades and the burning of the carnival — the exact date of the 2027 edition will be announced later.
Budva International Carnival
Five free days of Abrum processions, a grand Old Town parade and a children's carnival in Budva.
International Children's Carnival
An international children's masked parade takes over Herceg Novi each early June.
