22 – 24 February 2021

Basel Carnival is part of the city’s identity   culturally speaking, it is at the heart of its creative energies and represents three days when the city goes wild. 

Owing to its uniqueness and quality, it has been added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. In 2021, the Carnival in Basel (Fasnacht) will not take place as usual and will be a little different from the major event that we know and love. More information

Basel is turned upside-down during what locals call the “three best days” in the year. Everything starts on the Monday after Ash Wednesday at exactly 4 am – in total darkness. The popular “Morgestraich” then turns the city centre into a sea of illuminated, hand-painted lanterns, where thousands of costumed pipers and drummers accompany “their lantern” and “their theme” with music through the streets – until the “Endstraich” on Thursday, again precisely at 4 am. And you absolutely have to experience everything in between. Source

GOOD TO KNOW

Learn interesting facts about the history, the carnival costumes and the different roles. You will find important terms in the carnival dictionary. Source