Being born and raised in Aalst (Belgium), I have to promote its ´world-famous’ carnival. Although not as famous as the carnivals in Rio or Venice, it still attracts around 90,000 people to the parade on Sunday each year. If you are in Belgium around that time, you must come and celebrate the carnival in Aalst. It is a special and fantastic experience.

Carnival is a Christian festival celebrated in the last 3 days before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, the festival starts on Sunday and ends on Shrove Tuesday. At midnight, Lent begins for 40 days until Easter. So, carnival is the last chance to eat and drink what you want before Lent begins. Because the celebration of Easter occurs on a different date each year (depending on the first full moon in Spring), the celebration of Carnival also occurs on different dates each year. In 2026, the Aalst carnival starts on Sunday, February 15th.

There is also a special carnival package that includes an overnight stay from Saturday to Sunday in a hotel located in or near the city center. On Sunday, you will visit the formation of the procession with a guide, after which you can enjoy a delicious lunch before taking a seat on the VIP tribune on the Grand Market. Upon arrival at your hotel, you will also meet Prince Carnival and receive a surprise package. More info can be found here.

It is also possible to book your hotel for those days. A hotel outside the center is recommended.

It is a street carnival where, on Sunday, around 70 local carnival groups participate in a parade where they address local, national, and international topics.

 

The Sunday parade

On Sunday, the parade starts at 1 pm and lasts for about 5 hours. The groups make the floats themselves, with a cartoon style typical of Aalst. Furthermore, almost all of the pieces of the floats, like the heads, are carved in 1 piece out of Styrofoam. Smaller ‘loose groups’ can also participate while addressing more recent themes with more satire. Of course, all the texts are in the local dialect.

 

The costumes and makeup are always on point every year.

 

Children grow up with the carnival and often also participate in the parade.

 

Aalst carnival is a street carnival

When the last float has left the Great Market, the city center is the place to be for 3 days of celebrating, drinking, and eating. Aalst is a street carnival, so at the Grand Market, there are old firetrucks with speakers that play (carnival) music all night. Of course, you can enjoy the celebrations in one of the many pubs. But forget to find a nice place to sit quietly during those 3 days :).

Photo by Andrea Kirkby

Photo by bram_souffreau

Typical folklore during Aalst carnival

On Monday, the Gilles of Aalst come out to control the winter spirits with their typical Broom Dance while throwing oranges. Their hats are made with ostrich feathers.

On Tuesday, the ‘Voil-Jeanetten’ or Dirty Sissies parade through the streets of the city center. Men are dressed up as women with fake breasts, a fur coat, a stroller, a broken umbrella, and a herring in a birdcage. The tradition of this lies in the history of Aalst. Since the lower class didn’t have the money to buy or make a carnival costume, they took their wives ‘ old clothes.

Photo by Andrea Kirkby

In the evening, the burning of the puppet marks the end of the carnival. However, this doesn’t mean that the party stops.

 

Accessibility

The best way to come to the carnival in Aalst is by train. The train station is located in the middle of the festivities. On the website of the Belgian rail facilities, you can buy your ticket from all over Europe.

More pictures of Aalst carnival

Here are some pictures from the previous years. But it is highly recommended to see it all in person.

Did you go to the carnival in Aalst yet?

 

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