Carnival Events in Belgium – All You Need To Know
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Carnival in Belgium is a family-friendly event that is celebrated in many cities throughout the country. It is a great opportunity to enjoy fun and exciting activities with kids yearly.
From parades and costume parties to live music and traditional food, there is something for everyone in this vibrant and colorful carnival. Read on for kids-friendly carnival events, where to buy costumes (and some cute ones), and tips for enjoying carnival with kids in Belgium!
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Carnival in Belgium
The best thing to do with kids is to attend one of the many carnival parades that take place around the country. These parades are filled with colorful costumes, lively music, and even more cheerful people.
In Brussels, the biggest parades are in Marolles, Saint-Gilles, and other locations. Other cities hosting parades include Binche, Malmedy, and Aalst.
Where To Rent Costumes in Belgium
You might be able to rent costumes at your local toy library. You will find a list of toy libraries in our guide.
Read also: Toy Libraries in Belgium
Where To Buy Costumes
You can find costumes online in shops like Amazon (we have made a list with our picks below) and big clothes stores such as H&M and Primark. Several brick and mortar shops for costumes and toy shops sell costumes for kids. We have gathered a list of places where you can buy costumes in Belgium.
Read also: Where To Buy Costumes in Belgium
Our Costume Picks
Here are a few options, if you are looking to order online:
- This princess / unicorn costume is so cute and the sizes go from 100cm to 150cm.
- For little pirates between 3 and 6 years old.
- For Star Wars fans, this Darth Vader costume and this storm trooper are available between 3 and 14 years old.
- This tiger costume is perfect for toddlers (and there are lots of other animals too!)
Carnival Events
Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
🎭 Confetti party for kids at an indoor amusement park
🤸 For all ages
📅 11.02-30.03.2026
📍 Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
🌐 More info here
Read also: Plopsa Indoor Hasselt
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
🎭 Children’s Carnival in a new format: a real roller disco with roller skates.
🤸 For Children 6-9 yrs. Youth 15-18 yrs.
📅 14.02.2026, 14:00-16:00
📍 1200 Rue Saint-Lambert, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
🌐 More info here
Patouille & Gribouille
🎭 A creative and artistic workshop on the theme of superheroes!
🤸 For kids 5-12 years old
📅 08.03.2026
📍 Center Le Chermin
🌐 More info here
Chanter avec son bebe special carnaval
🎭 A musical workshop for families with a carnival theme!
🤸 For babies-5 years old
📅 28.02.2026
📍 Center Le Chermin
🌐 More info here
Grande Soirée du Carnaval de Villers-la-Ville 2026 édition Cupidon Night
🎭 Come and toast to love! (or just party with us)
🤸 Better come as a couple, that’s what you need to be
📅 14.02.2026, 8:30 PM
📍 Chapiteau Chauffé, Rue de Marbais 1495, Villers-la-Ville
🌐 More info here
Grand Carnaval at Villers-la-Ville
🎭 Carnival run, a children’s costume parade, a magic show, and an evening carnival party.
🤸 For all ages
📅 13-15.02.2026, 8:30 PM
📍 Villers-la-Ville
🌐 More info here
Carnival of Binche
🎭 Meet the Gilles, male locals dressed up
🤸 For all ages
📅 15-17.02.2026
📍 Binche
🌐 More info here
Rhenish carnival
🎭 Decorated floats, groups of people on foot and musicians parade through the villages before they join up and celebrate.
🤸 For all ages
📅 15.02.2026, 2:00 to 00:00
📍 East Belgium
🌐 More info here
Malmedy
🎭 Carnival parade and events
🤸 For all ages
📅 14-17.03.2026
📍 Malmedy
🌐 More info here
Walloon carnival “Cwarmê”
🎭 The Malmedy carnival differs from all the others because of its ancient customs. The procession on Sunday is the climax. Over 1,500 people disguised in 15 traditional Cwarmê costumes parade through the streets, and each of them has a special role to play.
🤸 For all ages
📅 14-17.02.2026, 2:00 to 00:00
📍 Malmedy
🌐 More info here
Laetare Stavelot
🎭 A tradition that started in 1502 and is still going on strong with a procession and fireworks
🤸 For all ages
📅 29-31.03.2026
📍 Stavelot
🌐 More info here
Halle
🎭 A procession, carnival fair, fireworks. Also, Carnival Fair on Stationsplein, Leideplein, along the Leide, Parking ‘De Bres’ and Possozplein.
🤸 For all ages
📅 14-16.03.2026
📍 Halle
🌐 More info here
Blankenberge
🎭 Children’s carnival procession, the tour of the Vuûle Jeanetten, the carnival dive and more. The highlight is the carnival procession. For kids Pekker Kinderbal on 16.02.2026, 3-4pm – more info here.
🤸 For all ages
📅 14-21.02.2026
📍 Blankenberge
🌐 More info here
Koksijde (not yet updated)
🎭 Carnival procession and events.
🤸 For all ages
📅 No updates yet.
📍 Koksijde
🌐 More info here
Aalst
Good to know
Although this is one of the biggest carnivals in Belgium, there have been controversies surrounding it in 2019 and 2020. Aalst was accused of antisemitism and in response it asked to have its UNESCO heritage status removed.
🎭 Carnival procession, winter fun fair (Starting 06-22.02.2026, more info here)
🤸 For all ages
📅 15.02.2026 Sunday parade
📍 Aalst
🌐 More info here
Marolles
🎭 Carnival ‘Venice in the Marolles’
🤸 For all ages
📅 21.02.2026, 2:30pm
📍 Square Bruegel
🌐 More info here
Leuven
🎭 Carnival Fair
🤸 For all ages
📅 28.02.2026 to 11.03.2026
📍 Leuven
🌐 More info here – thanks to Ankia for sharing
🎭 Come watch the colorful parade of floats. The parade ends with a free party in the Rijschool hall.
🤸 For all ages
📅 27-28.02.2026
📍 Leuven
🌐 More info here
Château d’Hélécine
🎭 Venetian parade at Château d’Hélécine, a great provincial domain with playgrounds, farm animals, jumping castles, and more! It makes for a nice plan for any sunny day. This is a great carnival event to attend with kids in Belgium!
🤸 For all ages
📅 22.02.2026
📍 Château d’Hélécine
🌐 More info here, prior registration is required here
Read also:
Carnaval du Nord
🎭 Parade, crepes, puppet show, large bonfire, and a carnival ball.
🤸 For all ages
📅 21.02.2026
📍 Place Vivegnis
🌐 More info here
Toy Library Etterbeek
🎭 all sorts of games, both from the library and those brought by participants, kids and adults
🤸 For all ages
📅 06.03.2026
📍 Avenue du Préau 24, 1040 Brussels, Belgium- you will find a list of toy libraries here
🌐 More info here
“De Glitterfee” at Kinderboerderij De Bollekeshoef
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🎭 Making a stuffed animal, crafting, playing, eating, and interacting with farm animals.
🤸 For children 6-12 years old
📅 18.02.2026, 2-5 pm
📍 Groenstraat 38, Heist o/d Berg, Belgium
🌐 More info here
Carnival Party at Kinderboerderij De Bollekeshoef
🎭 Meeting Clown Stoffel, making a stuffed animal, crafting, playing, eating, and interacting with farm animals.
🤸 For children 6-12 years old
📅 16 & 18.02.2026
📍 Groenstraat 38, 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg
🌐 More info here
Grand Carnaval d’Uccle (not yet updated)
🎭 Kids carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 18.02.2024
📍 299 Rue Vanderkindere, Uccle
🌐 More info here
Nivelles
🎭 Nivelles Carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 22-24.02.2026
📍 Nivelles
🌐 More info here
Planet Kids
🎭 Planet Kids is an indoor playground with an outdoor area with pedal cars and a room with jumping castles. It’s great for a sunny day.
🤸 For all ages
📅 06.02.2026, 4-9 pm
📍 Planet Kids
🌐 More info here
🎭 Features include indoor/outdoor play areas, restaurants, and birthday party services.
🤸 For all ages
📅 16.02-01.03.2026, 10:00 am – 06:00 pm
📍 Planet Kids
🌐 More info here
Read also: Indoor Playgrounds in Brussels here
Saint-Gilles
🎭 Carnival at St Gills
🤸 For all ages
📅 28.02.2026
📍 Place Morichar, departure at 2:30 pm
🌐 More info here
Oostende
🎭 Carnival in Oostende
🤸 For all ages
📅 06-08.03.2026
📍 Oostende
🌐 More info here
Wezembeek-Oppem
🎭 A week of games, laughter and a real holiday, where every day will be filled with adventures and a carnival mood!
🤸 For kids up to 3 years old
📅 16-20.02.2026
📍 Avenue d’Oppem 149, 1970 Wezembeek-Oppem
🌐 More info here
Pairi Daiza (not yet updated)
🎭 Venetian Dome, dancing for kids and carnival atmosphere at one of the biggest zoos in Europe, Pairi Daiza.
🤸 For all ages
📅
📍 Pairi Daiza
🌐 More info here
Read also: Pairi Daiza
Watermael-Boitsfort
🎭 The Coin du Balais Carnival
🤸 For all ages
📅 21.03.2026
📍 Bezemhoek
🌐 More info here
Germany
Cologne
🎭 One of the best carnivals in Europe and very close to Brussels.
🤸 For all ages
📅 12-18.02.2026
📍 Cologne
🌐 More info here
Dusseldorf
🎭 Don’t miss the Carnival in Dusseldorf: Children’s and Youth Procession on Saturday, Kö-Treiben on Carnival Saturday and the Rose Monday Parade.
🤸 For all ages
📅 12-16.02.2025
📍 Dusseldorf
🌐 More info here
Read also: Dusseldorf With Kids
Aachen
🎭 The Rose Monday procession is the highlight of the carnival of Aachen.
🤸 For all ages
📅 16.02.2026
📍 Aachen
🌐 More info here
Read also: Aachen with kids
Limburg
Details on all carnival parades in Limburg can be found here – thanks to Tanja for sharing
Floralia
🎭 Floralia usually has a Venetian parade – which is a gorgeous spectacle by the castle and among the tulips. This year the date is not announced yet, but you can take a look at our post on Floralia from previous years
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Groot Bijgaarden
🌐 More info here
Brussels Museum
🎭 Brussels Museums is the non-profit association that brings together more than 125 museums in Brussels.
🤸 For all ages
📅 12-15.02.2026
📍 Brussels Museum
🌐 More info here
Read also: Children’s Museum
Grottes de Han (not yet updated)
🎭 Grottes de Han is a huge domain with caves, wildlife park, playground, play structures along the path in the forest; New Adventure: Tree Experience, a sensational treetop adventure!
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Grottes de Han
🌐 More info here
Prehistomuseum (not yet updated)
🎭 Prehistomuseum is an interactive, kid-friendly museum where kids can hunt a mammoth or light a fire!
🤸 For all ages
📅
📍 Prehistomuseum
🌐 More info here
Technopolis
🎭 Technopolis is an interactive and fun science center for kids with cool shows and demonstrations. This is easily one of the best indoor activities for kids. They offer workshops during the carnival school holidays for kids 8+ years old.
🤸 For kids 8+ years old
📅 During school holidays
📍 Technopolis
🌐 More info here
House of European History
🎭 Choose a guided tour in the museum, discuss democracy, uncover hidden histories or take a Lunch Tour to learn about a weekly theme. Enjoy our free offer and immerse yourself in European History.
🤸 For all ages
📅 7 days a week | Free entrance
📍 House of European History – read our post here with details on the place
🌐 More info here – thanks to Catriona for sharing
Ferme et Compagnie
🎭 Ferme et Compagnie is a nonprofit working with handicapped people and they usually organize a Carnival-themed event for kids in Belgium every year
🤸 For all ages
📅 Dates not yet announced
📍 Ferme et Compagnie
🌐 More info here
Fiesta Latina
🎭 Fiesta Latina – for adults
🤸 For all ages
📅
📍 Tour et Taxis
🌐 More info here
Woluwe St Pierre
🎭 Lots of animations for kids, jugglers, face painting, and balloons.
🤸 For all ages
📅 07.02.2026
📍 Shetlanddreef 15, 1150 Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, België
🌐 More info here
Carnival Break With Kids in Belgium: What To Do?
Looking for more things to do during Carnival break?
Read also: Carnival break with kids in Belgium
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