Event Details
Aalst Carnival 2027: Three Days of Street Carnival in Belgium
From 7 to 9 February 2027, the Belgian city of Aalst in East Flanders becomes the stage for one of Europe's oldest and most distinctive carnivals. Tens of thousands of visitors descend on the city each year to experience satirical floats, the iconic Aalsterse Gilles, the famous onion throw and the legendary Voil Jeanetten parade. Aalst Carnival is a three-day street festival centred on the Grote Markt, with virtually the entire city centre open for celebration.
History and Tradition
The roots of the Aalst Carnival stretch back to the Middle Ages. The first cavalcade was held on 9 March 1851; only editions from 1923 onward are counted as official, as that was when the city council took over the organisation. In 2010, UNESCO recognised Aalst Carnival as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Following controversy over satirical depictions in the parade, that recognition was withdrawn in December 2019. The carnival itself has continued uninterrupted and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Since 1953, a Prince Carnival is elected each year to lead the three-day festivities. On the Saturday evening before the carnival begins, the cultural centre De Werf hosts the traditional Carnavalsraadzitting: a satirical mock council session held in the local Oilsjters dialect, during which Prince Carnival receives the symbolic key to the city and local politicians are lampooned with sharp wit.
Program 2027
The 2027 Carnival unfolds over three consecutive days, each with its own atmosphere and unmissable highlights:
Sunday, 7 February 2027: Zondagsstoet (Sunday Parade)
The first and largest day features the Zondagsstoet, the main carnival parade. Starting at 1:00 PM from Statieplein, the procession winds through the entire city centre to the Grote Markt. More than 70 permanent carnival groups and over 200 loose groups take part. The floats are famous for political and social satire: local and international figures are caricatured with elaborate craftsmanship and biting humour. A jury awards points on Sunday; winners are announced on Monday evening.
Monday, 8 February 2027: Maandagsstoet and Broom Dance
The second day opens with the Maandagsstoet at 1:30 PM, also departing from Statieplein. The atmosphere is more relaxed than Sunday, with a freer order of groups. The unmissable highlight comes at 2:00 PM on the Grote Markt: the Aalsterse Gilles perform their traditional Bezemdans (Broom Dance). The Gilles are the most iconic figures of Aalst Carnival, dressed in colourful suits with wax masks, wooden clogs and spectacular ostrich-feather hats. Afterwards, the Ajuinworp (onion throw) takes place: Prince Carnival and committee members throw onion-shaped sweets from the balcony of the city hall. Some contain numbers for prizes; the most coveted is the Golden Onion, uniquely designed each year. Monday evening closes with the official prize-giving ceremony for Sunday's parade.
Tuesday, 9 February 2027: Voil Jeanetten and Effigy Burning
The final day belongs to the Voil Jeanettenstoet, beginning at 3:00 PM on the Grote Markt. In this parade, men dress as women in exaggerated, comedic costumes: fake breasts, fur coats, broken umbrellas, prams and a herring in a birdcage. The tradition dates back to the working-class history of Aalst, when men wore their wives' old clothes because they could not afford proper carnival costumes. The emotional finale is the Popverbranding (effigy burning) at 9:00 PM on the Grote Markt: a giant puppet representing the spirit of carnival is set alight. The crowd whistles and shouts to delay the moment; when the flames take hold, the carnival officially ends amid cheers and emotion.
Tickets and Arrangements
The street events of Aalst Carnival are free and open to all. For a premium experience, Visit Aalst offers an exclusive Carnavalsarrangement: accommodation from Saturday 6 February to Sunday 7 February 2027 in a hotel or B&B near the city centre, combined with a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the parade, a carnival lunch, tribune seating for the Sunday parade, a personal meeting with Prince Carnival, a visit to the historic carnival exhibition at the City Museum and a surprise package. Prices range from €250 to €400 per double room, depending on the hotel chosen.
Visitor Tips
- Travel by train: direct trains from Brussels, Ghent and Bruges run into Aalst Station, which sits in the middle of the festival area. The journey from Brussels takes approximately 30 minutes.
- By air, the closest airports are Brussels Airport (BRU), around 40 minutes away, and Brussels South Charleroi (CRL), around 60 minutes away.
- Book accommodation early: Aalst and the surrounding area fill up fast during the three carnival days. The Visit Aalst Carnavalsarrangement is the most convenient all-in option.
- Wear a costume: it is not required but it is the best way to experience the carnival as a true participant rather than a spectator.
- Aalst Carnival is primarily a street event: the entire city centre is the festival grounds. Families with children are best placed in the early afternoon hours before the evening crowds build.
- First-aid posts (EHBO) are located throughout the festival grounds; look for the signs at the entrances.
