Aalst Carnival

What Aalst Carnival is

Aalst Carnival is the carnival held each year in the town of Aalst in East Flanders, Belgium. It takes place in the days before Lent, the period of fasting in the Christian calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday.

The best-known part of the festival is its parade of satirical floats. The floats take aim at politicians, celebrities and current affairs, and they move through the town centre on Carnival Sunday. Many of the jokes depend on knowing local and national politics, so the parade is easier to follow if you read a short summary of the year's targets before you go.

The parade has also drawn international criticism. In 2019 some floats used antisemitic imagery, and the controversy is still part of how the event is discussed. Read up on it before you go so you know the background.

When and how long

The festival is held in Feb 7 – 9, 2027. The main parade falls on Carnival Sunday, which is the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday. Because that Sunday is tied to Easter, the date moves from year to year, so always check the dates for the edition you plan to attend.

Plan at least half a day if you want to see the parade and walk the route before it starts. Visitors who stay for the wider festivities should allow more time, since the celebrations continue in the days around the main parade.

Check the organizer's official pages for the full programme of each edition once it has been published.

Where and getting around

Aalst Carnival takes place in the centre of Aalst, a town in East Flanders about 25 km from Brussels. The parade route runs through the town centre, and the crowds are heaviest along the main stretches.

Regional trains run from Brussels to Aalst station. From the station you walk into the centre, where most of the event happens on foot. Trains can be busy on parade day, so allow extra time for the journey home.

On parade day the streets fill early. Arrive well before the parade starts if you want a spot with a clear view, and keep a route in mind for leaving once it ends.

Tickets and costs

This guide does not list ticket prices, grandstand prices or opening hours for the next edition. The information it is built on does not include those values, so check the organizer's official pages for the current details.

Most visitors watch the parade from the streets along the route. Budget for the train fare from Brussels, along with food and drink in town.

Prices from earlier editions are not a reliable guide to the next one, so use them only as a rough sense of what the day costs.

Where to stay

Aalst has hotels and guest houses, and some visitors choose to stay there so they can walk to the parade. Book early for carnival weekend, since rooms in the town are in demand.

Many visitors use Brussels as a base instead. Brussels has more beds, more restaurants and frequent trains, and the journey to Aalst is short. A day trip from Brussels is the most practical option for most people.

Tips for a first visit

Wear shoes you can stand in for hours, and carry a bag light enough to hold through crowds. Carry a small amount of cash in case a food or drink stall does not take cards.

Arrive early for the parade, and pick a spot away from the busiest corners if you want space. Keep an eye on the time for your return train, since services can be crowded after the parade ends.

Expect some floats to be hard to follow without local knowledge. The satire is aimed at Belgian and Flemish politics, and visitors who do not know the figures may still enjoy the costumes and the atmosphere.

What else is nearby

Brussels is the nearest large city and the easiest base for a trip to Aalst. Its museums, squares and restaurants make a good addition to a day that includes the parade, though the trip out to Aalst takes time on a busy weekend.

Ghent, also in Flanders, is a short train ride from Aalst and is worth a day of its own. Plan it for another day rather than squeezing it into the carnival visit.