Lust – Passion – Joy of Life
Revitalizing an 350 years old Tradition
In 2027, the Elbe Venetian Carnival will celebrate not only its sixth edition, but also mark the revival and reinterpretation of Dresdenβs Italian carnival tradition, exactly 350 years after its origins. Join us and be part of this remarkable celebration.
The focus of the program is a stroll in Venetian masks and robes through Dresdenβs old town with dance performances on Saturday, February 6th.
βΆ The detailed program with all booking and reservation links can be downloaded here as PDF Document (in German).
Program preview:
6th Elbvenezianischer Carneval 2027
- Fri, 5 Feb | 5 pm β The von BΓΌnau Family
Stories from the von BΓΌnau familyβs history over a glass of sparkling wine at the Hilton. - Fri, 5 Feb | 6β10 pm β Venetian-Italian Evening
Carnival opening with buffet and included drinks at the Hilton. - Sat, 6 Feb | from 11:00 am β Venetian Promenade
Masks, historic costumes and dancing through Dresdenβs Old Town. - Sat, 6 Feb | 1 pm β Lunch & Coffee
Informal lunch break near the Frauenkirche. - Sat, 6 Feb | 5 pm β Lecture & Reading in the Museum of Dresden Romanticism
Christoph MΓΌnch on Dresdenβs Carnival tradition, with readings from his book Dresdner Lustbarkeiten. - Sat, 6 Feb | 6 pmβmidnight β Ball at the Dresden Royal Palace in the apartments of Electress Anna
Celebrate the 350th anniversary of the first recorded mention of the Carnival traditionβmodeled on Italian and Venetian stylesβat the Saxon Court; attend in period costumes, robes, or festive evening wear, with or without masks.. - Sun, 7 Feb β Casanova Museum
Carnival event at the new Casanova Museum β details to be announced.
Hilton Carnival Special: Accommodation including breakfast; LivingWell Health Club included. Pre- and post-nights available.
To get more impressions, please view our photos and videos on our Social Media Channels.
A brief history of the Elbe Venetian Carnival:
In 1553, Moritz of Saxony, the first Saxon elector at the Dresden court, celebrated a carnival. Also present were the Italian musicians he had hired for his cantorey, the forerunner of today’s Dresden State Orchestra, founded in 1549.
Moritz was also the first elector to travel to Venice. For his successors, the grand tour culminating in the carnival in Venice was one of the most important preparations for government office.
In 1677, the first records show that an “Italian carnival” was celebrated at the Dresden court.
In 1695, Augustus the Strong began his reign with a carnival. His festivals are legendary and have an impact far beyond Saxony, especially the Caroussel Comique in 1722, which merged Venetian, French and German festival culture. His idea was to tranform the Saxon residence into a “Venice on the Elbe” with the river als “Saxon Canale Grande”.
Under his successor, Augustus III. The way of celebrating the carnival is becoming more and more similar to the Italian model, not least because of the support of the Italian operas of his court conductor Johann Adolf Hasse.
Even after the end of the Augustan era, echoes of the Italian carnival tradition can be found. In 2022, this will be revived for the first time by Bernd Hoffmann as a link between the Dresden Baroque societies and other actors.