Christian Estrosi presented the King and Queen of the Nice Carnival, which will take place from February 17 to March 3, 2024.
This year, the Nice Carnival highlights the theme of “pop culture”. A theme chosen for its etymology “popular” to erase the conventional aspect of the stands and make way for a popular spirit. A theme that intends to manifest throughout the city of Nice.
Nice hosts the third most well-known carnival in the world. It generates 30 million in economic benefits. Many partners support the Nice Carnival. For example, the “Tour Float” is dedicated to LCL, symbolizing the arrival of the Tour de France in Nice in 2024.
The illumination of Place Masséna will take place in the evening of February 17, 2024. It will be accompanied by 14 floats and 5 flower battles. This year, YouTuber Cyprien has designed a float for the Nice Carnival. “A spirit also conveyed for the younger generation,” notes Christian Estrosi.
The Carnival Schedule
The Nice Carnival is an event that connects tradition and modernity. Here are the highlights we will find in the official Carnival program:
- The Nice Opera hosts the Veglione Ball on February 16.
- The Queernaval night, the first LGBTQIA+ carnival in France, at Place Masséna on February 23.
- From February 21 to March 2, Flower Battles.
- Saturday, March 2, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., a grand popular festival.
- Closing festivities, carnival swim at the opera beach.
- Musée Masséna opens its doors for an exhibition on The Pop Expo from February 17 to March 31.
As every year, the king and queen are elected. This year, to respect the theme of “Pop Culture,” Luke Skywalker and Marilyn Monroe will be the King and Queen of the Nice Carnival 2024. The event will feature many iconic pop culture references like Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, Mario Kart, Pokémon, and others.
Some New Features This Year for the 139th Edition
- A musical ambiance with DJ sets that will animate Place Masséna and the Promenade des Anglais.
- Increase in visitor capacity by 4,000 seats with the addition of an extra stand, bringing the total capacity to 22,000 seats this year. “Will increase the spectator capacity with 22,000 seats compared to 18,000,” says Christian Estrosi with delight.
- Experimentation with audio description broadcast through headphones for the visually impaired.
- Thursday, February 15, “first major popular festival.”
- First carnival race of café waiters, offering the chance to win a café waiter statuette.
- K-pop night on March 1, come discover Korean culture.
- During the carnival period on trams, you will hear the voices of Homer and Marge, with Véronique Augereau and Philippe Peythieu from the animated series The Simpsons.
