Costumes for Venice Carnival
At most Carnival balls a period costume is not a suggestion: it is the condition to get in, and evening dress is not accepted. Here is the dress code of each event listed, the tickets that already include a costume, and the Venice ateliers that make or rent them.
Dress code, event by event
| Event | Date | Dress code | Costume in the ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Party Cruise | 19 nights, 21 Jan – 13 Feb | Masks and costumes are welcome; a full period costume is not required. | — |
| Avanspettacolo Cabaret Gala Dinner and Carnival Show | 5 nights, 23 Jan – 9 Feb | Elegant dress or a Carnival costume. | — |
| Un Ballo in Maschera | Sat 23 Jan | Period costume compulsory; evening wear is not accepted. | Silver and Gold tickets |
| Don Giovanni: The Dissolute Punished | Sat 30 Jan | Carnival costume, or elegant dress with a mask. | Platinum ticket |
| Gabrielli Opera Gala Dinner | Sat 30 Jan & Sat 6 Feb | Carnival costume, or elegant dress with a mask. | Costume ticket |
| Carnival Extravaganza | Sat 30 Jan & Thu 4 Feb | Period costume compulsory; evening wear is not accepted. | Silver and Gold tickets |
| Carnival Official Dinner Show | 8 nights, 30 Jan – 9 Feb | Period costume compulsory; evening dress and black tie are not accepted. | — |
| The Ball of Dreams | Sat 30 Jan | Period costume and mask compulsory in every tier, the Silver included. | Gold and higher |
| Bal Masqué Tiepolo | Sun 31 Jan | Elegant and sumptuous historical dress is mandatory. | Costume rental ticket |
| Minuetto 1800 | Sun 31 Jan & Sun 7 Feb | Period costume compulsory; evening wear is not accepted. | Silver and Gold tickets |
| Minuetto | Fri 5 Feb & Mon 8 Feb | Period costume compulsory; evening wear is not accepted. | Silver and Gold tickets |
| Ballo dalle Rose | Fri 5 Feb | Full historical costume required; evening dress or a tuxedo is not accepted. | Costume ticket |
| Sinfonie Veneziane | Fri 5 Feb | Elegant dress with a mask, or a historical costume. | Cloak and mask only |
| The Prince of Venice | Sat 6 Feb | Carnival costume, or elegant dress with a mask. | Platinum ticket |
| The Legend of Casanova | Sat 6 Feb | Carnival costume, or elegant dress with a mask. | Platinum ticket |
| Carnival in Love Grand Ball | Sat 6 Feb | Historical costume and mask compulsory. | Gold and higher |
| Il Ballo del Doge | Sat 6 Feb | Full period costume, compulsory. | — |
| Ballo Tiepolo | Sat 6 Feb | Period costume compulsory. | Silver and Gold tickets |
| Essence of Carnival | Sun 7 Feb | Full historical costume; evening dress and tuxedos are not accepted. | Costume ticket |
| Minuetto d'Amore | Sat 13 Feb | Period costume compulsory; evening dress is not accepted. | RED ticket |
A ticket with the costume included is often the simplest way to meet the dress code: compare it with a separate rental before you book.
Ateliers in Venice
- Atelier Antonia Sautter (opens in a new tab): bespoke costumes, from the creator of Il Ballo del Doge.
- Nicolao Atelier (opens in a new tab): founded in 1980, makes costumes for opera and cinema.
- Atelier Tiepolo (Venice in Costume) (opens in a new tab): costume rental from the organiser of the Ridotto balls.
- Sogno Veneziano Atelier (opens in a new tab): handcrafted costumes and masks.
- Ca' del Sol (opens in a new tab): traditional masks and period costumes.
- Atelier La Bauta (opens in a new tab): masks and costumes made in Venice.
Do not count on tourist masks from street stalls for a ball where a period costume is compulsory.
An atelier in Venice that is not on this list? Write to info@venicegala.com.
Dress codes come from the organisers' and sellers' pages; the oldest check on this page is from 31 October 2026.