Nadur Carnival

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Nadur Carnival is a unique experience among the many original and novel manifestations of Carnival. Nadur Carnival is not one organized by any committee and subsequently no rules apply. Sunset invites a multitude of masked and hooded creatures to throng the streets of Nadur - creatures wearing all kinds of funny and grotesque costumes, representing every sort of leg pulling, all ways of life and steaming off all kinds of frustrations.

Nadur is a small locality with a population of 5000, on the island of Gozo - the sister island of Malta - in the middle of the Mediterranean about 50km south of Sicily. It is run by a Local Council with 5 elected members: the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and 3 Councilors with one full time Executive Secretary.

Besides the religious feast of St. Peter & St. Paul, known locally as "L-Imnarja" held on the 29th June and which lasts a whole week, Nadur is also famous for its annual Carnival Celebrations or rather revelry held on the 5 days preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

The spontaneity and creativity of all those taking part and the many off-island visitors who come mainly to be part of the Carnival have earned it other names such as the Spontaneous Carnival or Grotesque Carnival or even Macabre Carnival.

In 2005 the Nadur Carnival was the World Carnival Capital by virtue of hosting the largest ever gathering of international Carnival dignitaries and organizers for the global Carnival City summit organized by the Federation of European Carnival Cities