Bordeaux's giant carnival
The must-see carnival parade
Inaugurated in 1996, the Carnaval des 2 Rives is one of Bordeaux's not-to-be-missed events, a giant parade in the image of the world's great parades.
Every year, more than 20,000 festival-goers join in the parade around the floats and in their fancy dress. A village will be set up on Place Pey Berland for the occasion, with concerts and entertainment for all ages.
New theme: Afro K
The artistic directors are Ophélia and Mélissa Hié from Bordeaux. The two musician sisters will be setting the pace, and it's going to be pulsating! They've chosen to honour the Kanaga mask, with a view to paying tribute to the beauty and richness of West African cultures. A symbol of the Dogon people in Mali, it illustrates the duality that links Earth and Heaven, and by extrapolation, the visible and the invisible, tradition and modernity, past and present. These dualities are explored in all forms of expression, from fashion and the visual arts to music and dance, with a particular focus on the ethical and ecological dimensions of their production.
Surrounded by a host of partners, associations and artists, the carnival will be taking place in social centres, community centres, the Musée d'Aquitaine and many other venues across the city before the parade. Workshops, performances, conferences and more will be on offer to get in tune with the creative spirit sweeping across Africa, which will take shape with Afro K on the big day!
Practical info
The next Carnaval des 2 Rives will take place on Sunday 3 March 2024!
- Departure point: Allée Serr, 33100 Bordeaux
- Times: 2pm > 6pm
The route
The procession will follow the Pont de Pierre and Cours Victor Hugo to arrive at Place Pey Berland in the late afternoon for the grand finale.