Podence Carnival
Sat, Feb 14
|Podence
The Podence Carnival 2026, also known as Entrudo Chocalheiro, is one of the most authentic and oldest carnival traditions in Portugal, taking place in the village of Podence (municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros).
Time & Location
Feb 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – Feb 17, 2026, 7:00 PM
Podence, Podence, 5340 Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal
About the event
The Podence Carnival 2026, also known as Entrudo Chocalheiro, is one of the most authentic and oldest carnival traditions in Portugal, taking place in the village of Podence (municipality of Macedo de Cavaleiros), in the Northeast of Trás-os-Montes, between February 14th and 17th, 2026.
This ancestral popular festival, inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, celebrates the transition from winter to spring through collective rituals where culture, symbolism, and community life intersect.
The protagonist of the festival is the Careto, a masked character dressed in a traditional multicolored costume with wool fringes, tin or leather masks, and rattles around the waist, who roams the village streets with performative and joyful behavior.
Entrudo Chocalheiro is distinguished by its symbolic and festive energy:
The Caretos roam the narrow streets, bringing color, sound, and animation to the village.
The masks and the sounds of the rattles evoke ancient rituals linked to…