Skopje, 9 January 2026 (MIA) – This year’s Vevchani Carnival, one of the oldest and most vibrant events in the Balkans, will take place on January 12-13 with the main carnival taking place on January 13 in downtown Vechani, organizers announced Friday at a news conference in Skopje ahead of Vevchani Carnival 2026, held annually on St. Basil Day.

Vevchani municipality mayor Spase Kochovski invited all citizens to attend the event saying that the whole town embraces the spirit of tradition and unity during the carnival.

“During the carnival, every house has an open door and you will be welcomed with love. I advise you to put on some olde clothes so you don’t have to worry if you get spilled with red wine. The carnival and the masks do not serve only to critique, they are made, most of all, for entertainment,” Kochovski said.

Vevchani Carnival mixes tradition with modern satire, said the journalist Antonio Dimitrievski at the news conference.

“Vevchani during the event is turned into a large stage and tradition means freedom. There are always different masks except the traditional ones – the groom and the bride and Stupid August as well. Masks are inspired by events from the previous year. The carnival is mostly entertainment, apart from containing criticism of the society,” he stated.

The carnival will also feature music performances by hip-hop, pop and folk artists and bands.

With a tradition of over 1,400 years, Vevchani Carnival is a mix of paganism, Christian tradition and modern satire playing a strong social and cultural role in the community. The carnival symbolises the end and the beginning of a new year as well as a new beginning and renewal.

Photo: MIA