The Toulouse Carnival will be back again in spring 2025. Organized by the Comité d’Organisation du Carnaval Unifié (COCU), the event promises to be as festive as ever! Entertainment, festivities and a parade await you on Saturday, April 19, 2025. It’s a day dedicated to festivities, but motorists will need to take a few precautions. Parking and traffic will be disrupted on the day of the parade. Toulouse Secret tells you all about it.
The Toulouse Carnival route
On Saturday, April 19, 2025, the grand Toulouse Carnival Parade will take to the streets of the Pink City. You’re invited to the Place Arnaud Bernard to admire the floats and marchers of the Toulouse Carnival 2025 from 6.30pm. As tradition dictates, at 7.30pm, the Mayor – Jean-Luc Moudenc – will hand over the keys to the city to the President of the COCU. This symbolic act will kick off the parade, which will pass by Jeanne d’Arc and Jean Jaurès. The grand finale of the Toulouse Carnival will take place on the Ramblas Jean-Jaurès, with concerts and dancing until 11:45pm.
The route of the Grand Défilé is as follows: Rond-point Arnaud Bernard > Boulevard d’Arcole >Boulevard de Strasbourg > Ramblas des allées Jean-Jaurès.
For a smooth organization, traffic will be somewhat modified. Parking will be prohibited from Friday, April 18 at 8pm to Saturday, April 19 at midnight in the streets along the route. Traffic will also be prohibited on Saturday April 19 from 12 noon to midnight on the same streets.
On the transport front, Compans-Caffarelli, Jeanne d’Arc and Jean Jaurès metro stations will be temporarily closed from 5pm to midnight. Some VélôToulouse stations and parking lots will also be unavailable.
This year’ s carnival theme is pink! So don your brightest outfits and costumes for a tidal wave of pink in Toulouse.
The party continues after the parade with the soapbox race in May.
You don’t want the party to end on April 19 after the cuckold parade? To prolong the festivities, the COCU has decided to offer Toulouse residents the chance to take part in the ” lâcher des caisses “, the soapbox-racing event we all love to attend. See you on May 25, 2025. More information on the Carnaval website. Mark your calendars!