Event

Carnival 2021

The lively carnival season around Shrove Tuesday brings celebration, but it's not a statutory public holiday. Plan your local events and childcare early to enjoy the festivities.

Answer

When is it?

Carnival 2021 includes these dates: Shrove Monday: Monday, 15 February 2021; Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday, 16 February 2021; Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 17 February 2021. Not a nationwide Austrian public holiday. Local events, schools or employers may still have their own arrangements.

Status
Past

Carnival is already over for this year.

Exact dates

Carnival 2021

All events
15 Feb
Shrove Monday Custom

Important event day, but not a public holiday.

Monday, 15 February 2021
16 Feb
Shrove Tuesday Not a public holiday

The most searched carnival date; check local arrangements.

Tuesday, 16 February 2021
17 Feb
Ash Wednesday Lent

Start of Lent and an important church-calendar marker.

Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Data basis

Recurring date rule, legal status separated

The dates on this page follow recurring calendar rules. Public-holiday status is not inferred from the event name; it is kept separate and checked against the statutory holiday list.

RIS Working Rest Act § 7 BMB school dates
Planning impact

Shrove Monday, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday fall immediately before or at the start of Lent.

For childcare, parades, local closures and evening plans, the municipality or school matters more than the national holiday list.

School

Check local dates

School events and autonomous school-free days can differ strongly by region.

Work

No automatic leave

Shrove Tuesday does not replace annual leave and is not a nationwide day off.

Traffic

Plan around parades

Town centres can be busier because of parades, closures or events.

Planning

Compare with weeks and breaks

The period often sits close to semester break and matters for family logistics.

Related planning

Open the right calendar view

These dates provide context. Use the focused tools when you need leave days, week numbers, school breaks or exportable calendar data.

FAQ

Common questions about carnival

Short answers about date, status and planning impact.

Is Shrove Tuesday a public holiday?

No. Shrove Tuesday is not a general public holiday in Austria.

Are schools closed on Shrove Tuesday?

Not automatically. Schools may have events or autonomous days, but the individual school is decisive.

Why do Shrove Monday and Ash Wednesday matter?

They frame carnival week and help compare events, childcare and local arrangements.