Le Carnaval

Various venues

Feb 01 2026 to Feb 07 2026

Region : Northern ON     City: North Bay and surrounding towns

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•  Add to Calendar 2026-02-01 2026-02-07 America/Toronto Le Carnaval North Bay’s annual week-long winter carnival, ‘le Carnaval des Compagnons’, celebrates the rich French-Canadian heritage in North Bay and the surrounding towns and villages, becoming the ‘raison d’etre’ of winter in February for lovers of Franco-Ontarian language and culture.What is Le Carnaval des Compagnons?Maybe you have heard of ‘le Carnaval de Quebec’ – the famous, oldest and largest French-Canadian cultural festival gracing Quebec City each winter? Well, Ontario, with the second largest French-speaking community in Canada of over 600,000 Franco-Ontarians has a long and celebrated history – many Franco-Ontarians are descendants of early voyageurs and ‘coureurs de bois’ who first set foot in Canada over 400 years ago.Since 1963, North Bay has been the site of Le Carnaval des Compagnons hosted by les Compagnons des Francs Loisirs, . Le Carnaval de North Bay (in the spirit of that other le carnaval),  is the 2nd oldest and largest Franco-Ontarian winter festival in Canada, and is a celebration of North Bay’s history and the proud and very much alive French Canadian language and culture in Northern Ontario. What Happens at le Carnaval?Live Music, Art, Theater, Comedy, Fireworks, Food and More!Franco-Ontarians are innovative and talented and create uniquely engaging francophone theater, art, music and signature foods, like numerous types of tasty poutines.Le Carnaval Feb 1-7, 2026Le Carnaval events take place all over North Bay and surrounding towns at various venues.Stay tuned for this year’s event schedule, here’s a peek at last year’s lineup in 2025. the Opening Ceremony includes hot chocolate, pictures with Bonhomme, the carnival mascot, skating, fireworks and more,an Arts Evening at the WKP Kennedy Gallery highlights local artists, with live music,a comedy show at the Grande Event Centre,an 80’s Dance Party at the Davedi Club,French-Canadian singer songwriter, France D’Amour, plays at the Capitol Centre, a ‘Boreal Day’ spent outdoors with skating, horses, ringuette, axe throwing, snow sculptures and the iconic maple syrup ‘taffy on snow’ treat,and the much anticipated revealing of ‘Who is Bonhomme?’ – what local celebrity was secretly chosen to be Bonhomme this year?  various venues