Carnival of Aalst

The Carnival of Aalst (Dutch: Carnaval Aalst, local dialect: Carnaval Oilsjt) or Aalst Carnival is an annual three-day event in the Belgian city of Aalst. It was formerly recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, a status that was removed in 2019 amid controversy over the use of anti-Semitic stereotypes during the carnival and in its promotional materials. The carnival is celebrated in the days preceding Ash Wednesday. It is mainly a street happening; the celebrants dance on the city squares and visit café after café.

Carnival of Aalst

The Carnival of Aalst (Dutch: Carnaval Aalst, local dialect: Carnaval Oilsjt) or Aalst Carnival is an annual three-day event in the Belgian city of Aalst. It was formerly recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, a status that was removed in 2019 amid controversy over the use of anti-Semitic stereotypes during the carnival and in its promotional materials. The carnival is celebrated in the days preceding Ash Wednesday. It is mainly a street happening; the celebrants dance on the city squares and visit café after café.