What is Carnival?
Carnival is a Western holiday derived from Christian festivities. It takes place right before Shrove Tuesday, and it’s supposed to represent indulgence and excess before the restrictions of Lent. In the UK, we call this Pancake Day, the day to use up all of the remaining fats and sugars left in the kitchen cupboards. In the US, this is known as ‘Mardi Gras’, meaning ‘Fat Tuesday’- a time for celebration and over-indulging. You can find carnival celebrations all over the world, expressed in many different ways!
When is Carnival?
This year, Shrove Tuesday is on the 17th of February. This means that Carnival will begin taking place the week before, around the same time as St. Valentine’s Day- perfect for a party!
Carnival Lenses
So, what makes a good pair of Carnival lenses? You’ll want comfortable contacts that will stay in while you party through the day, and colored lenses that will have a big impact but still allow you to see without any impairment. And of course, you’ll want to look fabulous!
Carnival 2026 Colors- Pink and Purple
This year, our top predicted trend for Carnival lenses is pink and purple contacts! After all, with the festivities happening at the same time as St Valentine’s Day, there’s no better time to keep things fun and romantic. From violet and lilac naturals to bold, hot-pink lenses, we’re sure that you’ll find exactly what you need with our colored contact lenses. And if you’re curious about our other party styles, check out our Carnival lenses below.
How Do I Style My Carnival Lenses? Affiliate Inspiration
Not sure how to merge your new cosplay contact lenses with your Carnival look? Don’t panic- here are a few gorgeous looks from our favourite affiliates, perfect for finding some festive inspiration!
Our talented affiliate @gabbycarbon is giving the perfect Carnival look with this pink costume design! The overdrawn lashes and white face paint give the impression of a ceramic doll, and the fun pink outfit is ideal for old European Carnival traditions. Paired with our Pink Sakura Lenses, this look couldn’t be more perfect. The Pink Sakura Contact Lenses are one of our block-colour options, perfectly simple and striking. If you’re looking for safe contact lenses with an impact, these are the lenses for you!
Want something more fantastical? For those who love fantasy face paint, check out this look by @justjaimehansell! This purple fairy makeup is gorgeous and ethereal, perfect for fun and crazy celebrations- we’re obsessed with the lilac contour and rosy blush, and the butterfly add-ons give a wonderful fantasy feel to this look. It makes sense that @justjaimehansell is wearing our Nymph Purple Lenses, straight out of our fantasy range. This range features gorgeous, multi-tonal natural lenses that will take you to another world! Looking for costume contact lenses cheap? The Nymph Purple Contacts are also in our 3 for 2 multibuy sale! Shop now for exclusive deals and amazing savings.
Our last look comes from none other than @callicoquette. We’ve gone over our favourite pink and purple lenses, but what if you want to do something a little different? For those who are looking to make a huge impact, we have the new Cosplay UV range, featuring three new UV styles with a stunning marbled design. Whether you’re simply out and about during the day or partying at the closest blacklight Mardi Gras spot, these lenses are bound to make a statement. In this iconic drag look, @callicoquette pairs the Green UV Cosplay Lenses with leopard makeup, creating a gorgeous contrast that’s ideal for fancy dress parties and costume parades.
Are you feeling inspired? We hope that we’ve answered some of your Carnival 2026 FAQs, and that you’ve got an idea of your next party lenses look. From pink and purple lenses to SFX styles and special occasion contacts, we’ve got everything you need right here at Coloured Contacts! Want more inspiration? Check out our Affiliate Gallery.
And make sure to tag us in your Carnival looks @colouredcontacts. We can’t wait to see!
