What is Carnival?
Carnival is a long-standing celebration that typically happens in February or March. Centred around the Christian tradition, Carnival is a time for excess and indulgence, making the most of the festivities before Lent begins.
When is Carnival 2026?
Carnival is pretty early this year, due to an early Easter. Carnival 2026 will commence on the 13th of February and carry on until the 21st. This can vary, as different countries and regions have different traditions. In the US, for example, Carnival is more often referred to as Mardi Gras, which takes place on Shrove Tuesday (17th of Feb).
Our SFX Lenses
When you’re looking for your carnival contact lenses, you’ll find plenty of options on our website. From hundreds of realistic natural styles to hundreds of costume and cosplay contact lenses, you’ll be able to find carnival lenses online at any price point. But which are the best?
For Carnival 2026, we think special effects will be the way to go, and we have plenty of ranges to choose from! Try our blind lenses for a terrifying, dead-eyed cosplay, or get a little wild with one of our cat eye contacts. Want to shine like the brightest star at your nearest Mardi Gras blacklight bash? We have UV-reactive styles galore!
Keep reading for a breakdown of our top SFX lens ranges, and how to style them:
Blind/Mesh Contact Lenses
Ever wanted a blank stare that completely covers your natural eyes and leaves everyone open-mouthed? Our blind and mesh contact lenses give you the perfect ‘blind’ look, completely covering your iris as well as your pupil. Our blind lenses are most popular around Halloween, but they can also be adapted to a gorgeous and impactful Carnival look.
Shop our range below for plenty of daily and monthly options in every colour of the rainbow!
In this gorgeous makeup look by @makeupbynamaisa, our Mesh White Lenses are used to create a blank and unseeing gaze. This is the perfect pairing for the white and bronze makeup, highlighting the colours and giving the look an otherworldly feel. We’re absolutely obsessed with this makeup and these lenses- why not try a similar look this Carnival season? We know that heavy face-paint isn’t for everyone, but you can always try a simpler version of this makeup by adding some copper-toned eyeliner and highlight to a white eye.
PLEASE NOTE: our blind and mesh lenses cover your pupil, which means that they will severely impair your vision. For this reason, we recommend only wearing them for photoshoots indoors and then switching them out for a different pair of costume lenses with more visibility. Want to see some more styles that you can wear out and about? Keep reading!
Mini Sclera Contact Lenses
If you’re looking for the dramatic impact of blind lenses, but with a little more visibility, we suggest one of our mini sclera contact lenses! Mini sclera contacts feature a slightly wider diameter than regular lenses, which allows them to cover a wider proportion of your eyes, giving you a bold and dramatic look that pairs perfectly with any makeup! We have mini sclera lenses in plenty of different colours, with bright red and pitch black often falling as the favourites.
This iconic fairy look by @missabbiemeghan is ideal for Carnival season- with the romantic pink hues and fluttering wings, this makeup is perfect as we head into the season of springtime and Valentine’s Day. The bold pink colours of this look are contrasted by the dramatic Black Mini Sclera Lenses- we absolutely love this pairing! Even if you’re not looking to glue wings to your face, you can still experiment with a mini sclera lens that contrasts your colourful makeup. We’re sure that no one will be able to take their eyes off you!
UV Contact Lenses
Our UV range features a wide selection of UV-reactive lenses. Our UV contact lenses are NOT glow-in-the-dark; they glow under UV light such as blacklight, but give a bold and colourful appearance under regular lights. Browse the selection below, with UV block-colour options, UV cat eye lenses, and even a range of mesh UV contacts!
Take a look at this stunning UV look by @sandyglammua- under UV lights, her green UV lenses and UV facepaint truly stand out, framed by glowing green hair. The UV I-Glow Cosplay Green Lenses are one of our newest additions, and it’s safe to say we can’t get enough of them! The marbled design of these lenses creates a striking effect that looks gorgeous even under regular lighting. Want to try one of the new UV cosplay styles? Browse our colours below!
Want to try out your own UV monochromatic look? Our website not only hosts UV lenses, but we also have a designated selection of UV face paint and makeup! Check out the range below for easy-application UV makeup like UV lipsticks and UV eyeliners.
Cat Eye Contact Lenses
Our cat eye contact lenses are intended for a wild personality! From cat styles to snake and even dragon designs, all of our animal lenses feature an elongated pupil, which gives the appearance of a wild, reptilian eye. Our selection of cat eye lenses features block-coloured classics as well as multi-coloured designs and special UV styles. Take a look now to find your perfect animal persona.
In this Carnival look by @thenefariousway, our Aqua Cat Eye Contact Lenses are used to contrast bright, red makeup and crimson feathers. Such a bold, exciting look is perfect for Carnival season. Just imagine strutting and dancing your way through a parade with wild, aqua contact lenses!
We hope that this blog has given you a good rundown of our different SFX lenses. From cat-eye to UV to blind, there’s something for everyone in our special effects range. We can’t wait to see what looks you create for Carnival season 2026! Make sure to tag us @crazylensesnow, so that we can see all of your gorgeous lenses.
