Notting Hill Carnival

About Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill’s streets take Notting Hill Carnival 2027 through Notting Hill, London as a cultural carnival across the August bank holiday weekend. The street format dates back to 1966. More than 1,000,000 visitors are expected across the weekend, with the 2026 edition having marked the festival’s 60th anniversary/Diamond Jubilee.

Static sound systems were introduced in 1973, the first live stages were organised by Wilf Walker in 1979 and Brazilian bands were introduced by The London School of Samba in 1984.

Lineup and Programme

The bill is street-led. Reggae and rare groove run through the sound systems, with calypso, soca, samba and house also listed in the music programme. Live stage sites include Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park Stage, Powis Square Stage and Meanwhile Gardens.

J'ouvert, the Children's Day Parade, Adults' parade/Dutty Mas, Panorama steel band competition, junior Panorama, street trading and food stalls sit alongside the parade route and static sound systems.

Who Is It For?

The audience is broad and community-facing. Sunday is Children's/Family Day. Monday is framed as Adults Day in the official programme.

The Venue and Site

The parade route is the spine. The site is street-based across Notting Hill, North Kensington and Westminster, with activity hubs at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park, Powis Square and Meanwhile Gardens.

Temporary toilets include accessible units. Medical treatment centres, medical response teams, ambulances, welfare spaces and food and drink stalls are listed on the official event information.

Travel

Public transport carries the load. Notting Hill puts the Carnival inside west London’s rail and Underground network rather than a greenfield site.

• Nearest stations: Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Latimer Road, Notting Hill Gate, Holland Park, Queensway, Royal Oak, Paddington, Kensal Rise and Shepherd's Bush Overground.
• Road access: recorded route and access points include Great Western Road at Harrow Road, Westbourne Park Road, Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove from Chepstow Road to Ledbury Road, and Portobello Road between Chepstow Villas and Pembridge Road.
• Pedestrian access points: Wornington Road at Golborne Road, Acklam Road, Bevington Road, Raddington Road and St Ervans Road are listed in the official access information.
• Parking: public parking is very limited; most roads within the Carnival area are closed and only pre-authorised Carnival vehicles and emergency services may enter during closure periods.