24 - 25 Aug. Dancing, music, food, masquerade great atmosphere and great times to be had this August, with Europe's biggest street festival, representing London's multicultural past and present.

24 - 25 August.

Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, and hundreds of Caribbean food stalls (make sure you visit Mama’s Jerk Station, on the corner of Portobello Rd and Oxford Gardens).

Starting its life as a local festival set up by the West Indian community of the Notting Hill area, it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from all over the globe. Expect many astonishing floats and the sounds of the traditional steel drum bands, scores of massive sound systems, and hundreds of stalls lining the streets of Notting Hill. 

The Notting Hill Carnival gets under way on Saturday 23rd August with the National Panorama Competition - a free, open-air celebration of Caribbean rhythms and steel bands. Sunday is family day. This is also when the costume prizes are awarded. And, on Bank Holiday Monday, the main parade takes place, the colourful floats, stages, sound systems, street food and pop-up bars. The carnival generally starts on Great Western Road, then winds its way along Chepstow Road, on to Westbourne Grove, and then Ladbroke Grove. In the evening, the floats leave the streets in procession, and people carry continue partying at the many Notting Hill Carnival after parties.

Dates and Times:

Saturday 23 August from 19:00 to 22:00 is the National Panorama Competition, a celebration of Caribbean rhythms and steel bands.

Sunday 24 August from 06:00 - 09:00 is the J'Ouvert and then the Family Day Parade starts at 10:00.

Monday 25 August from 10:00 to 20:30 is the main day. The main day of Carninval fun and spectacle.