Dance, celebrate and get your groove on at Notting Hill Carnival this Bank Holiday weekend.  

There is plenty of free festival fun to be had between H&F and Notting Hill from Saturday 26 August to Monday 28 August.

Vibrant and rich in Caribbean culture, Carnival is a colourful celebration of London's diverse communities, cultural heritage and music scene. The three-day festival is one of the world’s biggest– second only to Brazil's Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

It is also the only full-scale carnival in the world to feature multiple static sound systems. Since 1973, it has included is a huge number of soundsystems and live stages dotted around the carnival route.

Whether to show off your costume in the parades or watch the spectacle from the sidelines, Europe’s largest street party is well worth a visit.

Here are some ideas on how to join in on the fun. Have a safe and fun time at #NottingHillCarnival!

Get a head start

Saturday 26 August

Kicking off the weekend fun on Saturday, the Carnival will once again play host to the annual UK National Steelband Competition. Six bands will go head-to-head for the coveted title of Panorama Champions 2023.

There will be something for everyone with food stalls and bars, large screens, and DJs throughout the day, bringing you the sounds of Carnival.

Free family fun

Sunday 27 August

Carnival is officially opened by local residents, organisers and friends of Carnival on Sunday morning 10am. Early risers can join the ‘J’Ouvert’ – the opening of the day – to launch the Carnival with colourful paints and powders before sunrise from 6am.

The day will also see the return of the Children’s Day Parade including a range of FREE family-friendly activities and events throughout the day.

You can also join a free Notting Hill Carnival after-party set in Shepherds Bush.

Led by resident W12 DJ Daddy Long Legs (aka Dan Green), the Pocket Watch pub in Uxbridge Road will play vintage reggae, soul and funk tunes from 7pm to midnight – 100 per cent vinyl soundsystem style.

Take part in Carnival

Monday 28 August

Come down to see the main parade on Monday (28 August) from 10.30am and catch a live performance.

To help keep the party going, more than 300 food stalls will offer an array of Caribbean foods, from Jamaican Jerk Chicken’ is King to Trinidadian Roti and Guyanese Pepper Pot.

View a map of all soundsystems and live stages on the Notting Hill Carnival website.

Find the full schedule on the Notting Hill Carnival website, app or official event guide (very large 17MB pdf).

H&F music trail

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle, why not stay home in the borough and take a musical hike. Signposted by blue plaques, we’ve created a range of heritage walking trails to pay homage to our borough’s rich Black history.

This includes our Black music history trail to celebrate H&F’s unsung musical heroes.

From legendary Calypso and steelbands to an eclectic mix of reggae, house, samba and beyond; music is at the heart of both Notting Hill Carnival and H&F’s diverse cultural landscape.

Take a stroll and discover how music history was written on the streets and in the clubs of H&F through the amazing contributions of Black local artists.

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