Notting Hill Carnival is a highlight of summer, filling the August bank holiday weekend with a joyful explosion of steel pan, dancers in feather-decked costumes, Red Stripe-fuelled good times and reverberating beats.
We’re sure 2024’s instalment will be no exception. It’s expected that more than two million people will flock to west London to dance in the streets of W11 this year, across three days of cultural events and partying. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather, but the action will continue even if it rains.
Read on to find out more about the long-standing Caribbean celebration, how to get there and what’s going down this year.
What is Notting Hill Carnival?
Carnival is one of the longest running street parties in the world. Started by London’s Caribbean communities in 1966, it’s a celebration of freedom and Caribbean culture, with an iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems.
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2024?
West London is getting taken over again with dazzling floats, kaleidoscopically dressed performers, rib-shaking soundsystems, the sweet, smoky smell of jerk chicken and steel bands over the August Bank Holiday weekend from Sunday, August 25 to Monday, August 26.
What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2024 line-up?
Each year, surprise guests appear across the parade route and soundsystems, sending waves of excitement rippling through Carnival. In 2022, Sean Paul and Koffee showed up to get partygoers dancing. Even Beyoncé rocked up in 1999. But Carnival's organisers are notorious for leaving announcements until the very last moment; they love to surprise the revellers throughout the weekend.
Here's what we know about the line-up so far:
Panorama. The UK's biggest steel pan competition will take over Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park on Saturday, August 24.
J’Ouvert. A traditional Caribbean event that marks the beginning of Carnival and kicks off just before sunrise, continuing through daybreak, on Sunday, August 25.
Opening Ceremony. Local residents, participants, carnival officials and friends of the event gather for the official opening ceremony at 10am, Sunday, August 25.
Children’s Parade. This family-friendly morning event sees kids dancing in the streets in their homemade Carnival costumes. Sunday, August 25.
Dutty/Fun Mas. Soak up the colours of carnival literally at this event, where spectators are splashed with paints, powder and more. Sunday, August 25.
Traditional Parade. Features mas, soca, calypso and much more. Sunday, August 25.
Soundsystems. Pitch up at a soundsystem location and dance the day away. There are over 30 spots to choose from on the parade route – expect to hear house, samba, reggae and much more. Sunday, August 25 and Monday, August 26 from midday until 7pm.
Food stalls. There are hundreds of them, including Jamaican Jerk chicken, Trinidadian roti and Guyanese pepper pot. Sunday, August 25 to Monday, August 26.
Adult's day parade. Expect lots of dancing, parading and partying. Monday, August 26.
What is the schedule for Notting Hill Carnival 2024?
Notting Hill Carnival 2023 will officially start at 10am on Sunday, August 25, and at 10.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.
But before then, Saturday is all about steelpan bands. Panorama, the UK's national steelband competition, kicks off at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, from 4pm til midnight. Six bands will battle it out to be the champions, followed by a DJ set to keep the party going.
On Sunday, August 25, family day, J’Ouvert – a traditional celebration before the formal start of Carnival – will begin at 6am to 9am. If you’re up early enough to catch the iconic celebration, it starts at Sainsbury’s, Canal Way, Ladbroke Grove, W10 5AA.
If you can’t make J’Ouvert, the official opening ceremony will take place from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western Road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.
On Carnival Sunday and Monday, the static soundsystems will run from midday to 7pm at various locations across the parade. On Carnival Monday, the adult's day parade will run from 10.30am to 8.30pm across the parade route.
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
The NHC parade is free for anyone to attend and everyone is welcome. But, if you want to join in with the parade, you need to be part of a group authorised to do so or pay to join the procession. If you want to continue the festivities into the night, you will need to buy a ticket for one of the countless afterparties across the city. You’ll also need to buy a ticket for Panorama, with proceeds split between the performing bands.
Where is Notting Hill Carnival?
NHC takes over Notting Hill in west London. Get off at Notting Hill Gate station, Westbourne Park or Royal Oak and simply follow the crowds. It won't be long before you run into a soundsystem, a mini-street party, or the parade itself.
What is the 2024 Carnival parade route?
Taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, the main parade is around three and a half miles long and takes over most of W10. Although the exact route for 2024 has yet to be confirmed, the parade circuit typically starts near Westbourne Grove tube station at 9.30am and winds down Great Western Road, before it slowly makes its way to Westbourne Park and then up to Ladbroke Grove.
How to get to Notting Hill Carnival 2024?
Travel by tube:
As Notting Hill’s roads will be closed off throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, you won’t be able to get an Uber or catch a bus into the heart of the action. But there are plenty of nearby tube stations within walking distance of the main event, including Notting Hill Gate, which will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 7pm each day, to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people using the station that day. FYI: there will be no interchange between the Circle and District line and Central Line on both days.
Royal Oak and Westbourne Park will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 6pm, with Royal Oak closing thereafter and Westbourne Park closing after 11.30pm. Also don't forget: Latimer Road will be closed from 11.30pm on both days. Avoid Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park as they're both closed on Sunday and Monday.
Want a Carnival hack? Pick a meeting point in advance for when you inevitably lose your mates in the crowd.
When is family day for Notting Hill Carnival?
Family day is on Carnival Sunday, August 26 2023. The official opening ceremony will take place from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western Road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.
Which is the better day at Carnival?
It all depends what you're looking for. If you’re after a more chilled NHC experience, go for family day on Sunday. If you like the sound of a hard-partying parade, make sure to go on Carnival Monday. The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony on Sunday morning, with the parade starting at 10am. Monday’s adult’s day parade starts at 10.30am and afterparties run until after dark. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from maximising the Carnival fun and going both days.
What’s in store for Notting Hill Carnival 2024?
As ever, the parade will be a celebration of Caribbean history and culture with warm-up and afterparties setting the mood over the August bank holiday weekend. Typically, the line-up is kept under wraps until the last minute, so just turn up and immerse yourself in a weekend of dancing, joy and community.
RECOMMENDED: Find more London events in August.
