Could Notting Hill Carnival soon be forced to introduce tickets?

Notting Hill Carnival is one of the best weekends of the year in London. For two days west London is transformed into a rainbow-coloured, bassline-soundtracked Caribbean wonderland. And the best thing about it? It’s organised by the community, for the community, and it’s totally free. 

But one London politician wants to change all that.

Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group at City Hall has said that Notting Hill Carnival should be organised by the Greater London Authority (GLA). Hall said the event, which is expected to attract two million visitors this August bank holiday, could no longer be organised by a ‘small group of well-meaning volunteers’ due to the safety concerns surrounding the event.

In a report released on Tuesday, Hall gave recommendations to change the future of the event, with a particular focus on safety. She said the recommendations were not to criticise the existence of Carnival, nor stop it, but to give the parade ‘security, stability and structure’ in the future.

‘Something has to be done,’ she said. ‘It is one of the biggest events in the country actually... and yet still it goes on in the same way.’ She added that large crowds at the carnival could lead to a ‘Hillsborough-type event, with the crushing. People are literally like sardines.’

The Tory politician said that Notting Hill Carnival could be managed by City Hall in a way that is similar to the New Years’ Eve fireworks, which is a paid, ticketed event. She said that the event ‘should be ticketed to avert disaster’ and set with a maximum capacity. ‘Every ticket, whether paid or free, should be linked to an individual's billing address as part of the registration process,’ the report said.

Hall’s report also said that Carnival needed to find an ‘alternative funding solution’ to cover the cost of policing and running the carnival. In 2024 the event was issued with an extra £1 million in funding from GLA, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster City Council after organisers made an urgent plea for government support. 

The report also suggested relocating Notting Hill Carnival to another location, such as Hyde Park. It also suggested creating a Notting Hill Carnival Advisory Board that would allow community voices to still be included in the organisation of the event, as well as representatives from TfL, the Met, the Mayor’s Office, and Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea councils. 

However Carnival organisers said the event should remain community-led, and that they collaborate every year with the GLA, councils, and Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for the mayor of London said the carnival belongs to the Caribbean community, ‘who decide where it is held and organise the event’. They added that the mayor ‘has continued to work with partners to ensure people can enjoy Carnival safely’. 

‘Following an independent review, the mayor stepped forward with partners to provide additional funding this year,’ they said. ‘However he believes that national funding will be needed to ensure the long-term safety and success of what is a nationally-significant event over the years ahead.’

A spokesperson for Notting Hill Carnival Ltd (NHCL) said: ‘Many of the points raised in this report have been addressed and actioned by NHCL and its strategic partners. An independent review commissioned by NHCL earlier this year has led to numerous changes this year and beyond.

‘We would formally like to invite Susan Hall to visit the Event Liaison Team headquarters during this year's Carnival to witness the operation in action.’

Time Out’s ultimate guide to Notting Hill Carnival 2025.