Notting Hill Carnival returns for its 55th year this August and revellers are set to enjoy the long bank holiday weekend.
The Carnival is one of the biggest in the world – second only to Rio Carnival, Brazil – and attracts people from all over the globe.
And with an estimated 2.5 million people heading to west London this weekend, this year is expected to be exceptionally busy.
During the spectacular three mile parade, festival-goers await colourful costumes, mas dancing, calypso, steel bands, food stalls, sound systems and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event, including the line-up, location and road closures.
The Notting Hill Carnival returns for its 55th year. Here performers in costume take part in the main Parade in west London in 2012
Notting Hill Carnival is the second largest street festival in the world after the Rio Carnival in Brazil, attracting millions of revellers per year. Pictured revellers in 2007
The Notting Hill Carnival 2022 opening ceremony starts at 10am and will last until 10.30am. Pictured: A drumming group at the festival in 2012
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2023?
The Notting Hill Carnival will take place from Sunday 27 August to Monday 28 August, starting at 10:00-10:30am both days.
Traditionally, Sunday is family day and will be slightly-less crowded, while Monday will be the most hectic with busy crowds and hard-partying.
What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2023 line-up?
Every year surprise guests appear across the parade, Carnival organisers often leave announcements until the last minute. Last year’s festival saw performances from Sean Paul, Megan Thee Stallion, Koffee and more.
Reggae legend Shaggy is confirmed to perform at this year’s Carnival on Monday, in a statement he said: ‘I’m in the mood big time for this year’s Notting Hill Carnival. It’s one of the biggest carnivals in the world and represents Caribbean culture from foundation to future.’
Alongside Shaggy guests can expect many surprises over the long weekend, here is the schedule so far:
Saturday 26 August
- 4:00-11:00pm: The UK’s biggest steel pan competition will take place at Emslie Horniman Pleasance park.
Sunday 27 August
- 6:00-9:00am: J’Ouvert, Sainsbury’s Ladbroke Grove. Kicking off just before sunrise, revellers dance in the early hours to celebrate the opening of the carnival. The Notting Hill website says: ‘Expect to see colourful paints and powders in place of the mud and oil of Caribbean tradition.
- 10:00-10:30: Official Opening Ceremony, MAS Judging Point, Great Western Road
- Children’s Day Parade, expect family-friendly activities and events
- Traditional parade, festival organisers say: ‘It’s pure revelry, and you can’t deny the infectious hyped energy of the party-hard participants.’
- 12:00-19:00pm: Sound Systems. You can expect to hear everything from Rare Groove to House to Samba
Each year the festival welcomes surprise guests along the parade route. Pictured: last year’s Children’s parade
Sunday is usually the least crowded day, it shows the Children’s parade from 10:30am (Pictured 2012)
Monday is typically the busiest day at the festival, millions of revellers will enjoy the adult parade
Monday 28 August
- Adults full day parade starting at 10:30am.
Live Stages
- Soca City. 12.00-19.00, Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, W10 5DH
- Powis Square Stage. 12.00-19.00, Powis Square, W11 2AY
Notting Hill Carnival 2023 parade route
The Notting Hill Carnival parade route will take place over a three and a half mile loop, beginning at Westbourne Park Tube station, along the Great Western Road to Westbourne Grove and then to Ladbroke Grove. It then loops down Kensal road back to Westbourne Park.
The children’s parade will take place on Sunday 27 August, while the adult parade will begin on Monday 28 August.
The Notting Hill Carnival parade route will take place over a three and a half mile loop, beggining and ending at Westbourne Park Tube station
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
The carnival is free for all to enjoy and both parades are free to watch, and you won’t need to buy a ticket.
However, there are a number of after party’s hosted following the event which you will need to purchase tickets for.
Alternatively, if you want to be a part of the parade, you will need to be part of an authorised group – or pay to be part of the procession.
Notting Hill road closures
Like most big events in London, dozens of streets will shut to make way for the colourful parade
As with any big event in London, dozens of streets will shut to make way for the colourful parade so people can party in safety.
A number of road closures and parking restrictions are to be enforced, which residents of both Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster should be aware of.
Only Carnival floats, pre-authorised event vehicles and emergency vehicles will be allowed in the area, so any residents who wish to remove their vehicles should do so on Saturday evening.
List of all Notting Hill road closures:
- Aldridge Road Villas
- Alexander Street
- Alexandra Mews
- Alfred Road
- Artesian Road
- Bishop’s Bridge Road from Porchester Road to Westbourne Grove
- Botts Mews
- Bridstow Place
- Chepstow Road
- Courtnell Street
- Durham Terrace
- Elgin Avenue between Harrow Road and Chippenham Road
- Fermoy Road
- Great Western Road
- Harrow Road from Ladbroke Grove to Great Western Road
- Hatherley Grove
- Hereford Road
- Hormead Road
- Kildare Gardens
- Kildare Terrace
- Lancaster Road
- Leamington Road Villas
- Ledbury Road
- Monmouth Place
- Monmouth Road
- Moorhouse Road
- Newton Road
- Northumberland Place
- Queensway between Westbourne Grove and Porchester Road (access will be allowed into Queensway from Bayswater Road to allow access to parking)
- Redan Place
- Shrewsbury Mews
- Shrewsbury Road
- St Luke’s Road
- St Stephen’s Crescent
- St Stephen’s Gardens
- St Stephen’s Mews
- Sutherland Place
- Sutherland Terrace
- Talbot Road
- Tavistock Crescent
- Tavistock Road
- Wellington Close
- Westbourne Gardens
- Westbourne Grove
- Westbourne Grove Terrace
- Westbourne Park Road
- Westbourne Park Villas
- Woodfield Place
- Woodfield Road
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