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The summer months are almost over and, as the leaves turn to brown, we’ll soon have to swap out mini shorts and Jesus sandals for woolly scarves and thermal leggings. But before pumpkin spice makes its annual rounds, we have one last summer blowout to look forward to, and it’s a good ‘un. We’re talking, obviously, about Notting Hill Carnival.
London’s annual celebration of Caribbean culture will return this August bank holiday weekend with all the usual steel drums, feathered dancers and booming sound systems.
Whether you’re a certified Carni veteran or it’s your first time at the party, with more than a million people set to take to the streets of west London for the celebrations, you’ll want to get organised. That’s where we come in. Here’s everything you need to know about Notting Hill Carnival’s timings, from each day’s start times to the schedule.
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🎶 Time Out’s ultimate guide to 2026 Notting Hill Carnival.
📍 Full parade route and map.
Saturday 29 August 2026
- UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition, Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park – 4pm-midnight. You can grab a ticket here.
Sunday August 30 (family day)
- J'ouvert, Starting at Sainsbury's by Canal Way Roundabout – 6am-9am
- Official opening ceremony, MAS Judging Point, Great Western Road – 10am-10:30am
- Children’s day parade, starting at Great Western Road – 10:30am-5pm
- Dutty/Fun Mas, starting at Great Western Road – 10.30am-7pm
- Sound systems, various locations – 12pm-7pm
- Live stages, Powis Square – 12pm-7pm
- Moment of reflection for Grenfell Tower victims, all locations – 3pm
Monday August 31 (adults’ day)
- Adults’ parade, starting at Great Western Road – 10:30am-7pm
- Sound systems, various locations – 12pm-7pm
- Live stages, Powis Square – 12pm-7pm
- Moment of reflection for Grenfell Tower victims, all locations – 3pm
What time does the carnival finish each day?
Music is turned off at 7pm on both Sunday and Monday of Carnival weekend. If you still feel like shaking a leg, there are plenty of official and unofficial afterparties to head to post parade.
Do you have to pay to attend Notting Hill Carnival?
Nope, the celebration of Caribbean culture is free to attend, meaning you won’t need a ticket or to splash any cash for the parade or the sound systems.
For the second year running, the judging grandstand has been opened to the public, so you can see the bands and watch the judges make their call from the comfort of a seat. Tickets for the grandstand are available here.
What will the weather be like in London during Carnival weekend?
Paints and powders from Dutty Mas might not be the only things you get splashed with this Bank Holiday weekend, because thunderstorms are forecast to hit the Big Smoke. Luckily, the worst of the weather should have passed by Sunday, with some drizzle and highs of 23C predicted for family day.
Time Out’s overview of the August Bank Holiday 2026 weather forecast.
Did you see that this is the exact date London will be hit by the sixth heatwave of the summer?
Plus: every London borough ranked from friendliest to most miserable.
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