Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival debuts at Notting Hill Carnival

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival made its historic debut at the Notting Hill Carnival in London. Led by the 2026 Carnival Queen, Carla Castro Castellano, the delegation participated in one of Europe’s largest cultural events to promote the Canary Islands' festivities on an international stage.

Queen Castro Castellano wore her winning costume, ‘Icónica’, a complex creation by designer Alexis Santana composed of forty works of art by Canarian artists. Despite concerns regarding the costume's durability during transport and high temperatures, the ensemble was successfully assembled for the parade. The procession included a Batucada group and performed traditional anthems such as ‘Santa Cruz en Carnaval’.

Local officials, including Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez and Councilor Javier Caraballero, emphasized that this participation is a strategic step toward increasing the global recognition of the Santa Cruz Carnival, showcasing its creativity and unique identity to a worldwide audience.