Notting Hill Carnival 2025
Saturday 23 August – Panorama (with Junior Panorama debut)
Sunday 24 August – J’ouvert & Children’s Day Parade, Sound Systems and Stages
Monday 25 August – Main Parade, Sound Systems and Stages
Elba Hope Foundation Partnership Announced
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Campaign Launched
Trippin return with the official Notting Hill Carnival Map
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Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest cultural event and the second biggest Carnival in the world will be bringing its vibrant sights and sounds to the streets of west London on August Bank Holiday weekend.
Following the announcement that extra funding has been secured to enhance safety and infrastructure, the Carnival community can now look forward to a weekend of powerful cultural celebration. From the debut of the Junior Panorama on the Carnival weekend to the return of the beloved J’ouvert, 2025 brings new energy while honouring time-honoured traditions.
A Weekend of Culture, Colour, and Community
Saturday 23 August – Panorama & Junior Panorama
The festivities kick off in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park with the Panorama Steelpan competition — a jewel in the crown of Carnival. This year will incorporate for the first time Junior Panorama, which will be shining a spotlight on the next generation of pan talent. Tickets for the whole evening are on sale now (here), gates open at 4pm with Junior Panorama starting at 5pm and the main Panorama competition at 8pm.
Sunday 24 August – J’ouvert, Children’s Day Parade, Sound Systems & Stages
J’ouvert returns with an array of bands confirmed to participate in the early morning traditional procession which begins at 6am on Canal Way Roundabout.
The Opening Ceremony will take place from 10am - 10.30am on Great Western Road by the Judging Zone. This launches the flamboyant Children’s Day Parade, a joyous celebration of young masqueraders in dazzling costumes.
Sound Systems and Stages are in action from 12pm to 7pm.
Monday 25 August – Main Parade, Sound Systems & Stages
The parade begins at 10.30am, the streets come alive with a full display of the artistry, heritage, and creativity of Carnival culture. Many of the costumes, some measuring metres in height, are handmade over the course of an entire year and have to be seen to be believed!
Sound Systems and Stages are once again in action from 12pm to 7pm.
Moment of Reflection – 3pm, Sunday and Monday
At 3pm on both days of Notting Hill Carnival, we invite all attendees to join us in a 72-second silence to remember the 72 lives tragically lost in the Grenfell Tower fire.
This moment of reflection will also honour the memories of Takayo Nembhard and Cher Maximen — individuals whose lives were cut short and whose absence continues to be deeply felt by our community.
We will also take the opportunity to honour Kelso Cochrane, a young Antiguan man murdered in a racially motivated attack in Notting Hill in 1959. His death became a powerful symbol of racial injustice in Britain and galvanised local communities to stand together against hate.
As well as being one of the reasons that Carnival was started, Kelso’s memory is an enduring reminder of why spaces like Carnival — born from resistance, resilience, and unity — are so vital.
Finally, we give thanks to the pioneers who laid the foundations for Notting Hill Carnival. Their vision, courage, and cultural pride paved the way for this extraordinary celebration to become what it is today — a vibrant tribute to heritage, freedom, and togetherness.
In this 72 seconds of silence, we stand in solidarity, remembrance, and gratitude.
Introducing the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Campaign
The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Campaign is a new initiative that celebrates creativity, community, and cultural pride. Through our social platforms and outreach, we aim to foster greater understanding and appreciation for Carnival and the neighbourhoods that host it. Keep an eye on our social media channels and we hope the Carnival community will support and share the message to help educate and bring understanding to your followers as well as ours…
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. – Our Carnival Pledge
R – Remember the Roots
E – Embrace Everyone
S – Safeguard the Streets
P – Protect the Pulse
E – Environment Matters
C – Care for Each Other
T – Treasure the Tradition
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Facebook: NHCarnivalLDN | X (Twitter): @NHCarnivalLDN
Aligning with the Elba Hope Foundation
This year, Notting Hill Carnival has aligned with the Elba Hope Foundation and their campaign Don’t Stop Your Future (DSYF) — an initiative committed to ending knife and violent crime in our communities. DSYF works with grassroots organisations and major brands to amplify the voices of young people and support alternatives to violence and we want Notting Hill Carnival to help them amplify their message further.
“We can’t ignore the impact of knife crime on our event,” says Matthew Phillip, CEO of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd. “The tragic deaths of Takayo Nembhard and Cher Maximen broke the hearts of their friends and families as well as our communities and three years on, the family and friends of Takayo still don’t have justice. These young people didn’t lose their lives because of Carnival, Carnival is not the cause of this crisis, but it can be part of the solution…”
The Metropolitan Police recorded 16,789 offences involving a knife in 2024, over 45 a day in London alone! This startling and tragic statistic is evidence of a pandemic of knife crime in the UK that is deeply affecting communities 365 days a year. Carnival is often portrayed as the cause of knife crime which is simply not true, but we want to use the media spotlight Carnival gets for positive action.
Matthew Phillip continues, “... our community provides spaces for young people to learn skills, express themselves, make friends, and be around their peers and different generations to make a positive impact. This is often overlooked, unseen and unfunded. It is the alternative and one of the only outlets left for our young people.
“In that spirit, Carnival aligns perfectly with the principles of DSYF. Their ongoing work to help disenfranchised young people to make better choices is a productive and sustainable action to a very complex and, ultimately, sad problem. They show that there is choice, and we are working with them to amplify this message that we hope will let people know there are other options.
“The Elba Hope Foundation is about creating real pathways for young people — to build confidence, develop skills, and find belonging. Carnival provides one of the few creative and cultural outlets left for our youth. That’s why we must protect it, invest in it, and use its platform to uplift others.”
Find out more about the work of the Elba Hope Foundation here and for DSYF here.
Trippin return with the official Notting Hill Carnival Map
To make sure you get to where you need to go, Trippin will once again be providing The Official Notting Hill Carnival Map, pinpointing where to find sound systems, stages, food stalls, toilets, safe "cool down" areas, and sights of historical significance.
They've designed the map to be an in pocket guide that maximizes your Carnival experience, highlighting the best sound system spots, alongside a guide to cultural pins that provide context on why this event holds so much significance for London's Caribbean community.
Now in its fourth year, NHC x Trippin's map has become an essential tool to navigate Carnival, with new information and pins added each year. Using Google Maps data, there's no need to install any extra apps - just remember to download the map for offline use to access easily while your in the crowd.
It will be available to download from NHCarnival.org and trippin.world. Keep an eye on social media for its availability.
Funding and the future
As was widely reported, Notting Hill Carnival has faced financial challenges ahead of this year's event.
Matthew Phillip “We would finally like to thank our partners at City Hall, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster City Council for helping find the investment required for Carnival 2025 to take place.
“It goes without saying that it is a cultural powerhouse, an economic driver, and a unifying force in one of the world’s greatest cities and their support is vital and appreciated. The Mayor of London has noted that Carnival contributes £400 million annually to the economy. But its true value lies in the joy, inclusion, and identity it brings to communities. We thank everyone who helps make this celebration not only possible but powerful.”
“We are delighted that Carnival will once again transform the streets of West London in a celebration of music, dance, food, creativity, and tradition.”
