Kristina Roberts
West London came alive this weekend as the Notting Hill Carnival returned in full swing, drawing hundreds of thousands of people for Europe’s biggest street festival.
The two-day celebration featured children’s parades, vibrant costumes, live performances, and sound systems filling the streets with Caribbean rhythms and global beats. Dancers in jewel-studded outfits, steel bands, and samba groups created a dazzling spectacle under the summer sun, with temperatures reaching 26°C (79°F).
The event, which has been running for more than 50 years, honours Caribbean heritage and has grown into one of the most significant cultural festivals in the world. Performers representing islands across the Caribbean and Brazil brought traditions of music, dance, and costume design that highlight the diversity of the diaspora.
Carnival also paid tribute to its history with commemorative performances and a 72-second silence to remember those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as others whose memory is tied to the event’s origins.
Organisers praised the celebrations as vibrant and safe, while also stressing the importance of ongoing funding to support the bands, costumes, and infrastructure that make the parade possible.
Beyond the performances, the Carnival’s impact could be felt across the city. Local councils reported a large-scale clean-up operation, with hundreds of staff working overnight to prepare the area for normal activity after festivities.
As the parades flowed into street parties, sound systems, and live stages, the Notting Hill Carnival once again stood as a showcase of unity, heritage, and joy — a reminder of the power of culture to bring communities together.
