London Notting Hill Carnival Gets Underway

Reveler in costume

Notting Hill Carnival is London's most vibrant celebration of diversity, colour and sound. Originally started as an offshoot of the Trinidad Carnival in 1964, the Notting Hill Carnival has become an internationally acclaimed event which remains true to its Caribbean roots. Over the last four decades, it's matured into a melting pot of diverse cultural and musical genres that come together in modern West London streets. Today it's Europe's largest street festival with hundreds of thousands of regular visitors enjoying live Masquerade bands, Soundsystems,
street food, dancing and much more.

The roots of the Notting Hill Carnival began in Trinidad where the first carnival was held in 1833 to mark an end to slavery in the Caribbean.

During the late 1950s, a great many Caribbean immigrants travelled to the UK, bringing with them a wealth of culture, musical traditions and sumptuous cuisine. However, racial tensions of the era subjected the community to constant pressures.
Their dream was to one day, bring the people of London together in a way that would embrace and celebrate Caribbean culture while uplifting a community facing racism, lack of working opportunities and poor housing conditions.

The first carnival took place in 1964, encouraging people, both black and white, to go into the streets and express themselves socially as well as artistically, and by 1976 this distinctly Caribbean event was attracting around 150,000 people.

The spirit, courage and determination of the hundreds of London-based Caribbean people who fought for freedom and justice, have transformed the Notting Hill Carnival from a hazy dream into Europe’s premier cultural arts festival that is recognised throughout the world today.

The roots of the Notting Hill Carnival began in Trinidad where the first carnival was held in 1833 to mark an end to slavery in the Caribbean.

During the late 1950s, a great many Caribbean immigrants travelled to the UK, bringing with them a wealth
of culture, musical traditions and sumptuous cuisine. However, racial tensions of the era subjected the community to constant pressures. Their dream was to one day, bring the people of London together in a
way that would embrace and celebrate Caribbean culture while uplifting a community facing racism, lack of working opportunities and poor housing conditions.

The first carnival took place in 1964, encouraging people, both black and white, to go into the streets and express themselves socially as well as artistically, and by 1976 this distinctly Caribbean event was attracting around 150,000 people.

The spirit, courage and determination of the hundreds of London-based Caribbean people who fought for freedom and justice, have transformed the Notting Hill Carnival from a hazy dream into Europe’s premier cultural arts festival that is recognised throughout the world today.

The essence of the Notting Hill Carnival is embodied by the five Artistic Arenas - Calypso, Mas (masquerade), Pan (steel bands) and the Mobile and Static Sound Systems, all combining to make this event unlike any other in the world.