Notting Hill Carnival: free Bank Holiday guide
Notting Hill Carnival marks its 60th anniversary in West London from Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August. The free public festival takes place in Notting Hill and is open to the general public, bringing Caribbean culture, live music, community and heritage into focus across the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Millions of people travel to Carnival from London, elsewhere in the UK and abroad. This year’s gathering will also be accompanied by a policing operation involving more than 7,000 officers, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Three confirmed days in Notting Hill
Notting Hill Carnival 2026 runs from 29 to 31 August, with Notting Hill named as the venue. The event information confirms that admission is free and describes entry as public, making it suitable for anyone interested in the music, culture and community celebration.
No opening or closing times, exact street address, booking instructions, accessibility arrangements or daily programme have been provided in the supplied event details. Visitors should therefore avoid relying on an assumed start time or an unofficial schedule.
Caribbean culture at the centre of the anniversary
The anniversary programme is framed around the Caribbean culture, community and heritage that have defined Notting Hill Carnival for six decades. Live music and the wider community celebration are among the confirmed highlights, although no performers or individual programme times have been announced in the source material.
Notting Hill Carnival Ltd has secured additional funding for enhanced stewarding, crowd management and communications infrastructure. The Metropolitan Police said these measures are intended to improve safety across the event footprint and allow officers to concentrate on preventing crime, protecting the public and responding to incidents.
Commander Claire Smart, the Met’s Gold Commander for Carnival, said the majority of visitors attend to celebrate and enjoy the event. She identified serious violence prevention, the protection of women and girls, and crowd safety as central priorities for the weekend.
More than 7,000 officers and additional search powers
Visitors can expect a highly visible police presence in West London. More than 7,000 officers will be deployed, supported by City of London Police personnel and British Transport Police patrols across the rail network.
A Section 60 order under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will operate for the duration of the event. This gives officers additional powers to conduct searches for weapons. Live facial recognition cameras will also be placed at Carnival and on approaches to the event, with more cameras planned than in the previous year.
The Met reported that facial recognition deployments at the 2025 Carnival identified 98 people, resulting in 61 arrests. Officers also stopped and spoke with 30 registered sex offenders. Across the two main days, police recorded 528 arrests, including 50 for possession of offensive weapons and 167 for drug offences.
Preparatory enforcement has continued ahead of this year’s event. More than 330 people assessed as posing a significant risk are subject to bail conditions preventing them from attending Carnival. Police have also carried out operations targeting suspected weapons possession and a group alleged to have committed robberies at festivals and music events.
The Met is asking visitors to look after one another and respect the event, local communities, stewards, emergency services and fellow attendees.
Rail passengers should expect an exceptionally busy network
London’s transport network is expected to be exceptionally busy throughout the weekend. British Transport Police will deploy specialist resources and highly visible patrols, but the source gives no station-specific closures, altered routes or timetable details.
Chief Superintendent Dominique Ioannou urged passengers to remain vigilant and treat transport staff and other travellers with respect. Anyone who notices something that does not feel right on the rail network can speak to a police officer or member of staff, or report it discreetly to British Transport Police by texting 61016.
Source: Metropolitan Police News
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Event details and safety arrangements were checked against the Metropolitan Police release and the accompanying event information.
- Confirmed the 29–31 August dates, Notting Hill location and free public entry.
- Checked the deployment figure, Section 60 powers and facial recognition plans against the...
- Left unpublished times, accessibility arrangements and station-specific travel changes uns...
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- 2026-08-28 12:22
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