If winter’s dragging on and you need something colourful to aim for, Las Palmas Carnival 2026 is the big one in the Canary Islands calendar. Celebrating its 50th year, the festival is loud, slightly chaotic in places, and genuinely woven into daily life here rather than staged for visitors.
Las Palmas Carnival 2026 dates and key information
Known as one of the best carnivals to experience in Spain, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's festivities run from 23rd January to 1st March 2026. Tenerife Carnival may be famous for its spectacles, and Cadiz Carnival for its humour, but Las Palmas boasts one of the longest Carnival periods in Spain.
- Late January is more about openings, children’s events and competitions
- Mid to late February is when the city really fills up with costumes and street parties.
The official closing comes on Sunday, 1st March, with the Burial of the Sardine, a tongue‑in‑cheek procession that marks the end of Carnival and the return to normal life.
Carnival theme for Las Palmas Carnival 2026
The official theme for 2026 is Las Vegas, which gives people a lot of creative freedom. Think showgirls, Elvis impersonators, poker tables, sequins and tongue‑in‑cheek glamour.
Las Palmas Gran Canaria Carnival 2026 programme
The programme mixes formal galas, traditional competitions and completely informal street celebrations. January focuses on opening acts, children’s galas and early rounds of competitions like the murgas, while February is where most visitors will recognise the classic Carnival atmosphere.
Official Carnival events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Certain events anchor the whole programme and draw crowds from across the island.
Event | Date | What it’s about |
|---|---|---|
Official opening | Friday 23 January | The pregón officially opens Carnival and sets the theme and mood for the weeks ahead. |
Queen Gala | Friday 13 February | The most elegant night of Carnival, centred on spectacular, oversized costumes. |
Drag Queen Gala | Friday 20 February | The most internationally recognised event, with theatrical performances, sharp humour and serious competition. |
Grand Parade (Gran Cabalgata) | Saturday 28 February | The largest street event of Carnival, with floats, comparsas and huge crowds in costume across the city. |
Burial of the Sardine | Sunday 1 March | A satirical farewell to Carnival, staged as a mock funeral and closing the celebrations on a deliberately absurd note. |
Daytime Carnival and street celebrations
Daytime Carnival is where things feel most local for those living in Las Palmas. You’ll see families, pensioners, teenagers and everyone in between out in costume.
Key daytime moments include:
- Saturday 14th February, which combines family-focused events with street parties
- Tuesday 17th February, with the Children’s Parade and full daytime Carnival
- Saturday 21st February, another big day for outdoor celebrations
Las Palmas Carnival 2026 schedule
Here’s how the main dates line up, so you can see where the big moments fall:
Date | Event |
|---|---|
23 January | Official opening of Carnival |
30 January | Drag Queen preselection |
7 February | Final of the Murgas |
8 February | Gala of the Grand Dame and Canine Carnival |
13 February | Queen Gala and Carnival night |
14 February | Family Carnival, street celebrations and Carnival night |
16 February | Carnival night before the public holiday |
17 February | Shrove Tuesday, Children’s Parade and Daytime Carnival |
20 February | Drag Queen Gala and Carnival night |
21 February | Day Carnival and Carnival night |
28 February | Grand Parade and Carnival night |
1 March | Burial of the Sardine, daytime Carnival and closing events |
If you’re choosing dates, mid‑February gives the fullest picture without needing to stay for the entire stretch.
Las Palmas Carnival 2026 tickets and prices
Most of Carnival is free. You can wander into street parties, parades and daytime events without spending a cent. Tickets are mainly for the big galas, especially the Queen Gala and Drag Queen Gala.
Prices vary depending on seating and visibility rather than the day itself, but they can cost around 10-15 euros. The Drag Queen Gala is usually the first to sell out, partly because locals treat it as a major cultural event rather than a night out.
Las Palmas Carnival 2026 locations and parade route
Most large events revolve around Santa Catalina Park and nearby squares, which become the informal heart of Carnival once the sun goes down. Smaller neighbourhood events happen all over the city, but first‑time visitors tend to gravitate here.
The Grand Parade route starts at Pío XII (Parque Doramas) and finishes at Mercado Central. On parade day, many streets close between 13:00 and 22:00.
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