Notting Hill Carnival will not be taking to the streets of West London for the second year running. The heavy-hearted cancellation was decided due to the current and unpredictable COVID restrictions in the UK.
The Carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture, heritage and arts, has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill in Kensington since 1966. This summer’s carnival being cancelled would have been it’s 55th year of taking place. The expressive atmosphere produced by sound systems and parade bands, which play dancehall, roots reggae and more, will be missed this August.
In an official statement made by Notting Hill Carnival on Instagram, it was explained that:
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. Everyone involved in the event desperately wants a return to the road where Carnival belongs but safety has to come first and with the latest cautious announcement on the government’s ‘roadmap’, this is the only way to ensure that…Going forward, we will be working with Carnivalists toward the greatest ever Notting Hill Carnival for 2022”.
Notting Hill Carnival usually takes place at the end of August and has been greatly anticipated, especially in regards to the governments plan to ease lockdown restrictions on July 19th. Unfortunatley, the advisory council of the carnival would have faced great difficulty allowing it to take place. However, like last summer alternative plans will be arranged for the three-day celebration.
Two million people usually attend Notting Hill Carnival and it has developed over the past 55 years, earning the title of second-biggest carnival in the world. Matthew Phillp, the executive director, has explained that this final decision was by no means easy yet a responsible choice. He stated that “we’ve been planning and weighing up the situation all year but we’ve come to the point where we want definites – and we are not definitely sure it would be safe to be on the streets at the end of August“.
Matthew Phillip also commented that “It’s not like carnival is the only thing cancelled [since the pandemic], we’re part of a wider community. It will return to the streets because it means too much not to…As with last year we will make sure carnival will be celebrated – it’s not actually carnival because carnival is a street event and if it’s not on the street it’s not carnival – but it will be celebrated“.
It has been announced that although Carnival has been cancelled, smaller-scale events will take place on the run up to August bank holiday – with limited spectators. Like last year, there will also be online events so that the celebration can still continue, even if that celebration is not carnival.
