Welcome back everyone! We are here to tell you to rally, because there are plenty of reasons to get excited about the final month of summer in London. The biggest thing happening? It’s Notting Hill Carnival – the biggest festival of its kind in Europe that takes over the streets of west London for the bank holiday weekend.

Notting Hill Carnival – 24th and 25th August 2025

The Notting Hill Carnival is without a doubt one of the highlights of the year in London, and it wouldn’t be summer in the city without it. Every late August bank holiday, west London is flooded with a joyful explosion of colourful, feather-decked dancers, steel pan drums, booming basslines and plenty of Red-stripe-fueled good times.

More than two million people flocked to Notting Hill to dance in the streets of W11 last time round, and we expect 2025 will be no different.

What is the schedule for Notting Hill Carnival 2025?

The official schedule hasn’t been announced yet, but it usually goes something like this.

Notting Hill Carnival 2025 will officially start at 10am on Sunday, August 24, and at 10.30am on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.

But before then, Saturday is all about steelpan bands. Panorama, the UK’s national steelband competition, kicks off at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, from 4pm ’til 11pm. Roughly six bands will battle it out to be the champions, followed by a DJ set to keep the party going.

Sunday’s family day of Carnival normally kicks off bright and early with J’Ouvert – a traditional celebration that takes place in the early before the formal start of Carnival. In 2024 J’ouvert was cancelled due to a lack of bands being able to participate, but it is officially back for 2025, kicking off bright and early at 6am.

Then there will be an official opening ceremony from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western Road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.

No Excuses! Join the party!

Bruno – Hotel Manager