FAQs
Unfortunately the Carnival parade is at capacity, your best bet is going to be joining another band.
Food trading at Notting Hill Carnival is managed by the local councils. Please speak directly to Westminster or Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Main stages and Static Sound Systems organise their own performances, you should contact them directly.
Costumes are purchased directly from bands, you can find a list of appearing bands here.
Please contact office@nhcarnival.org and let us know as much about your opportunity as you possibly can.
Every year Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend with Panorama always preceding it on the Saturday evening.
The Carnival parade starts on Sunday and Monday at 10.30am. For more timings please check here.
Yes, we are always looking for people to volunteer with us. Please contact office@nhcarnival.org.
Bar spaces are limited so please get in touch with us early to try and secure a space. Pitches are priced at £425 + VAT per square meter. Please email us on office@nhcarnival.org for more information.
We are not able to offer any direct advice on places to stay during the Notting Hill Carnival weekend but as a guide to help in your search, the Carnival footprint is spread across the postcodes of W10 and W11. Book outside of these areas and travel in on public transport (plan your journey here). This website is useful if you do not know London postcodes.
If you are part of the media, please contact press@nhcarnival.org.
Tickets must be purchased ahead of the event. Tickets usually go on sale between mid and late July and will be announced on this website and our social media channels that can be found at the bottom of this website.
When the Notting Hill Carnival is on the roads in the area are closed. It is strongly advised that you take public transport to and from the site. Plan your journey on the TFL website.
No. All public hire cycling/scooter services are suspended within the Carnival footprint and they will not work.
Sound System spaces are limited on the Notting Hill Carnival footprint. To register your interest please contact office@nhcarnival.org
All official sound systems operate under council licenses. Any unlicensed sound systems should be reported as follows...
Kensington and Chelsea www.rbkc.gov.uk/global/report-it/noise-or-nuisance or 020 7361 3002 (24hr line)
Westminster
www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it or 020 7641 2000 – Option 4
(24hr line)
Strict sound regulations are in place, and all official sound systems must adhere to set decibel levels. Monitoring teams are on-site to ensure compliance and to address any complaints.
Kensington and Chelsea www.rbkc.gov.uk/global/report-it/noise-or-nuisance or 020 7361 3002 (24hr line)
Westminster
www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it or 020 7641 2000 – Option 4
(24hr line)
You must ensure that you have permission from the landowner, landlord or housing provider to engage in commercial activities
from within your home, communal areas and/or external gardens.
You must comply with the various requirements of food hygiene,
food trading standards and health and safety legislations.
The customer must be standing inside of the property’s garden wall or boundary at the time of trading and not on the pavement
or road, otherwise a Street Trading Licence is required.
You must submit a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) or apply for a premises licence if you wish to sell alcohol or provide regulated
entertainment i.e. live music or recorded music for paying guests and/or members of the public.
The partners that organise Notting Hill Carnival hold a series of Drop-In sessions in the local area for local residents and businesses. These are opportunities for the local community to engage in one-on-one sessions with the organisers, local councils, Police and other organising bodies to discuss their concerns, make suggestions and understand more about the event.
The dates for these will be made public through Carnival’s social media channels, on this website and posters will be on display at The Tabernacle and YAA Centre.
Alternatively please email office@nhcarnival.org at any time.
Rubbish will be cleared each night from the main Carnival area.
Timings of nightly clean-ups are subject to police advice on suitable times to start. Main roads and areas around transport hubs take priority for the clean-up.
Barriers and signs will be removed by the police and contractors in the week after the event.
A free cleaning service is offered for residents with a basement affected during Carnival.
This is not offered for free where resident-organised Carnival activity or street trading has taken place. Council officers record addresses of any such activity to determine eligibility for this service.
If it is in Kensington and Chelsea please contact licensing@rbkc.gov.uk or 020 7341 5152.
For Westminster please contact licensing@westminster.gov.uk or 020 7641 6500
Please note unlicensed activity is against the law to sell or knowingly allow alcohol to
be sold without a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice being in force.
Under certain circumstances performing live music or playing recorded music may also require a premises licence or a TEN.
If you allow such activities to take place on your premises without the appropriate licence or authorisation, you may be committing an offence.
During the Carnival weekend please contact...
Kensington and Chelsea 020 7361 3868 or
carnival@rbkc.gov.uk
Westminster carnival@westminster.gov.uk
Stewards and police officers are also stationed throughout the area to assist with any immediate issues.
No, Notting Hill Carnival is not a profit making event for the organisers, councils or GLA.
However, those who participate in Carnival may make money from being involved in the event but this is not information disclosed to the organising parties and would be a question for each individual band, sound system or trader.
Notting Hill Carnival is organised by a collaboration of multiple organisations including local councils, GLA, emergency services, TFL and the organisers themselves. The safety of the residents and attendees is the events priority.