Hackney,
07
March
2023
|
12:00
Europe/London

Hackney Carnival to return in 2024 and every two years after

Cllr_Kennedy

Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Culture, delivers a statement on the future of Hackney Carnival, committing to a full carnival event in 2024 and every two years after:

"Hackney Carnival is one of the biggest highlights in the cultural calendar. Carnival draws thousands of residents, businesses, visitors and local artists together to celebrate Hackney’s diversity and heritage and to showcase the borough’s amazing creative talents.

Like everyone in Hackney we love carnival and always look forward to a chance to celebrate together with the whole community. However, the growing audiences mean we need more infrastructure, event staff, security, and communications every year to deliver a safe and successful event.

The budget for carnival has almost doubled each year due to its increasing scale and popularity. Rising costs and challenging inflationary pressures mean it simply isn’t possible to hold a live carnival event every 12 months, so this year we look forward to working with our carnival groups and wider cultural and hospitality sectors on a reduced programme to keep Hackney’s carnival traditions alive while we prepare for a full carnival event in 2024, and then every other year after that.

This is a commitment the Council is making to ensure both residents and visitors to the borough can continue to enjoy Hackney’s culture and creativity. 

Carnival is for all, and we can't wait to join everyone in autumn 2024 for a full parade of spectacular costumes, vibrant dance routines and live music, to celebrate Hackney’s special carnival spirit in our own inimitable style."