Tenerife Carnival Dates for 2026

The poster designed by Héctor Expósito from La Palma, entitled "Es más bello vivir bailando" (It is more beautiful to live dancing), was the winner of the competition organized by Fiestas de Santa Cruz de Tenerife and represents this year's carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Searching for information on the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife Carnival or Karneval Teneriffa 2026 then you've come to the right place.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026 has a theme and a calendar

‘Ritmos latinos’ (Latin rhythms) will be the theme of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026, which will be held between January 16 and February 22. The choice of theme is the result of the online vote, organized by the city council, which won with 34.21% of popular support over the other options. The result was announced on the final day of the 2025 carnival in Santa Cruz. 

El Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 ya tiene tema y calendario

CONFIRMED: The next edition of the Carnival, in 2026, will begin on Friday, January 16 with the Opening Ceremony. After that inauguration and the long list of contests (below, based on many previous years' timetables), Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2026 in the streets will begin on Friday, 13 February 2026, with the Opening Parade and will end on Piñata Sunday, February 22. 

• Friday, 16 January: Inauguration of Carnival 2026
• Friday, 23 January: 1st Phase of the Junior Murgas Contest
• Saturday, 24 January: 2nd Phase of the Junior Murgas Contest
• Sunday, 25 January: Festival of Choreographed Groups
• Monday, 26 January: 1st Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Tuesday, 27 January: 2nd Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Wednesday, 28 January: 3rd Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Thursday, 29 January: 4th Phase of the Adult Murga Contest
• Saturday, 31 January: Final of the Murga Contests
• Sunday, 1 February: Contest of Musical Groups
• Monday, 2 February: Gala Election of the Junior Carnival Queen
• Wednesday, 4 February: Gala of the Senior Carnival Queen
• Friday, 6 February: Comedy Song Contest
• Saturday, 7 February: Comparsas Contest
• Sunday, 8 February: Costume Contest and the Rondallas Contest
• Tuesday, 10 February: Los Fregolinos Concert
• Wednesday, 11 February: Gala Election of the Carnival Queen
• Thursday, 12 February: Festival of Zarzuela
• Friday, 13 February: Opening Parade 275 photos
• Saturday, 14 February: Rhythm and Harmony Comparsas photos
• Sunday, 15 February: Daytime Carnaval
• Monday, 16 February: Carnaval Monday and Gala Dragnaval
• Shrove Tuesday, 17 February: Carnival Main Parade
• Wednesday, 18 February: Burial of the Sardine photos
• Thursday, 19 February: Carnaval Inclusivo and Festival of Rondallas
• Friday, 20 February: Children's Carnival Parade 6pm
• Saturday, 21 February: Daytime Carnaval (Santa Cruz de Tenerife drew over 425,000 people on Piñata Saturday)
• Sunday, 22 February: Exhibition and parade of vintage cars, end of carnival Senior Carnival party and carnival closes with a firework display

Many of the events can be watched live on CarnavalTVC

From the Cabalgata Anunciadora (Carnival Opening Parade) on 1 Mar 2019

(Don't worry about carnival in the streets beginning on Friday the 13th, because it's Martes 13 (Tuesday 13th) that is considered unlucky in Spain.)

Thirty years before: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 1996

Twenty years before: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2006

Ten years before: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen 2016

Puerto de la Cruz Carnival 2026

The International Carnival of Puerto de la Cruz this year looks to Mexico as its source of inspiration and the festivities kick off on Friday, February 6, with the official inauguration and the presentation of the candidates in the Plaza de Concejil, starting at 9:00 pm. The carnival runs to Sunday 22 February. Some key dates and events are:

• Thursday 12 February - Election of the Carnival Queen
• Friday 13 February - Election of the Carnival King
• Wednesday 18 February - Burial of the Sardine
• Friday 20 February - Mascarita Ponte Tacón
• Saturday 21 February - Main Parade, from 4 pm.

Further details from: Programa del Carnaval Internacional 2026

Los Gigantes Carnival 2026

Yet to be confirmed, but the start of carnival in Los Gigantes is usually on the Friday ten days after Shrove Tuesday, which would be on Friday 27 Feb 2026. Their Carnival Main Parade is usually held in the afternoon of the Sunday, which would be 1 March 2026.

Los Gigantes carnival is postponed until the weekend of March 13, 14 and 15 (due to adverse weather conditions)

Los Cristianos Carnival 2026

Carnaval Internacional de Los Cristianos 2026

All dates are subject to changes that are beyond our control

Carnaval Internacional de Los Cristianos 2025

The poster for the 2025 Los Cristianos International
Carnival, a reflection of the tribute to Venezuela

The Los Cristianos International Carnival 2025, which will be held between 𝟐𝟎 and 𝟑𝟏 of March, has been confirmed with an official poster. The theme is 'Venezuela, a carnival of rhythm, colour and joy' and the Tenerife artist Nareme Melián has created a work that fuses the union between the Canary Islands and Venezuela with easily recognisable images and motifs.

This also clarifies that their Coso Apoteosis (Carnival Main Parade) will be taking place on Sunday, 30 March 2025 (~4 pm from the Paloma Beach apartments in the Avda. Juan Carlos I to the Centro Cultural).

Via: The council's own department of Fiestas Arona

There is a programe for Los Cristianos Carnival 2025, in five languages. You can also download separate PDF versions in English, German, French and Italian. Translated from the program on Arona council's website:

Venezuela, a carnival of rhythm, color, and joy

PROGRAM

THURSDAY, MARCH 20

8:30 PM: Carnival Presentation and Candidates for Junior Queen, Senior Queen, and Carnival Queen. Location: Infanta Leonor Auditorium in Los Cristianos.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

7:00 PM: Carnival Exhibition Opening by Laly González. Location: Hall of the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre.

9:00 PM: Carnival Group Competition. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

6:00 PM: First Daytime Carnival. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

7:00 PM: Carnival Announcing Parade. Route: Playa de Las Américas, from the Gala Shopping Centre on Rafael Puig Lluvina Avenue to Oasis Shopping Centre on Las Américas Avenue.

9:30 PM: Musical performance "Mayelín: Tribute to Celia Cruz."

12:00 AM: Grand Dance with entertainment by the Los Ideales orchestra. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

6:00 PM: Murga Group Gathering. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

MONDAY, MARCH 24

6:30 PM: Carnival Choreographic Group Festival. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

8:00 PM: Carnival Queen Election Gala. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

10:00 AM: Inclusion Parade. Route: From Trasmallo Promenade (Bahía Shopping Centre), along the Los Cristianos coastal promenade to Pescadora Square.

8:00 PM: Carnival Queen Election Gala for Children. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

8:30 PM: Grand Carnival Queen Election Gala. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

6:00 PM: Carnival Seniors' Ball. Location: Patio of the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre.

8:30 PM: Carnival Drag Queen Show. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

11:30 PM: Grand Dance with entertainment by Sabrosa and Maquinaria Band. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

11:30 PM: DJ Zone with DJ entertainment. Location: Plaza del Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre), Los Cristianos.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

3:00 PM: Second Daytime Carnival with national and international artists. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

3:00 PM: Family Daytime Carnival with various performances, workshops, and children's Carnival activities. Location: Plaza de la Pescadora and main streets of Los Cristianos.

7:00 PM: Carnival Costume Contest. Location: Plaza de la Pescadora, Los Cristianos.

9:00 PM: 11th Beach Route. At the end, the "Óscar Hernández" awards ceremony will be presented for the most original, horrifying, and outrageous costume. Route: From Plaza de la Pescadora, Plaza de la Alpispa, C/ Juan Reverón Sierra, Av. Los Playeros to Plaza de la Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre), Los Cristianos.

7:00 PM: DJ Zone with local DJs. Location: Plaza del Pescador (outside the Cultural Centre), Los Cristianos.

11:30 PM: Grand dance with entertainment by the Wamampy and Armonía Show bands. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

11:00 AM. Classic and Vintage Car Exhibition. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

4:00 PM: Grand Carnival Apotheosis (Carnival Main Parade). Route: From the Paloma Beach Apartments, on Juan Carlos I Avenue, to the Los Cristianos Cultural Centre.

8:00 PM: Grand dance with entertainment by the El Combo Dominicano and Malibu bands. Location: Carnival Grounds (Chajofe Boulevard), Los Cristianos.

MONDAY, MARCH 31

9:00 PM: Burial of the Sardine Carnival Parade. Route: From Plaza del Pescador (Fisherman's Square outside the Cultural Centre) to Los Cristianos Beach.

11:00 PM: Widow's Ball, End of Carnival, with entertainment by Grupo Acorde. Location: Plaza del Pescador (Fisherman's Square outside the Cultural Centre), Los Cristianos.

END OF CARNIVAL

This program is subject to change.

Carnaval Internacional de Los Cristianos - Arona 2025