Las Palmas Carnival

The Las Palmas Carnival is coming up soon. At LOCK & enjoy!, we invite you to experience one of the most important festivals in Spain. For this reason, we have prepared a wide selection of the most significant activities and events. Keep reading to find out more!

What to do at the Las Palmas Carnival?

The Las Palmas Carnival boasts a very extensive programme, spanning from 1st February to 16th March (inclusive). Therefore, we have selected the most dynamic and popular activities which we are sure you will thoroughly enjoy.

Drag Queen Gala

This is one of the most popular events in the capital and it’s evident as it has been celebrated for over 25 years. It promotes a party that is open to everyone, transgressive and diverse.

The gala features spectacular parades where participants wear highly elaborate, striking and colourful costumes. Contestants are judged by a panel with criteria based on stage presence, costume design, and performance.

It takes place on 7th March at Santa Catalina Park, the epicentre of most carnival events. Tickets are not yet on sale, but we recommend visiting the website frequently as they sell out within hours. However, the event is always live streamed on YouTube.

Carnival Nights and Daytime Carnival

Night-time entertainment is a staple at Santa Catalina Park. On the 28th February, and the 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 15th March, you have a date in the park along with thousands of Canarians and tourists to dance in your best costume. These days coincide with the major galas and celebrations that occur beforehand.

It is an outdoor party featuring concerts by national and international orchestras. At night, the famous ‘mascaritas’ appear – individuals dressed in costumes but with striking masks and painted faces.

Last year, over 12,000 people attended, so don’t hesitate to join in on any of these days to enjoy the authentic Canarian party atmosphere at the carnival.

Over the years, the Daytime Carnival has also gained popularity. These too are open-air concerts but held during the day. The selected dates are the 1st, 8th, 9th, and 16th March.

Queen’s Gala

This is the most important event of the schedule as it selects the representative for the year 2025; it is celebrated on 28th February. It is a grand spectacle before an audience of approximately 4,000 people and is broadcast on both national and international television. Furthermore, notable national artists attend this gala, along with performances by leading singers.

The queen candidates, pre-selected by lottery, wear costumes that are spectacular in their design. The fabrics used, the dimensions of the designs, the colours, and the originality are truly admirable.

Burial of the Sardine

The Burial of the Sardine takes place on 16th March, marking the end of the Las Palmas Carnival. Although this festivity also occurs in other Spanish cities, it holds special significance in this city due to the quality of details and organisation.

The parade theme is a parody of a sardine’s funeral procession. Throughout the route, a large sardine figure is paraded through the streets, accompanied by striking and colourful costumes, all in a joyful and comedic atmosphere. To conclude, the sardine is burnt, symbolising the end of the Canarian carnival excesses and the arrival of Lent.

If you are interested in seeing the Burial of the Sardine, take the opportunity to visit our lockers at Las Canteras, as this is where the parade takes place. We take care of your belongings while you enjoy dancing with your loved ones.

Canine Carnival

For over ten years, the Canine Carnival has been celebrated and has gained significant popularity since its inception.

Last year, a total of 13 dogs paraded alongside their owners. The costumes are free-style (pirate, Egyptian pharaoh, Venetian, etc.), but made with great creativity, effort, and imagination by the owners. These are not professional costumes as they are made with plastic containers, cardboards, or paints in various colours. After the parade, the winning dog is chosen.

This year it takes place on 23rd February at Santa Catalina Park.

Children’s Carnival

Children also play a leading role in this festival. This is because the programme includes numerous activities for them:

• The Children’s Gala takes place on 15th February, where the child who will occupy the throne is chosen. It is one of the events with the highest attendance because it combines the fun that characterises children with the professionalism of the costumes they wear.
• On the other hand, the Children’s Parade takes place on 4th March. It features a series of parades where the protagonists are the Child King of the Throne, as well as his four ladies and knights of honour.
• The Children’s Costume Festival is held on 2nd March. It is a very lively show, as the city’s dance schools present their best choreographies.

Come and enjoy the Las Palmas Carnival! We await you at our lockers in Las Palmas. We also recommend taking advantage of your holiday to partake in any of the numerous tourist activities in Las Palmas.