Event Dates
From: Friday, July 1, 2022
To: Sunday, July 3, 2022
On the island of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Carnival is one of the oldest and most traditional festivals on the Canary Islands, filling the city streets with an explosion of colour, joy, music, and dance.
- The return of the Carnival this Summer for a one-off celebration will fill Las Palmas. Book your hotel early. Stay close to all the Carnival activities in the centre of town at the Occidental Las Palmas, a 4 star hotel with spacious modern rooms offering stunning views of the city.
Summer Carnival – Special Edition for 2022
Because of Winter restrictions, Carnival returns for a second time in 2022 during the Summer.
- 1st – 3rd July, 2022 – Organizers have scheduled several days of celebrations on 1 — a whole weekend. The object is to make up for the fact that it was impossible to hold the street Carnival in the winter, owing the restrictions imposed because of the pandemic, and to recover the popular spirit of the city’s biggest festival.
- On Friday, 1st July – Enjoy a colourful parade with all the prizewinners of the winter Carnival: the Queen, the Grande Dame, the Drag Queen, the Junior Queen, and the award-winning murgas, comparsas and Carnival characters. Events will end with a large outdoor concert.
- Saturday 2nd July – The Great Carnival Cavalcade street Carnival – an epic parade of carnival-goers and floats drawing together a large crowd through the main streets of the city.
- Sunday, 3rd July – The traditional Burial of the Sardine, a farewell and very emotional experience for everyone in the Carnival, accompanying the fish until it is burned on Las Canteras beach. A traditional element of this day is the simulated weeping and wailing of numerous drag widows who can hardly contain their hysterical grief over the end of the celebrations.
Carnival 2023
Events include the Carnival Drag Queen Gala, costume parades, music troupes, and floats, parading through Las Palmas at all hours, day and night. Carnival in Las Palmas has been celebrated since 1574. The event attracts visitors from Spain and beyond for a week of memorable events.
The dates for the 2023 Carnival have yet to be confirmed, however the theme has been announced, “Studio 54” – an allegory that will turn all the events in the coming programme into a great disco from the 1970s.
Where is the Carnival celebrated?
- Las Palmas Carnival is celebrated across the city, with street parties and events in various locations. Official events and galas are hosted in Santa Catalina Park. Between the Cruise Ship Pier and Las Caneras Beach, the park is the nerve centre of Las Palmas Carnival. Events are held in a large outdoor setting. Each year Carnival attracts more than 500,000 people.
- Stay close to the park at The Lumm Hotel with large rooms, modern decor and just a short walk to the stage shows. For a truly luxurious escape, consider the Royal Hideaway a 5-star grand deluxe hotel with stunning views, fantastic service and world-class amenities.
- The Carnival stage features a spectacular 400 sq metre LED screen with giant scenes in keeping with the annual theme. Each year the stage set and scenery wow visitors with shows and performances broadcast live on Spanish TV. The Drag Queen gala is one of the most anticipated events, and people queue for hours to get a seat to watch the show.
Las Palmas Carnival Schedule 2023
Awaiting the confirmation of dates for the forthcoming carnival. Key events include:
- Carnival Proclamation and Official Opening.
- The Body Makeup contest.
- The Carnival Queen Gala.
- The Drag Queen Gala
Gay Las Palmas
Stay close to the old town at Veintiuno, a boutique adults-only hotel with a fantastic terrace, great breakfast and friendly staff.
Less famous than its flamboyant gay sister, Maspalomas, the gay scene in Las Palmas is a little more low key with several gay and gay-friendly terrace bars popular with a variety of gay guys, locals and visitors.
Head to Las Terrazas de Mariana de Pineda, an avenue of bars with outdoor terraces filled with gay locals and visitors. Other districts worth visiting include the commercial street Triana and the historic district of Vegueta.
Popular bars include
- Abuela Bar Las Palmas – Small gay bar near the beach with a popular terrace.
- Motown Bar – Funky gay cafe with a full bar and disco music.
- Black Door – Gay Cruising Bar men only
Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action
BULL Reina Isabel AC Hotel by Marriott Design Plus Bex Hotel Maresía Canteras
Book early your hotel & stay close to
all the fun next to the gay bars
AC Hotel by Marriott close to all the fun
offering a great pool and stylish rooms.
For further information and advice on
Carnival Las Palmas, The Website
Less famous than its flamboyant gay sister, Maspalomas, the gay scene in Las Palmas is a little more low key with several gay and gay-fiendly terrace bars popular with a variety of gay guys, locals and visitors.
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Las Palmas that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Located on the beachfront of Las Canteras Beach in Las Palmas, Reina Isabel has a rooftop pool, a free spa and gym, and a sun terrace overlooking the Atlantic. Free parking and Wi-Fi. All air-conditioned rooms at Hotel Reina Isabel feature parquet floors and a balcony. They are equipped with flat-screen satellite TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
Located 300 m from Las Canteras Beach, AC Hotel Gran Canaria offers a gym and an outdoor pool. Rooms have a balcony with city views. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. The air-conditioned rooms have wooden flooring and functional modern design. They all include satellite TV and a pillow menu. A coffee machine is also available.
Located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Design Plus Bex Hotel features a restaurant and a rooftop bar. The property is situated a short distance from Parque de Santa Catalina. All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV and a shower. Guest rooms at Design Plus Bex Hotel include air conditioning and a wardrobe. Free WiFi is available throughout the property.
All modernly decorated rooms in the hotel are equipped with a TV and a ceiling fan. The private bathroom is fitted with a shower. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Featuring a Balinese Bed, guests can enjoy a drink on the terrace at Maresía Canteras Urban Hotel. Speaking English and Spanish at the reception, staff are always on hand to help.
A taste of what to expect at one of the biggest Carnival events in Europe.