Notting Hill Carnival 2026 LIVE: Revellers to descend on west London for Europe's biggest street party

Europe’s biggest street party is almost underwayAFP/GettyThe annual celebration of Caribbean culture will see mas bands, steel pan bands, dancers, and sound systems light up the west London district in colour, glitter, and feathers. Following Saturday’s Steel Band Competition, today will see the colourful J’ouvert opening celebration at Ladbroke Grove followed by the much-anticipated Children’s Day and Dutty Mas parade, kicking off at Westbourne Park. Stay with us as we bring you the latest from the carnival weekend.Scroll down for the latest updates.What is j'ouvert?J’ouvert is now underway on Ladbroke Grove. Derived from the French phrase jour ouvert - is the opening event of Carnival. It marks the kick off to the day’s festivities and usually sees revellers tossing paint, mud, and glitter. Compared to the rest of the parade, j’ouvert is pretty relaxed and doesn’t involve many of the magnificent costumes and masquerade we’ll see later. It started when enslaved Africans in the Caribbean were banned from participating in European masquerade. So, they created their own form of expression in a move to show defiance and reclaim their identities. People taking part in J'ouvert ahead of the Children's Day Parade last yearYui Mok/PA WireWhat to expect today Today marks the second day of Carnival and is when festivities will truly ramp up. Here’s how things are planned to play out. What's the weather like for Notting Hill Carnival?Forecasters are predicting a mixture of sunshine and showers on Sunday.It will be dry this morning with sunny spells, meaning the opening ceremony at 10am and the Children’s Day parade, starting at 10.30am, should stay dry.But there will be a mixture of sunshine and showers this afternoon when the sound systems kick in. You can expect showers from midday to 5pm, but there should hopefully be sunny spells too.Organisers have advised revellers to dress appropriately for the weather - think comfy shoes, rain protection, and clothes you’re not worried about ruining. Notting Hill Carnival is officially underway! Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of Notting Hill Carnival 2026.Carnival began with the Panorama Steel Band Competition held last night.But today is when the real party gets under way.Expect today’s festivities to be full of music, dancing, and a true celebration of Caribbean culture. Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates straight from W10.