Building towards Carnival 2027 and beyond
The creativity, resilience and community spirit demonstrated across St Pauls in recent weeks have once again shown the enduring importance of Carnival to Bristol's African Caribbean communities and to the city as a whole.
We recognise the on-street celebrations that took place across St Pauls on 4 July attracting thousands of people who came together to celebrate culture, community and identity. The passion and commitment shown reflects the fact that Carnival has always belonged to the community and always will.
Although full scale carnival celebrations featuring the on-street procession could not be delivered in 2026, it is important to recognise that Carnival is about much more than one day on the streets.
Carnival is a year-round cultural movement built on education, heritage, artistic development, youth engagement and community participation. Through our Carnival 365 programme, St Pauls Carnival CIC continues to work with schools, artists, elders, community groups and young people across Bristol, helping to sustain and develop the culture and creativity that underpin Carnival, this was brought to life on 4 July with the annual much-loved Elders’ brunch.
Recognising roots
The role of the St Pauls Carnival CIC is to act as stewards, safeguarding its heritage, values and future development on behalf of the community. The CIC exists to provide the governance, coordination and infrastructure needed to support Carnival now and for future generations.
At the same time, the future of Carnival cannot rest with the CIC alone. Delivering a full-scale Carnival requires a genuinely shared commitment between the community, its city stakeholders, funders, sponsors, businesses, volunteers and cultural partners.
The recent celebrations demonstrated the strength of community ownership. They also highlighted that community enthusiasm alone is not enough to deliver a safe, sustainable and fully resourced Carnival of the scale and quality that people rightly expect. Significant planning, funding, public safety arrangements, licensing, infrastructure and partnership working are essential.
Our focus over the next 12 months is therefore on creating the conditions needed for the successful return of a full-scale St Pauls Carnival in 2027, including the traditional procession, which remains one of Carnival's most important and iconic elements.
To achieve this, we will continue to strengthen community engagement, expand participation through a new Community Ambassador network and training programme, develop our governance and leadership, secure additional funding and sponsorship, and work closely with statutory and community partners to build a shared delivery framework for 2027.
As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, the funding received by St Pauls Carnival CIC supports year-round cultural, educational and community activity, as well as the organisational infrastructure required to sustain Carnival's future. A full-scale Carnival costs significantly more than this core funding alone can provide and requires substantial additional investment and partnership support.
As the city moves towards celebrating the 60th anniversary of the St Pauls Carnival in 2028, we have an opportunity not only to celebrate an extraordinary legacy, but also to build a stronger and more sustainable future.
The future of St Pauls Carnival will not be shaped by any one organisation or individual. It will be shaped by the collective efforts of the community, partners and stakeholders working together.
St Pauls Carnival belongs to the community. The CIC's role is to help protect, coordinate and nurture that legacy. By working together, we can deliver a full Carnival in 2027 and ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.