Tenerife Carnival 2025

The Carnival on Tenerife is a grandiose, vibrant costumed celebration. Carnaval de Tenerife (or Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife) combines the exquisite style of Venice with Brazilian passion. It’s considered the largest in Europe and the second most significant in the world after the Rio Carnival. But is this really the case?

Tenerife Carnival Program 2025

The carnival festivities in 2025 on Tenerife will take place from January 31 to March 9. The main theme of the new carnival is Secrets of Africa.

February 7-8, 19:00: Stages and final of the children’s murga contest (Fases y final del Concurso de Murgas Infantiles) — a musical competition where children in costumes perform themed songs.

February 9, 19:00: Choreographic festival at the exhibition complex (Festival coreográfico en el Recinto Ferial) — a dance performance featuring various dance groups.

February 10-12, 20:30: Stages of the Santa Cruz Carnival murga contest (Fases del Concurso de Murgas del Carnaval de Santa Cruz) — a murga contest where adult participants perform satirical songs on current topics.

February 14, 20:30: Final of the adult murga contest (Final del Concurso de Murgas adultas) — the final stage of competitions between murgas, where the best performance is determined.

February 15, 20:00: Musical groups contest at the exhibition complex (Concurso de agrupaciones musicales en el Recinto ferial) — a music contest where groups present their best works.

February 16, 18:00: Gala evening for the selection of the children’s carnival queen at the exhibition complex (Gala de Elección de la Reina Infantil en el Recinto Ferial) — a ceremonial event where the carnival queen is chosen among children.

February 19, 17:30: Gala evening for the selection of the carnival queen among the elderly (Gala de Elección de la Reina de los Mayores) — a special contest where elderly women compete for the title of queen.

February 21, 20:30: Song of Laughter at the Guimerá Theater (Canción de la Risa en el Teatro Guimerá) — a unique musical performance filled with humor and fun.

February 22, 20:00: Comparsas contest at the exhibition complex (Concurso de comparsas en el Recinto Ferial) and Los Fregolinos concert at the Guimerá Theater (20:30) — a competition of dance groups accompanied by a musical evening.

February 23: Costume contest at the exhibition complex and rondallas contest at the Tenerife Auditorium Adán Martín (Concurso de disfraces en el Recinto Ferial y Certamen Rondallas en el Auditorio de Tenerife Adán Martín, 17:00) — a celebration of creativity and talent in costume making and musical art.

February 25: Presentation concert of Los Fregolinos (Concierto de Presentación de Los Fregolinos).

February 26, 21:30: Carnival Queen Election Gala at the Exhibition Center (Gala de Elección de la Reina del Carnaval en el Recinto Ferial) — a magnificent event where the main queen of the carnival is chosen.

February 27, 20:30: Zarzuela Festival at the Guimerá Theater (Festival de La Zarzuela en el Teatro Guimerá) — an evening of traditional Spanish opera.

🔥🔥 February 28, 20:00: Carnival Announcing Parade at the Dominican Republic Square (Cabalgata anunciadora en Plaza de la República Dominicana) — a grand procession opening the carnival.

March 1, 21:00: Rhythm and Harmony Contest on Francisco La Roche Avenue (Certamen de Ritmo y Armonía en Avenida Francisco La Roche) — an exciting performance featuring the best dance and music groups.

🔥 March 2: Nifú-Nifá-Fregolinos at Principe Square (11:00) and Daytime Carnival (from 13:00) — a bright and fun event including musical performances and daytime festivities.

March 3: Carnival Dances (Bailes de Carnaval) — a day full of carnival joys and surprises.

🔥🔥🔥 March 4: Nifú-Nifá-Fregolinos at Principe Square (11:00) and Coso on Francisco La Roche Avenue (from 13:00) — musical performances and traditional carnival procession.

March 5, 22:00: Burial of the Sardine at Juan Pablo II (Entierro de la Sardina en Juan Pablo II) — a fun satirical event where a sardine is carried through the streets and everyone cries. You need to wear mourning attire.

March 6, 20:30: Rondallas Festival at the Guimerá Theater (Festival de Rondallas en el Teatro Guimerá) — a musical event where choirs perform traditional songs.

🔥 🔥 March 7, 18:00: Children’s Coso on García Sanabria Promenade (Coso Infantil en el Paseo García Sanabria) and Award Winners Festival at Candelaria Square (20:00, Festival Galardonados en Plaza Candelaria) — festive children’s parade and awards for the best carnival participants.

March 8: Daytime Carnival (from 13:00) — continuation of daytime festive events full of music and dancing.

🔥 March 9: Nifú-Nifá-Fregolinos at Principe Square (11:00) and Closing of the Festival with fireworks (from 18:00, Fin de Fiesta y exhibición pirotécnica) — the final day of the carnival, filled with music and a spectacular fireworks display.

Which days are best to go to the Carnival?

If you want to see the carnival, come on February 28 (Cabalgata). There will be fewer people on Tuesday, March 4 (Nifú-Nifá-Fregolinos). It’s also interesting to participate in the burial of the sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) on March 5. To drink and party, come on the last Saturday or Sunday.

The large-scale celebration encompasses all cities on the island: La Laguna, Orotava, Arona, Candelaria, Puerto de la Cruz and others. The main events take place in the island’s capital – Santa Cruz (at Plaza de España). This is exactly where we headed.

We didn’t really want to drive, and we might not have fit on the bus for the return trip, so we bought a transfer at a local travel agency for €22 to take us there and back without any hassle. By 2 pm, everyone was already taking the best viewing spots.

Each municipality develops its own program of events. As the guidebooks claim, visitors to the Canary archipelago can see the full diversity of traditions – from the unbridled capital’s revelry to the cozy atmosphere of provincial celebrations. Well, let’s see.

For the carnival, they drained the central square of the city. Not long ago, there was a lake here.

Some people take higher positions to be at the level of the carnival queens.

We took 2 chairs in a wide area to take great photos. We had to pay €2 per chair.

Not all children were bought seats, so they sat right on the asphalt. There were so many dressed-up, cheerful kids!

Closer to 4 o’clock, the first platform appeared in the distance. The music was playing loudly. A little man in a wig led the merry column.

On the roof of Studio 54, everyone was just starting to fuel up with alcohol and waved very lazily to the spectators. Oh, what mischievous fun there will be in the evening!

A lady of a certain age was riding with us on the bus from Los Gigantes, wearing a bright pink puffy dress, with pink hair and springy ears. It’s clear this isn’t her first time. By the way, the king and queen are passing by…

Everyone participates in the carnival: locals and guests of the Canaries, mature people and youth; children have their own mini-carnival. The island’s top beauties take part in the casting for the role of the queen of the festival. Numerous designers and tailors create costumes, an army of prop makers craft props and decorations.

The queens were chosen last week in the concert hall. By the way, I’ll tell you a bit about the carnival program. It lasts almost a month!

Main Carnival Events

The Carnival opens with the Pregon ceremony. The host introduces the event program to all gathered, after which Murgas and Comparsas — local music and dance groups — perform. They sing verses and songs dedicated to current events.

The first grand event is the selection of the Queen (Gala Reina). Contestants for this role appear before the jury in incredible outfits. Meters of fabric, numerous feathers, kilograms of sequins and rhinestones go into making these carnival dresses. We didn’t attend this event, but we saw some queens at the parade, I’m attaching photos.

The jury consists of celebrities, both local and visiting. The girls must be beautiful and resilient — it’s not easy to move around the stage when your outfit weighs dozens of kilos. The newly elected queen takes the place of honor.

Just imagine a delicate woman dragging behind her an elegantly decorated huge trailer made of feathers, rhinestones, and colorful ribbons. At the contest, they do all this by themselves without helpers. But today at the carnival, they were simply loaded along with their dresses into truck beds and driven around to the delight of the public.

There’s also a contest among children. Take a look at the child queen of the carnival. Lena didn’t immediately recognize her as a girl. She says she looks about 30 years old…

The first carnival procession is called Cabalgata Anunciadora. For more than four hours, a procession moves through the streets of the island’s capital, announcing the opening of the main celebrations. After this, a series of performances, parades, and contests begins.

These include: Drag Queen — a procession of transvestites in elegant dresses and high platform shoes. Mogollones — free open-air concerts, a parade of vintage cars, selection of the queen of the children’s mini-carnival, and much more.

The culmination of the festival is the Gran Coso parade. It takes place on Shrove Tuesday and becomes the apex of the celebrations. Hundreds of thousands of participants join this mass procession. It lasts for many hours — the streets are filled with a dressed-up crowd moving to the fiery rhythms of Latin music. Everyone dances! Street dancing is accompanied by loud music and explosions of firecrackers. The crowded event is illuminated by fireworks and only quiets down by morning. This is exactly what I’m telling you about today.

Folk ensembles, dance and music groups perform, and theatrical troupes give gala performances. Companies and businesses operating on the island always send their representatives to the festival. Everyone who wants to participate in the cheerful costumed processions is welcome, regardless of age, gender, or status.

Children

Children hold a special place at the carnival, perhaps this daytime show is organized especially for them. Everyone participates in the parade, from kindergarteners to high school students.

Here’s a girl happily posing for everyone in a beautiful dress.

High school students have all dressed up as castles with clocks and an owl on top.

And this is probably a kindergarten group. They’re walking, laughing, and blowing soap bubbles.

There are some very original costumes too. A triton riding a shark with a voluptuous mermaid with a pink tail.

Another nominee for the title of children’s queen. Her dress looks like a toy store.

A girl dressed as a cake is walking with her mom, they might be representing a local bakery.

A pensive boy dressed as a unicorn, lost in his own thoughts.

Mischievous boys dressed as roosters are chatting animatedly and crowing.

Little flamenco dancers in bright green dresses and black hats.

And how could we forget the local delicacy? A man carrying a sack on his head with what? Of course, Canary potatoes!

Freaks

The most popular costume at the carnival is a man in women’s clothing. A sassy lady-boy from Moulin Rouge. Maybe in everyday life he’s a strict manager of a pump store for oil refining companies, but here he’s a star!

We saw this lively little man with a backpack a week later on the other side of the island. He was still dancing along in his hat, walking down the road with a can of beer.

A milkmaid?

Well, why not? Borrowed a friend’s underwear, put it on, and voila — costume ready.

Wonders of cutting and sewing. With just fabric and foam, you can make fake boobs and a Brazilian brown butt.

Or this kind of Brazilian brown booty.

Or you can just shock everyone by walking around in grandma’s silk robe, shaking your willy.

And these representatives of gay Europe… Yikes… what can I say…

The immortal old Jackson himself with formidable security.

A punk with tattoos and… a little dog.

The tradition of holding carnivals on Tenerife dates back to the 17th century. European customs arrived on the island with the conquistadors. The first masquerade festival can be considered a staged wedding of Philip IV’s court. Everyone dressed up: courtly men as ladies, the king as a servant, the queen as a commoner. At that celebration, ordinary islanders also hid behind masks. Remaining unrecognized, they could mock the flaws of their masters. The carnival freedom removed all prohibitions and prejudices.

This principle is still followed today. During carnival time, all norms of proper behavior are suspended – people allow themselves harmless mischief and even petty theft. Masks hide all transgressions! It’s a tough time for the police, but no troublemakers can destroy the amazing festive atmosphere.

In the history of carnivals, there were periods of prosperity, times of stagnation, and cruel persecutions. During Franco’s dictatorship, the festival was banned, and even mentioning its name was forbidden. Later, the official ban was lifted, but the carnival was still condemned and considered an unworthy event. The residents of Tenerife ignored the bans and prejudices, and held their carnival illegally.

The tradition was revived by 1961. In 1967, a «Winter Festival» was held, which attracted tourists to the island. Soon it was renamed to Carnival. Since then, El Carnaval de Tenerife has once again become a national holiday – revered and loved.

Since 1976, the celebrations were officially permitted by the government and fixed in the calendar. Since 1980, the festival has become an international event. The 1987 carnival in the capital was entered into the Guinness Book of Records. Then, more than two hundred thousand people simultaneously participated in street salsa dancing to the songs of Celia Cruz.

Year after year, the festival becomes brighter and more expansive. Each time, a main theme for the new carnival is determined. Usually, it is related to historical events and is published on the official website of the event.

Ordinary Canary Islands residents show off in front of the audience without any complexes. Everything happens sincerely and naturally. It’s worth noting the cheerful grannies.

Ladies of any age are beautiful and attractive.

No one is embarrassed by their body. Everyone loves themselves as they are.

I even saw an elderly queen in a chic bright dress.

Not bored yet? Here’s a bit more positivity.

I know what you’re waiting for the most — more queens with huge… dresses. How about another mermaid?

Just kidding. I’m posting everything I photographed.

A girl’s dress should be minimal, while the plumage should be as spread out as possible.

Greetings from Tenerife!

Almost all dresses had another girl in a more modest dress standing behind. Probably an understudy.

Very original, like a snow queen with frozen icicles made of colored ice.

Another gorgeous lady.

And one more.

Now it’s time for dancing!

Yes!!! A guy with a bandolier of mini bottles. He walked around treating everyone to whiskey or vodka.

This couple, on the contrary, is all for a healthy lifestyle. Slim, fit. A gladiator and his beloved.

A girl with a camera. Very cute.

The crew from the legendary game of all time — Pacman! Remember how the little round character ran across the screen eating apples?

Carnival, carnival!

Girls with bells.

Some Thai costumes.

Wow, what hats!

A hipster on a bamboo bicycle.

A bicycle made of wire. Trendy, isn’t it?

Yeah, cool bicycle!

How do you like this Ferrari?

Elvis is alive! Though the guitar is a bit small.

Cheerful drummers.

Ghostbusters and the green Slimer made of polyurethane foam.

The little ones want to participate too. Check out the smoked baby in the background.

Cake hat. Don’t forget about the gingerbread man from Shrek.

Another child queen. I like this one better.

Little gymnasts put on a whole show. They spun, tumbled, and did the splits.

When everyone was told to smile…

Hulk, Iron Man and Spider-Man.

Cool ladies.

Little elephant.

Want a photo for Instagram?

That’s quite a costume too!

And these must be mailmen from all over the city marching. The cutie is with them too.

Astronauts and rocket children!

The kitty got bored.

The doctors will save you from all winter ailments and spring vitamin deficiency.

What do you think of Chewbacca with the boy? They didn’t forget about Star Wars either. A whole delegation passed by.

As night fell, things on the street got really wild and fun. But we, like diligent retirees, will go prepare for bed.

A whole field of buses spent the entire evening shuttling merry participants and carnival spectators.

How does the carnival end?

The next day, the final carnival event takes place – Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine). Just like in our Maslenitsa, participants burn a symbol of the departing festival in the square – a huge cardboard fish. The Sardine is accompanied by a sad procession in masks – it can be sad to part with the carnival. Spectators cry, filling the streets with theatrical moans. The ashes left from the burned effigy are buried on the beach. However, there’s no time to be sad. From the next day, preparations for a new festival begin!

When does the Carnival take place?

The Carnival takes place in early February.

Preparations for the new festival begin immediately after the closure of the previous carnival. The timing of the celebrations varies each year. The start of festivities is determined by the date of Catholic Easter: the carnival must end before Lent begins. The program lasts for a whole month, but the main events occur during the last week, known as Shrovetide. Usually, the festival takes place in February, sometimes in March.

You can check the dates and view the detailed program of the next Carnival here.

It was fun, but rather modest for a carnival.

This was Misha reporting. I was there myself, drank honey and beer, it flowed down my mustache but didn’t reach my mouth, yet my soul felt drunk and satisfied.

Check out my report from the Moors and Christians festival: