Notting Hill Carnival Going Digital for August 2020 Festival
Notting Hill Carnival announced that they are going Digital for the coming annual August 2020 calendar festival. This is not a surprise as many festivals are hit by the COVID Pandemic. The street festival in London attracts more than a million visitors every year. The main parade starts on Great Western Road, winding its way along Chepstow Road, then on to Westbourne Grove, and then down Ladbroke Grove. However, all this is set to change this year.
Matthew Phillip, executive director of organisers Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, said the event which will be broadcasted globally over four online channels will offer viewers a peak behind the curtain of Europe’s biggest street party. It will include performances, interviews and cookery shows.
He told the Standard: It was not right to not do anything. We wanted to celebrate the carnival and the people behind it. With it being digital, now it is an around-the-world experience – it is going global.
Speaking about the logistics of hosting a digital carnival, Matthew said: Lockdown has meant that we have all fast-forwarded in terms of technology. It is something we should have been embracing before, online and broadcasting. This is a new kind of carnival. It was always going to adapt and we are going to be embracing it. It is an opportunity to open people up to the carnival and give people a peak behind the curtain.
The cancellation of this year’s physical festival marks the first time it is not being staged on the streets of Notting Hill and Kensington since it was launched in 1966.
Notting Hill Carnival over the years – See Pictures below
Digital Notting Hill Carnival Schedule
Viewers tuning in from 6 pm on Saturday, August 29 will be able to experience the performances from steel bands, sound systems, plus calypso and Soca dancers. There will be interviews with the people behind the event, plus food and drink shows.
The content for the digital carnival has been filmed over the past month. The event is being supported by Kensington and Chelsea Council, Westminster Council and the Greater London Authority.
Watch the Digital Notting Hill Carnival 2020 Introduction video
Digital Notting Hill Carnival for 2020 Replaces the Street Festival for one year
The arts, music and food of the Notting Hill Carnival go online
The Carnival experience at home!
Steel Bands, Sound Systems, Mas Bands, Brazilian Bands, Calypso and Soca performances, food and drink shows, interviews and much more!
Carnival Warm-Up
Steelpan Show & Calypso & Groovy Soca
Channel 1: Saturday 29 August 6 pm – Midnight
Carnival Culture
Channel 1: Saturday 29 August 9am – 12pm
Parade Channel
Channel 2: Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August 12pm – 8pm
Sound System Channel
Channel 3: Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August 12pm – 8pm
Main Stage Channel
Channel 4: Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August 8pm – 11pm
For access to the video channels please head over to Lets Go Do and sign up.
Watch at: www.NHCarnival.org
Twitter:@NHCarnivalLDN Instagram: @nhcarnivalldn FB: @NHCarnivalLDN
Get The Official Notting Hill Carnival App – Apple & Android
Details on how to register to view the channels and the full lineup can be found at NHCarnival.org.
If you are already in London, check out our London Tours Page to see which tours you can go for during the current COVID-19 Pandemic. Keep looking into our News sections for all the latest.