Santa Cruz Carnival 2026 – The Full Calendar
If you think Carnival in Tenerife is just one big parade and a lot of glitter… welcome to your cultural plot twist.
The Santa Cruz Carnival 2026 runs for more than a month and it’s basically a beautifully organised chaos of competitions, satire, music, drama, and public dancing that somehow all works.
Here’s the official calendar — translated into real life.
Carnival at a glance
Dates: 16 January – 22 February 2026
Location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Theme 2026: Ritmos Latinos – expect salsa hips, samba energy and way more rhythm than your step counter can handle.
The Carnival Timeline — explained like a local, not a brochure
Friday, 16 January
Opening Gala + Presentation of Queen Candidates
The Carnival curtain goes up. This is the glamorous start: big stage, lights, music, and the official introduction of the women who will compete for the Carnival Queen title. Think Eurovision energy, but with feathers.
Friday 23 & Saturday 24 January
Children’s Murgas – First & Second Phase
Murgas are satirical singing groups, and yes — kids do it too.
They roast society, politics and daily life… politely. It’s adorable, funny, and surprisingly sharp.
Sunday, 25 January
Choreographic Festival
Dance schools take over the stage. Less chaos, more elegance. This is Carnival showing it can behave. Briefly.
Monday 26 – Thursday 29 January
Adult Murgas – Competition Phases
Now the gloves come off.
Adult murgas are the soul of Carnival satire: costumes, choreography, and lyrics that say everything people think but don’t dare post on Facebook.
Friday, 30 January
Musical Groups Competition
Choirs, vocal groups, harmonies — Carnival shows its classy side again.
Yes, it has several personalities. No, it refuses to choose one.
Saturday, 31 January
Murga Final
The big showdown.
Fans, banners, noise levels that challenge aviation laws — this is where legends are made and sore throats are guaranteed.
Early February
Queen Galas (Adult, Children & Seniors)
Three different nights, three crowns, thousands of sequins.
The dresses are less “outfit” and more “architectural project”.
Thursday, 12 February
Zarzuela Festival
Traditional Spanish musical theatre joins the party.
Culture meets Carnival. Glasses may be worn unironically.
Friday, 13 February
Announcement Parade (Cabalgata Anunciadora)
This is the official “Carnival is now ON” moment.
Huge parade, floats, dancers, and the city collectively deciding sleep is optional for the next ten days.
Saturday, 14 February
Rhythm & Harmony Competition – Comparsas
Drums, samba vibes, pure cardio.
If Carnival had a heartbeat, this would be it.
Sunday, 15 February
First Day Carnival
Daytime madness. Costumes at noon. Kids, grandparents, tourists — everyone joins.
Also: the legendary Ni Fú-Ni Fá and Fregolinos groups bring classic Carnival humour to the streets.
Monday, 16 February
Drag Gala + Carnival Dances
Yes, Tenerife has one of Europe’s most famous Drag Galas.
Bold, fabulous, unapologetic — and followed by public dances that last way past bedtime.
Tuesday, 17 February
Grand Parade – Coso Apoteosis
The biggest parade of them all.
If you only come one day, make it this one. Floats, costumes, music, thousands of people — Carnival in its full cinematic version.
Wednesday, 18 February
Burial of the Sardine
The party pauses… dramatically.
A giant sardine is paraded and symbolically “buried”, marking the end of excess. It’s theatre, grief, comedy, and tradition in one surreal evening.
Thursday, 19 February
Inclusive Sardine + Rondallas Festival
Carnival makes space for everyone.
Music groups called rondallas perform elegant string arrangements — proof that Carnival can whisper, not just shout.
Friday, 20 February
Children’s Parade
Tiny costumes, massive cuteness.
Possibly the only Carnival event where parents outnumber beer cups.
Saturday, 21 February
Second Day Carnival
Because one daytime Carnival wasn’t enough.
More street parties, more costumes, more photos you’ll pretend you remember clearly.
Sunday, 22 February
Final Day – Ni Fú-Ni Fá, Zarzuela & Senior Carnival
A warm goodbye: music, theatre, and a special celebration for seniors who remind everyone that Carnival has no age limit — only stamina limits.
Why this matters if you’re staying in Costa Adeje
Even if you’re based in the south, Santa Cruz Carnival is 100% worth the trip.
It’s not just a party — it’s Tenerife’s cultural soul doing a month-long performance.
Pro tip:
Go once for a competition night (murgas or comparsas) and once for a big parade day. You’ll understand why locals plan their entire winter around this.
And if the only thing stopping you is “ok, but how do I actually get there?” — problem solved.
You can enter your location and get step-by-step directions straight to the Carnival action here:
👉 https://carnavaldetenerife.com/programa-carnaval/
No stress, no guessing, no accidental island tour. Just Carnival.
