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Leer el programa completo del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026
The biggest annual carnival in Europe!
Tenerife isn’t just the biggest of the Canary Islands; it’s also home to the largest annual carnival in Europe! The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is so famous and popular that people often compare the city to Rio de Janeiro, which hosts the legendary Rio Carnival.
The streets come alive with the colors of homemade costumes joining the festivities. The party vibe explodes everywhere in a burst of colors and music, drawing visitors from all over the world.
For those wanting to soak up this incredible vibe without the exhausting trek to Brazil, the Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the perfect alternative. You’ve gotta experience the Tenerife Carnival at least once, maybe taking advantage of the low-cost offers and holidays in Tenerife for a unique party and vacation!
When does it happen?
The party kicks off 40 days before Easter Sunday, so it usually happens around February or March.
With parades, street parties, and processions, the festivities are open to everyone, and dressing up in costume is pretty much a must. Each year, the carnival has a different theme, and the locals really get into it, competing to see who can come up with the most original costume of all!
The Carnival Queen is the undeniable star of the whole event, with the prestigious award given to the most beautiful competitor of the year on the Wednesday before the last weekend of the carnival. She becomes the icon of the party, representing the island and all the carnival-related activities. Her gigantic costumes are true colorful works of art that take almost a year to prepare.
The party goes on until Lent kicks in, with Carnival Tuesday marking the official end of the celebrations. The very next day, you’ll experience the burial of the sardines, a themed fiesta for Ash Wednesday. It’s one of those things you’ve gotta see and experience to believe!
Check out the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2025!
