St Pauls Carnival in Bristol scaled back for 2026 due to cost and safety concerns

The St Pauls Carnival in Bristol, an annual celebration of African-Caribbean culture since 1968, will not hold a full-scale event in 2026. Organisers, St Pauls Carnival CIC Board, cited rising costs for infrastructure, safety management, staffing, and financial resources as creating a "significant funding gap." The event, which typically attracts about 150,000 people, will be replaced by a smaller programme of community events, workshops, and family activities. The board described the decision as "incredibly difficult" but framed it as a "necessary reset" to ensure the carnival's long-term future, with planning ongoing for a possible return in 2027. A training programme is also planned to involve local people in event management, stewarding, site operations, and creative planning. The last full-scale carnival was held in 2023.