Carnival Concludes with Record-Breaking Attendance
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival drew to a close on Sunday, 23 February, having welcomed over one million people to its daytime and nighttime contests, galas, and events since it began on 16 January. The city council released the figures this Monday, confirming that all metrics surpassed those recorded during the 2025 edition.
Mayor Hails Event’s Health and Safety Record
In his review of Carnival 2026, the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, stated that the participation levels reflect the excellent health of the capital’s premier international festival. He noted that last year’s attendance was affected by several rainy days. On safety, the Carnival’s field hospital treated 676 people, representing just 0.01% of total attendees. The mayor defended it as “one of the safest mass celebrations in the world,” while pledging to continue strengthening operations and public awareness campaigns.
Clean-Up and Environmental Efforts
The clean-up operation collected 443 tonnes of waste, one tonne less than the previous year. Nearly 2,000 people participated in environmental workshops. The council praised the cleaning teams, whose work after major events allowed the city to return to normal within hours.
Transport and Tourism Boom
Mobility figures also saw a significant rise. TITSA buses transported over 1.1 million passengers, an 8% increase from 2025, while the Tenerife Tram service carried nearly 460,000 users, up 13%. Ferry and airline companies reported average increases of 10% linked to the Carnival. Average hotel occupancy exceeded 84%, six points higher than the previous year.
The mayor added that on the day of the main parade alone, around 10,000 people travelled by bus from the north and south of the island to the capital. This required a special Local Police operation to manage over 200 vehicles and necessitated reinforcements from the National Police, with officers brought in from other areas.
Future Carnival Dates Under Review
Looking ahead to 2027, Mayor Bermúdez confirmed that planning is already underway. One key consideration is the possibility of setting a date independent of the traditional calendar linked to Lent, though no final decision has been made. He also highlighted that aspects for analysis will include the necessary lead time for installing infrastructure—particularly the main stage and technical equipment for galas and contests—as well as coordinating security, cleaning, and mobility operations.
The goal is to guarantee the best possible conditions for performing groups, carnival participants, businesses, and residents. The mayor recalled that this would not be the first calendar change, citing the 2022 edition which was moved to June due to the pandemic.
No post found!