🎭 Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Carnival 2027
The 2027 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival runs from 22 January to 28 February according to the official programme, with the street carnival from 19 February to 28 February. Here are the key dates and what each event is.
From the official programme. Galas and contests are held at the Recinto Ferial de Tenerife; the street carnival fills the centre of Santa Cruz.
Carnival opening
21:30 · Plaza de España
Musical groups contest
20:00 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Dance groups contest
17:00 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Children's murgas contest (heats)
18:30 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Rondallas contest
17:00 · Auditorio de Tenerife
Adult murgas contest (heats)
20:30 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Adult murgas final
20:00 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Children's Carnival Queen gala
18:30 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Senior Carnival Queen gala
17:30 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
“Canción de la Risa” contest
20:30
Comparsas contest
20:00 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Costume contest
Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Carnival Queen Election Gala
21:30 · Recinto Ferial de Tenerife
Opening parade (Cabalgata Anunciadora)
19:30 · Streets of Santa Cruz
Night carnival in the streets
Streets of Santa Cruz
Night carnival in the streets
Streets of Santa Cruz
Ritmo y Armonía (comparsas)
21:00
Daytime carnival (Carnaval de Día)
Streets of Santa Cruz
Night carnival in the streets
Streets of Santa Cruz
Dragnaval gala
20:00 · Plaza de La Candelaria
Grand parade (Coso Apoteosis)
16:00 · Avenida Francisco La Roche & Avenida Marítima
Carnival night · Viernes de Piñata
Streets of Santa Cruz
Children's parade (Coso Infantil)
18:00 · Streets of Santa Cruz
Daytime carnival (Carnaval de Día)
Streets of Santa Cruz
Closing party and fireworks
20:00 · Plaza de La Candelaria
Source: official programme of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival (Fiestas de Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council), checked on 1 November 2026. The programme can change: check the official website before you travel. Official programme (in Spanish)
Before it takes to the streets, the Carnival lives through weeks of contests and galas at the Recinto Ferial de Tenerife: murgas, comparsas, musical and dance groups, rondallas and the galas that choose the queens. The big night is the Carnival Queen Election Gala.
In 2027: adult murgas final 6 February, comparsas 13 February and the Queen gala 17 February.
The Cabalgata Anunciadora opens the Carnival in the streets: a night-time parade through the main streets of Santa Cruz led by the groups of each edition, joined by anyone in costume who wants to dance along. It ends with the start of the street dances, which fill the capital for more than a week.
In 2027: 19 February at 19:30, from Plaza de la República Dominicana to Avenida Francisco La Roche.
After the opening parade, the dances take over the streets of Santa Cruz. The daytime carnival (Carnaval de Día) is held on the first Sunday of carnival and on Sábado de Piñata: in daylight, with hundreds of thousands of people in costume around the stages set up across the city.
In 2027: night carnival on 19, 20, 22 and 26 February; daytime carnival on 21 and 27 February.
The Coso Apoteosis is the Carnival's grand finale: a huge parade on the afternoon of Carnival Tuesday along the Avenida Marítima.
In 2027: 23 February at 16:00, along Avenida Francisco La Roche and Avenida Marítima. Closing party with fireworks: 28 February.
The Entierro de la Sardina is a parade of “widows” and mourners who, with plenty of humour, refuse to say goodbye to the Carnival. Its date will be published in the official programme.
According to its official website, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1980, and almost 10,000 people in its groups make it happen every year. In 1987 it entered the Guinness World Records for the largest attendance at an open-air dance: Celia Cruz and more than 200,000 people.
According to the official programme, from 22 January to 28 February. The street carnival runs from 19 February to 28 February.
On 17 February at 21:30, at the Recinto Ferial de Tenerife.
On 21 and 27 February.
On 23 February at 16:00, along Avenida Francisco La Roche and Avenida Marítima.
“Roma Eterna: El imperio del Carnaval”. The official poster is “El legado de un imperio”, by Nareme Melián.
The galas and contests take place at the Recinto Ferial de Tenerife; the street carnival fills the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the opening parade runs through the main streets and the Coso along the Avenida Marítima.
It was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1980 and, in 1987, entered the Guinness World Records with Celia Cruz and more than 200,000 people dancing in the open air, according to its official website.
The Carnival is in Santa Cruz, the island's capital. For every other night, see the parties on sale in Tenerife, night by night.